LAGUNA NIGUEL : County Contract for Animal Control Ended

Citing possible cutbacks in county animal control services because of the county’s bankruptcy, the City Council has decided to end its contract for animal control services with Orange County and instead use the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter.

The 4-1 vote Tuesday drew applause from a small cadre of animal lovers who for weeks had urged the city to bring animal control services under local control.

“We are working very hard for our tax dollars, and we’re not getting the good service” from the county, said Diane Argyle, who led a weeks-long petition effort backing a contract with the new Mission Viejo Animal Shelter.

She and fellow supporters said that the Orange County Animal Shelter cannot meet the needs of South County residents because it is too far away.

They also favor the Mission Viejo shelter’s policy of not euthanizing animals unless they are extremely sick or dangerous.

“The question is where is the county going to go?” said Mayor Mark Goodman, voting to link up with neighboring Mission Viejo for animal control services. “With the bond crisis, I see the county animal shelter only having two options: They’re going to have to raise costs or decrease services. We have a window of opportunity to go with Mission Viejo.”

Using the Mission Viejo shelter is expected to cost the city $20,000 to $30,000 more per year than contracting with the county. The city also will have to pay between $75,000 and $100,000 to expand the Mission Viejo shelter.

Councilman Thomas W. Wilson was the lone dissenter, saying that he has never received complaints from residents about poor service from the county shelter and that he was impressed with the county shelter’s computerized animal database.

“There are too many ifs, too many buts and too many financial questions” in ending the county contract, Wilson said.