by BECKY GOFF
Little Apple Post
MANHATTAN - On Tuesday, September 19th, the Manhattan City Commission voted 4-0 to outsource the operation of the City's animal shelter, T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter.
City staff presented an agreement to allow Prairie Paws Animal Shelter, Inc. (PPAS), a private 501(c)3 no-kill shelter to operate the shelter.
PPAS was founding in Franklin County, Kansas in 1946 and serves more than 3,000 pets in six counties annually.
“Our organization is fortunate to have robust programming and stable financial support, but as our costs continue to rise, we have had to identify strategies to leverage our resources responsibly,” said Vanessa Cowie, executive director for Prairie Paws Animal Shelter. “Serving more animals and more citizens is the most effective way to achieve that.”
In January 2023, City staff began discussions which prompted a thorough examination of how to provide the most effective and efficient, high-quality services to the citizens and animals of Manhattan without the use of additional tax dollars.
During this time, it was determined that many of the challenges faced by municipalities when operating animal shelters, is that privately run animal shelters are less disruptive and have access to more funding and flexibility in management and policymaking.
“Animal welfare agencies can operate without some of the restrictions of municipal government. They may have better connections with donors, with fundraisers, with grants that not-for-profits can pursue that cities can’t,” explained Assistant City Manager Wyatt Thompson.
Following a presentation made to City Commissioners, a request for proposals was released and a recommendation was made to contract PPAS to operate the Animal Shelter.
On Tuesday, Commisssioners voted to allow PPAS to operate the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter.
PPAS will receive compensation of $350,000 annually to provide services required by the City. They will also be paid $13,850 for the cost of transitioning the shelter from the City of Manhattan operations to PPAS operating systems.
The operations agreement includes leasing the current T. Russell Reitz facilities for $1 per year, with operations scheduled to begin before the end of 2023.
Citizens in Manhattan may notice changes in branding, and additional fundraising efforts as the transition from City operations to private operations takes place.
Additional programs will become available at the shelter, including low-cost spay/neuter and a trap/neuter/release program for community cats.
More information about the City can be found online at www.cityofmhk.com, or by following the City on Facebook @cityofmanhattan or Twitter @cityofmhk.