Clark County holds off on animal shelter deal

Clark County's contract with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, over shelter services for those with paws, is on pause.Clark County commissioners have officially offered the Humane Society a counterproposal for a one-year contract, as opposed to the two-year agreement that was before the board.But one commissioner says he would likely return to a two-year agreement if he could get a closer look at the Humane Society's books.Commissioners first took up the matter last week, but elected to hold off for a week so Commissioner David Madore could get caught up on the financial situation surrounding the agreement.

Madore said at Tuesday's meeting he's seen a fair amount of information from the society, but is still curious about the salaries paid to the animal group's executives."We certainly support the good work (of the Humane Society)," Madore said "None of this,Animatronic T-Rex Dinosaur, just simply an inquiry, asking for transparency, asking for what should tell a very good story, is in any way (meant) to take away from that at all."He continued, "The only reason why we are asking for the information that has so far not been provided is because we are charged to be good stewards of the public trust."

Madore made a point that it was "hundreds of thousands of dollars" the Humane Society is requesting, Animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rides,and while he believes it is a "very good effort," he wants the county to be financially prudent with its expenditures.The reason the contract is raising scrutiny appears to stem from the Humane Society's request that the county pay more to operate the shelter.