By Rebecca Wallis
YAMHILL COUNTY – September 26, 2024
In a move aimed at bringing stability to the county’s dog control program, Yamhill County Commissioners have amended an existing contract with Newberg Animal Shelter Friends (NASF), expanding the number of reserved kennels from one to four. The new agreement, effective October 1, 2024, ensures that NASF will not refuse any county dogs, and the county will be charged $50 per kennel per day, whether the kennels are full or not. Payments will be made quarterly, totaling $13,600 each quarter, with the full annual contract amounting to $54,400.
Background on Newberg Animal Shelter Friends and NAS Mission
NASF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to operating the Newberg Animal Shelter and providing a compassionate environment for homeless pets until they find forever homes. Their mission is to continually broaden services, partnering with the community to ensure that companion pets are placed in loving homes.
Since 1976, Newberg Animal Shelter has served the community, initially run by the Newberg-Dundee Police Department. NASF took on a larger role in 2000, raising over $500,000 to build a new facility that replaced the aging, inadequate original building constructed in the 1970s. The new shelter opened in 2013, marking a significant improvement in facilities for homeless cats and dogs.
History of Dog Control in Yamhill County
Yamhill County’s dog control program has experienced turbulence in recent years. Previously, Homeward Bound in McMinnville held the county contract, with a cost over $80 per kennel, and the use of overflow kennels this led to budget uncertainties for the county, as it struggled to manage dog control costs within its tight budgetary constraints.
In contrast, the new contract with NASF offers a fixed cost per kennel and no overflow kenneling, providing financial predictability for the county’s dog control program. Prior to this contract, NASF had only provided one kennel under a limited agreement with the county. The new agreement expands that to four kennels, with the potential for further collaboration.
NASF’s Impact in the Community
NASF has been a vital part of the Newberg community, especially in its role of reuniting stray dogs with their owners. As the organization continues to grow, it is building on partnerships with local agencies to ensure pets find homes and to promote responsible pet ownership.
Looking ahead, NASF and Yamhill County hope this new partnership will strengthen animal control efforts in the county, ensuring stray and lost dogs receive the care they need while also providing a cost-effective solution for the county.
Homeward Bound to Continue Dog Licensing
County officials indicated Homeward Bound would continue to operate the dog licensing program and will work with the organization to bring more success to the renewals as the payments for a dog license fund the dog control budget.
Board of Commissioners Meeting Materials – September 26, 2024
Photo Credit – Yamhill County News File
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