Kansas City Council Approves Transition Of Animal Health Services To Outside Agency

Press release from the City of Kansas City:

July 23, 2020

The City Council approved a contract with KC Pet Project (KCPP) to provide animal health and public safety services for city residents. The transition of animal control services to KCPP starts on Sept. 1 and will be fully in place by Dec. 1, 2020.

“Our goal is to provide more education for pet owners while improving services for our residents,” said City Councilmember Teresa Loar. “KCPP has done a great job running the city’s animal shelter and we expect more collaboration as we expand their responsibilities for the city.”

Residents who need help from animal control will still call 311 and listen for a prompt to be connected directly with a KC Pet Project dispatcher. After-hours calls will be routed to an on-call employee. KCPP will hire at least 15 animal health officers and services will be available 24/7.

“KC Pet Project is excited to bring progressive, best practices to animal services in Kansas City, MO,” said Teresa Johnson, President/CEO of KC Pet Project. “For eight years, Kansas City residents have entrusted us with operating a lifesaving animal shelter, and we will apply that same level of service to our new Animal Services Division. We look forward to collaborating with our community to find efficiencies in those services and enhance public safety, all while providing support, education, access to care and resources to the community.”

KC Pet Project has operated the city’s animal shelter since 2012. This second contract focuses on field services. Current Animal Health Officers will be able to interview for jobs at KCPP, or transfer to other available city staff positions if they wish to keep their city employment.

The contract pays KCPP $1,016,518 through the end of the current fiscal year, April 30, 2021. Three additional one-year renewals would be paid at the following rates:

• Year 2 at $2,186,370
• Year 3 at $2,230,097
• Year 4 at $2,274,699

Details of the contract, including scope of services and required performance measures, can be read on the City Clerk’s website as part of Ordinance #200533.

“The city will monitor KCPP’s performance and receive monthly reports, including data which will be posted on our Open Data catalog,” said Interim City Manager Earnest Rouse. “These transparency measures will help the public and the City Council see exactly how these services are being provided for our residents.”

The field services contract, combined with changes to a city code, enables KCPP staff to enforce city laws regarding animal health. This includes issuing citations, impounding stray dogs, obtaining warrants to search for animals involved in bite incidents, investigating animal cruelty and related responsibilities.

This press release was produced by the City of Kansas City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.