Animal Control Contract Information
Quick Access Links
Licensing
Pawportunites is under contract with the City of Blue Springs to operate their Department of Animal Control. This is done under a license from the Missouri Department of Agriculture classified as a Contract Kennel. A Contract Kennel is defined as any facility operated by any person or entity other than the state or any political subdivision of the state, for the purposes of impounding or harboring seized stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted animals, on behalf of and pursuant to a contract with the state or any political subdivision. Taken from statute 273.325 ACFA
There has been confusion in regards to types of animal welfare organizations and licenses.
The MDA defines an Animal Shelter as a facility which is used to house or contain animals, which is owned, operated, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other not-for-profit organization devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of such animals, or a person whose primary purpose is to act as an animal rescue, to collect and care for unwanted animals or to offer them for adoption. Taken from statute 273.325 ACFA
An animal shelter and animal rescue hold the same statutory meaning. The difference is in the inspection requirements.
Another area of confusion is regarding stray holds, housing abandoned and stray animals and who can perform these tasks.
Only a Pound or Contract Kennel can impound or harbor stray, abandoned animals for stray hold on behalf of their political subdivision or contract unless they, in writing give this power to another organization on a case by case basis per their subdivision’s ordinance— per statute 273.
A shelter or rescue can only handle unwanted animals. This requires the organization to have been surrendered the animal through proper documentation. A shelter or rescue CAN perform a legal stray hold of an animal IF they have been given written authorization from the state or local political subdivision’s Animal Control, other process as defined in that subdivision’s ordinances. —per statute 273. and local ordinance
A boarding kennel only CAN perform a legal stray hold of an animal IF they have been given written authorization from the state or local political subdivision’s Animal Control, other process as defined in that subdivision’s ordinances. They are licensed to ONLY care for animals OWNED by others. —per statute 273. and local ordinance
Financial
Private contracts between a city and an animal welfare organization to operate their Animal Control is new practice nationwide. This leaves questions from tax payers, as to the use of funds by the organization.
Pawportunities believes in 100% transparency with the residents of their community. This is the financial statement for all funds received from the City of Blue Springs for the city’s last financial year and their related expenses.
Current City Contract
State and Local Governing Statutes and Ordinances
Metro Animal Control Budget Comparisons
Below is data showing the 2022 or 2023 budgets for local Animal Control agencies with the City of Blue Springs’s numbers are using their 2024 budget numbers. You will see the City of Blue Springs has the smallest cost per resident and the smallest capacity per resident to handle animals. Of the listed cities Blue Springs is the only city WITHOUT an actual stand alone shelter facility.
Statistics for Services
Below is the data for Blue Springs Animal Control that compares prior years to our contract years.
