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Shelter may go into private hands

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published January 15, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Stephen J. Coddington] Humanitarians of Florida's head veterinarian technician Sarah Strautmann carries an anesthetized cat to an operating room in preparation for spaying Friday. The Humanitarians are talking with the county about a possible privatization arrangement for the county's animal control shelter in Inverness.

Privatization could put an end to the turmoil at the county's animal shelter, according to several Citrus officials.

On Friday, Assistant County Administrator Tom Dick and director of Public Safety Charles Poliseno met with representatives from the Humanitarians of Florida to discuss the idea.

They plan to research privatization further before making a recommendation to county commissioners, Poliseno said Friday.

It's a new idea in the Tampa Bay area.

Local governments run the animal shelters in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties. But several counties in Florida, including Charlotte, have shifted animal shelter operations to private providers.

And officials there are pleased with the results, Poliseno said.

Privatization is nothing new for Citrus County government.

In 1995 the county contracted its jail operations to Corrections Corporation of America and privatized emergency medical services. And the county frequently uses contractors for construction and consulting work.

Costs may be lower, Poliseno said, if the county privatized its animal shelter.

"The drawback would be that nonetheless the county would have to make sure that a level of service is maintained for the animals, and that the expectations of the taxpayer are met," Poliseno said.

Donna Schmid, vice president of the Humanitarians and executive director of the nonprofit organization's Crystal River spay and neuter clinic, said Friday's meeting was "productive."

The Humanitarians, which came to Citrus in 1980, are open to the possibility of helping with privatization of some county animal services, Schmid said, or helping select a new director for the shelter.

"We want to try to help the shelter as much as we can," she said.

Schmid said she hopes other Citrus animal rescue groups will get involved.

"Our interest is getting the animals helped," she said.

The Humanitarians' main focus is its Crystal River spay and neuter clinic. But the organization also has facilitated the adoption of about 300 cats through the Harden Haven, a small cat shelter it runs, Schmid said.

The Citrus Animal Services division has a $1.1-million budget for 2007, including operation of the animal shelter and animal control activities.

The budget includes funding for 21 employees.

If commissioners decided to privatize the shelter, Poliseno said, employees with appropriate qualifications could work in other county government jobs or work for the private contractor.

Before reaching a privatization agreement, the county would have to seek bids or put out a formal request for qualifications, Poliseno said.

He said county officials have only met with representatives from the Humanitarians because the group contacted the county.

"They wanted to know if there was anything they could do to help," Poliseno said. "We don't know exactly what we want yet, so they can't give us any help as of yet."

Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this story. Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

[Last modified January 15, 2007, 00:58:36]