Politics & Government

Delco Approves $1.2M Contract With Chesco SPCA

Delaware County Council approved a long-term plan for animal control with the Chester County SPCA.

MEDIA–Delaware County Council approved a long-term plan for animal control with the Chester County SPCA.

Delaware County Council approved an animal control agreement between the Animal Protection Board and the Chester County SPCA last week, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.

Council approved the , in which the Animal Protection Board would commit to $1,293,750 in payments to the Chester County SPCA over the life of the contract.

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The original six-month contract was extended an additional six months.

According to the Delco Times, the Animal Protection Board would pay, up front, a minimum each month to the Chesco SPCA and then bill the municipality for the animal that was picked up and reimburse the county.

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The History

In order to become a lifesaving shelter, the non-profit Delaware County SPCA stopped , at which time the Animal Protection Board reached an agreement with the Chester County SPCA, while a new animal shelter was to be constructed.

With plans to build a new animal control facility in Darby Township, the agreement to pay the Chester County SPCA to handle Delco’s strays was intended to be temporary and a ground breaking ceremony was held in October 2011 to begin the project.

However, the county stopped the project in June when the estimated cost of the shelter increased from $1.2 million to more than $2 million.

The Animal Protection Board extended its Chester County SPCA agreement through the end of the year but was asking the Chester County SPCA to consider an extended agreement through 2017.

Agreement Details

During the first year of the new, proposed agreement, the Animal Protection Board would guarantee 75 animals per month in January, February and December, at the current rate of $250 per animal, with a monthly upfront fee of $18,750, according to the August presentation.

From March through November 2013, the Animal Protection Board would guarantee 90 animals per month at the same rate ($250 per dog or cat) and pay an upfront monthly fee of $22,500.

Then, starting in 2014 and ending in 2017, the rate charged per animal rate would be based on the Consumer Price Index for the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the presentation stated. The base index in December 2011 was $234.32, according to the presentation.

Animal Protection Board Chairman Tom Judge Jr. expects that cost to be about $270 per animal by 2017, according to the Delco Times.


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