Dearborn animal shelter fate uncertain after contentious city council meeting

The fate of a Dearborn animal shelter remains unclear after a standing-room-only Dearborn City Council meeting Wednesday night that ended in a stalemate over a more than 50% budget increase sought by the nonprofit that runs the operation.

The contentious meeting featured a vocal crowd that clapped, booed and shouted remarks throughout the meeting, with Council President Michael Sareini calling the room to order.

Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, which has operated the shelter on behalf of the city since 1997, has asked for a more than 50% annual increase in what the city pays for their services, based on figures provided by the nonprofit to the Free Press. Shelter leadership argues they’re only asking the city to pay the true cost of the city-required four-day hold and care for strays, but the increased cost is a concern for city officials.

Cory Keller, the nonprofit's president and CEO, answered questions raised by the council on the proposed new costs followed by a presentation from Mayor Abdullah Hammoud on the city's proposal for a compromise.

"I hope that with the administration and city council and our organization, we can have a more thoughtful conversation and come to some sort of agreement before July 1," Keller said.

The nonprofit's budget is capped at $295,000 a year, Keller said. They now seek $457,000 to meet actual costs with no cap, because the agency doesn't control how many strays come in. The higher rate is related to rising costs in the animal welfare industry and the nonprofit having its own facility, Keller said.

Under the proposed new contract, the nonprofit would receive $282 per cat and $324 per dog, Keller said. The nonprofit presented this rate as non-negotiable, arguing the city should pay the nonprofit's actual costs and that past contracts didn't fairly reflect operating costs.

A key point of contention was the cost of sterilizing animals before adoption, as required under Michigan law. The nonprofit covers this cost through the city funding, while many other cities don't, city officials said. This takes the burden off pet owners who may not be able to afford the fee, but places a strain on the city's already limited budget, Sareini and Hammoud said.

“We need to decide what's best for our taxpayers and residents of Dearborn, because we want to make sure that we get the best value,” Sareini said.

The city would like to continue supporting the nonprofit, but faces budget constraints and financial concerns regarding the increased contract costs, Hammoud said.

Julie Ader, Allen Park, is a school social worker and volunteer with Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit. City Council should support the nonprofit's key role in the city, she said.

"Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit is a wonderful animal shelter that supports the community in many different ways," Ader said. "We not only help with controlling the population of the animals and educating people on how to care for animals, but the programs there involve children."

Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit has been contracted by the city since 1996 to run the city’s animal shelter and runs under the city police department. The city and the nonprofit have been in talks to negotiate a new contract this spring, with little progress, officials said.

Hammoud presented data comparing Dearborn's contract to five other cities in Wayne County, demonstrating lower costs than for Dearborn. Keller disputed the data, saying it didn't accurately reflect Dearborn's situation.

Though city councilmembers and Hammoud presented offers to compromise, the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit stuck to their price, unwilling to budge. Hammoud proposed a multi-year contract and Sareini suggested a temporary cost compromise followed by negotiations, both of which the nonprofit rejected.

Later, Hammoud and leaders of the nonprofit stepped out of the meeting to negotiate, eventually ending the meeting without coming to a decision.

The lack of an outcome means continued uncertainty for Dearborn's animal welfare services ahead of the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit's upcoming contract expiration. Whether a deal is reached or not, the city is committed to ensuring the vital services continue, Sareini said.

"I hope that we can come to some sort of a conclusion of partnership because I think that the city of Dearborn really needs to understand the value we provide to the community," Keller said.

City leaders and representatives of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit will continue to negotiate ahead of the upcoming contract expiration on Sunday. The nonprofit plans to consult with its Board of Directors during this interval, Keller said.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn council, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit in budget fight