Background:

Better Together Animal Alliance (BTAA) is the cornerstone of animal welfare in Bonner County, serving over 8,000 animals annually through various programs that benefit pets and strengthen the human-animal bond. BTAA holds contracts with the City of Sandpoint, the City of Ponderay, and Bonner County, fulfilling their legal requirements set by Idaho law to manage stray dogs humanely.

Current Issue:

BTAA is at risk of losing these contracts. This change could result in stray dogs being housed in insufficient facilities and euthanized after five days if unclaimed by their owners. All stray dogs would have to be taken to city or county facilities, which currently do not exist. Our concern is for the well-being of stray dogs in our region. We need our officials to be transparent with their plans to manage these dogs in a humane way.

In March 2024, BTAA proposed new service contracts with increased costs due to rising expenses in staffing, insurance, utilities, professional fees, and building maintenance. Historically, BTAA has subsidized these services with public donations but now seeks to ensure that the cities and the county cover the full cost of their statutory obligations. BTAA has proposed a five-year plan to help these agencies gradually increase their budget to meet our organization’s costs. The proposed budget breakdown for stray dog services based on intake percentages is as follows:

City of Ponderay (7% of stray dogs): $19,184
City of Sandpoint (24% of stray dogs): $65,773
Bonner County (62% of stray dogs): $169,913

Whether the city contracts with BTAA or not, you, as a taxpayer, are paying for the care and management of stray dogs. Without renewed contracts, these jurisdictions must still comply with Idaho laws (Idaho Code 25-3501, 25-2804, and 25-3504) to manage stray dogs and ensure their humane treatment. This would necessitate finding another contractor or building and operating new facilities, both of which would likely be more costly and less effective than the current arrangement with BTAA.

How You Can Help:

If you reside in the City of Ponderay, the City of Sandpoint, or Bonner County and value BTAA’s services, we urge you to take action to ensure animals are humanely cared for when lost:

Attend Meetings:
Participate in upcoming City Council or County Commissioners meetings.

Upcoming Dates:
Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m. – City of Sandpoint Budget Review (meeting info. can be found here. 
Aug. 26, 10 a.m. – BOCC Budget Meeting (zoom links posted here)

Write Letters:
Contact your elected officials to emphasize the importance of renewing the stray dog contracts with BTAA.

BTAA’s commitment to humane, high-quality animal care is unwavering.

We provide essential services, including:
– Accessible, climate-controlled facilities for stray dog intake 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
– Daily food, water, kennel cleaning, and enrichment for stray dogs
– Comprehensive veterinary evaluations
– Urgent veterinary care for sick and injured dogs
– Efforts to reunite lost dogs with their owners
– Adherence to national best practices of animal care

BTAA’s goal is to ensure that pets in our community receive the best care possible.

Resources:

General Sample Letter to Officials [Download Here]

Leadership Contact information

Sandpoint: 

• Deb Ruehle: druehle@sandpointidaho.gov
• Joel Aispuro: jaispuro@sandpointidaho.gov
• Justin Dick: jdick@sandpointidaho.gov
• Kyle Schreiber: kschreiber@sandpointidaho.gov
• Pam Duquette: pduquette@sandpointidaho.gov
• Rick Howarth: rhowarth@sandpointidaho.gov
• Mayor Jeremy Grimm: mayor@sandpointidaho.gov
•  

Ponderay: 

• Mayor Steve Geiger: mayor@ponderay.org
• Ponderay City Council: speterson@ponderay.org
•  

Bonner County: 

• Asia Williams: asia.williams@bonnercountyid.gov
• Luke Omodt: luke.omodt@bonnercountyid.gov
• Steven Bradshaw: steven.bradshaw@bonnercountyid.gov
•  

Submit a Letter to the Editor:
– Bonner Daily Bee
– Sandpoint Reader

Watch BTAA’s presentations to local government:

Ponderay City Council (July 1, 2024) [Not Currently Available]
Sandpoint City Council (July 3, 2024) 
Asia Williams Community Chat (July 9, 2024) 

Watch BTAA executive director, Mandy Evans,  talk with KRFY.

Breakdown of State Codes:

Idaho Code 25-2804: Requires the seizure and impounding of stray dogs. 
Idaho Code 25-3501: Local law enforcement is appointed to handle matters regarding companion animals. 
Idaho Code 25-3504: Mandates the humane treatment and medical care of stray dogs. 

BTAA and Municipal Budgets:

BTAA Animal Care Budget: $1,061,111
2023 Stray Dog Intake: 406 dogs (25.83% of total intake)
Stray Dog Expense: $274,084
Costs Covered by Outdated Municipal Contracts: $18,400

Proposed Contract Costs:

City of Ponderay: $19,184 (7% of stray dogs)
City of Sandpoint: $65,773 (24% of stray dogs)
Bonner County: $169,913 (62% of stray dogs)

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