PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria County Board will soon be asked to, in some cases, double the adoption fees the county’s Animal Protection Services can charge.
PCAPS director Becky Spencer told the County Board’s Operations Committee Monday the fees, last looked at in 2010, aren’t keeping up with certain costs.
“We [weren’t] giving them as many vaccines as we are today,” said Spencer. “We’ve added flea treatments, heartworm tests, feline leukemia, and FIV tests, all for the cats, and have not changed the adoption fees to increase those services to match what we’re spending.”
Problem is, the proposed ordinance change said the adoption fee “shall” be $200 for dogs instead of $100, and $100 for cats instead of $75.
Redemption fees would remain lowered, after a test initiative to that end this year proved to be unsuccessful, Spencer said.
“Maybe it’s the wording that I’m having a problem with, because if it says the adoption fees ‘shall’ be $200 for a dog, and ‘shall’ be $100 for a cat, it doesn’t sound like there’s any ability to vary from those,” said member Kate Pastucha, Dist. 9.
Redemption fees would remain lowered, after a test initiative to that end this year proved to be unsuccessful, Spencer said.
The measure has been tabled until it can be changed to reflect that there are special periodic adoption events where fees are lowered.
