Animal Welfare League in Port Charlotte could shut down over funding dispute

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WINK) — The Animal Welfare League in Port Charlotte and Charlotte County have not reached an agreement on a new contract, with just months remaining until the current one expires in November.

The Animal Welfare League gave the county a notice in February that if the two fail to come to an agreement by November about the contract, they would terminate it. A couple of months later, there's still no agreement.

Linda Turner has been a volunteer at the Animal Welfare League for more than a decade, at least five days a week and more than eight hours a day.

"This is a safety haven for all the stray animals, the unwanted animals, and it just, it's heartbreaking for me," Turner said.

"I don't know exactly what's going to happen. I'm not into the political side of it so much, but I'm so in hopes that they'll finally come to an agreement so that we can continue here as we have been for years," Turner said.

The contract is something Executive Director Tara Zajas says hasn't been negotiated in more than a decade. She added that the price of everything has gone up, and the animal population hasn't slowed down.

"We take in an average of 2,500 animals per year. And 85% of our population is brought in through our animal control contract," Zajas said. "It's a staggering number. And the animals that are brought in through the county contract are here between an average of 45 and 57 days, that is their stay with us. And the county has mentioned that they are only legally required to hold them for five days."

Since that notice, the Animal Welfare League and the county have met several times. Charlotte County has offered the Animal Welfare League $500,000 in its contract renewal, a 52% increase over its current payment of $327,000.

The Animal Welfare League is asking for $1.3 million, a nearly 328% increase. The Animal Welfare League argues that, with them being the only no-kill, open-admission shelter in the county, their needs are exactly what they're asking for.

"While $326,000 is a lot of money, the bill for the animals that are brought into our shelter is $1.3 million. That is what it takes to keep the animals fed and medically treated and housed in the shelter for the time that they're here," Zajas said. "That is what it costs. We're not asking for $1 more."

With time ticking until the fall, the shelter remains hopeful for a solution soon. The Animal Welfare League also tells WINK News that they need volunteers and fosters since we're entering the summer, non-busy months. 

Click here to volunteer or donate.