- April 18, 2024
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A city ordinance says the city is responsible. The total bill could be $22,500.
The issue of stray animals in Palm Coast continues to grow, according to Amy Beilman, president of the board of directors for the Flagler Humane Society.
Beilman, along with Director Jef Hale, asked the Palm Coast City Council Tuesday, April 19, to pay for the care of the strays, in compliance with a city ordinance that states the city is responsible for stray animals.
New software at the Humane Society allows the agency to pinpoint where stray pets are coming from, Beilman said, adding that the Humane Society gets animals from animal control, residents and also from residents who find animals on the street.
“In the past six months, we’ve discovered that we’ve taken in more than 500 strays from Palm Coast,” Beilman said.
According to Beilman, unless an animal is brought to the Humane Society by Palm Coast Animal Control, the society doesn’t get paid.
“If the city will not pay us, then we will have no other choice than to send the person who comes to shelter with a pet — to send them to Palm Coast Animal Control,” she said.
According to City Manager Jim Landon, the base rate to the Humane Society is $45.
As City Council member Frank Meeker pointed out, if there are 500 stray animals at $45 apiece, that totals $22,500.
Representatives from the Flagler Humane Society and the City Council will determine how much money should be paid back or come up with a plan regarding stray animals.
