Letter: County must fund animal rescue, welfare
Published 1:30 am Saturday, July 4, 2026
Editor,
Sheriff Felici recently stated that he is confident that Island County can handle animal issues through one animal control officer and “relationships with regional resources.” We are two of those regional resources, and we are here to say clearly: That is not a sustainable system.
Island County has a $29,000 annual contract for shelter services with WAIF who do critically important work for dogs and cats. But there is no formal system for other animals. When emergency placement, transport or capture is needed for goats, pigs and farmed animals, Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary is called. When the same is needed for rabbits, snakes and other small or exotic animals, Critters Pet Rescue is called.
These calls can involve abandonment, neglect or abuse. Sometimes a deputy is on scene, but sometimes we are asked by dispatch to respond to situations on our own. Calls come with no warning, at odd hours and with an expectation that we will make space and time, provide transport and housing and absorb the costs of feed and veterinary care.
Animal control programs are typically supported by pet licensing. WAIF recently reported an estimated 9,775 dogs and cats in Oak Harbor and only 4.6% are licensed. There is an estimated $297,000 in uncollected pet licensing fees county-wide. A total of $427,000 if cat licensing was required by Island County like it is in our neighboring counties of Snohomish, King, Pierce and Kitsap. It’s no surprise that animal control is underfunded when the codes designed to fund it are not enforced.
County Commissioners Jill Johnson, Melanie Bacon and Janet St. Clair are responsible for our county codes and county budget. Sheriff Rick Felici is responsible for advocating for the resources his office needs to enforce those codes. All of them. Our county codes are law, yet when it comes to animals, our commissioners and our sheriff are communicating that they are optional.
Ballydídean and Critters are proud and grateful to be trusted resources to officials and the community. We encourage the county to continue working with local qualified organizations to provide necessary care to animals as part of their emergency response duties, but the ultimate responsibility of that care and its funding is on them. Local nonprofits are being taken advantage of to fill the gaps where our local government has failed to fulfill their responsibilities. If Island County needs Ballydídean, Critters, veterinarians, and other community partners as part of its animal response plan, then those relationships need to be formal, transparent and funded.
Ansel Santosa
Clinton
