PHHS’ partnership with CMHS to end with move to Columbia Animal Hospital
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone County and Columbia’s animal control partnership with the Central Missouri Humane Society is coming to an end.
The city and county announced a plan last month to buy the former site of Columbia Animal Hospital at 1300 East Boone Industrial Dr. The Columbia Animal Hospital closed in March.
Public Health and Human Services would use the space for an animal shelter for the city and county’s animal control services. Animals that are currently in animal control’s custody are housed at the Central Missouri Humane Society.
A CMHS representative told ABC 17 News on Friday that the move will bring the partnership to an end.
According to Michelle Casey, the Associate Director of CMHS, animal control and CMHS have worked together for years, but with their new purchase, it would not be a sustainable decision to continue working with animal control.
"They asked if we would be willing to provide animal care services in a new facility," Casey said. "After careful consideration by our board, we determined that it's not operationally or financially sustainable for CMHC to be operating and staffing two separate locations."
The property on 1300 Boone Industrial costs $995,000. In a council meeting on Sept. 21, the proposal was for the City of Columbia to pay $595,000 and Boone County to pay $400,000. But for documents set for a meeting on October 5, the city will now be taking the full total out of reserves, and Boone County will contribute $400,000 at a later date.
CMHS is also building a new facility of its own. Casey said CMHS was unaware that PHHS was looking into buying a new shelter and was only informed of the purchase on Sept. 11. She said this new shelter brings up a lot of questions.
"What happens to the animals after their stray build? Who'll be responsible for animal care?," Casey said. "I'm curious to learn more, especially about how veterinary care would be provided and who's going to be responsible for the animals at that facility."
Casey claims PHHS has provided little information to CMHS about plans, operations and time frame for the shelter they are wanting to purchase/open.
"I don't really have any details about their plans if the purchase does go through for this facility. I don't know what their operating model would look like. I don't know who would be providing services," Casey said.
ABC 17 reached out to the city, animal control and county commission. The council will meet on Monday to discuss the PHHS proposal.
