City reviewing contract proposal with humane society

Hoping the Humane Society of East Texas' bark is worse than its bite, the City of Whitehouse is attempting to negotiate a compromise on the increase in fees proposed in a new contract.

The 2008 contract would raise the city's annual fee from $7,600 to $13,850, an increase of $6,250 or more than 80 percent.

A letter to the city from Gayle Helms, executive director of the Humane Society of East Texas, says the rate hike stems from increased costs to the shelter to house, process and care for each animal received. The increased annual fee to Whitehouse amounts to $50 per animal (based on the 277 cats and dogs impounded last year). According to Helms, that is still below the average cost to the shelter of $57 per animal.

The shelter has also announced increases in its adoption fee schedule, as well as the charge to individuals to surrender an unwanted pet.

Whitehouse City Manager Ronny Fite said the new con- tract has not been approved, and the city hopes to negotiate with the shelter before the current contract expires at the first of the year.

"I hope we will be able to compromise. We have a longstanding relationship, and we'd like to keep it," said Fite. "But we have to watch our budget dollars as well."

Fite also said he thought that losing its large contract with the City of Tyler was influencing the shelter's rate hikes for smaller cities.

Fite said the City of Whitehouse was also looking at other options, such as the Jacksonville animal shelter, although the intake from Tyler has that facility at near-capacity.