The Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward is asking Belleville City Council for support as it attempts to address a $304,000 deficit.
On Monday, council will look at a letter from the Humane Society requesting the city allocate additional funds to cover the shortfall and ensure the Humane Society can continue to operate effectively.
The letter notes that current municipal funding is just under $51,000 but the total annual care costs such as shelter, spay/neuter, and
vaccinations for the animals they house is over $355,000.
The organization says the deficit must be addressed to ensure they can continue to provide essential services, and that failure to increase funding will not only result in increased risks to public health and safety but will also lead to further deterioration of the community’s capacity to care for its animals.
The Humane Society will also ask that that each year’s contract be renewed based on the previous year’s numbers to create a framework that equitably addresses changes in animal populations.
Council will not make any decisions Monday but will be asked to receive the correspondence and refer the matter to the 2025 Operating Budget.