Pittsburgh is contemplating extending a contract with a nonprofit animal shelter by over $ 1 million

Pittsburgh City Council is considering a proposal to extend the city’s partnership with Humane Animal Rescue, a nonprofit that welcomes stray animals and supports the adoption process.

Humane Animal Rescue has worked with the city’s Bureau of Animal Care and Control for about 15 years.

The contract presented to the council would extend these services to 2024 at a total cost of more than $ 1 million.

It did so after City Controller Michael Lamb published a performance review from the Bureau of Animal Care and Control in October. In the audit, he identified the bureau’s contract with Humane Animal Rescue as an area of ​​”immediate concern”.

The partnership is necessary because the city does not have its own animal shelter to care for stray animals.

There have been cost increases in recent years, but the city has further extended its agreement with the nonprofit animal shelter, according to the audit.

“The city needs to evaluate the benefits and costs of building our own home,” Lamb said in the exam. “The achievements of Humane Animal Rescue are remarkable. It is imperative (that the office carries out a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis. “

Some other cities, comparable in size to Pittsburgh, have built their own accommodations, an option the audit recommends.

In response to the audit, Lee Schmidt, deputy director of operations and administration for the Department of Public Safety’s Animal Care and Control, said the consideration of the possibility of building a city shelter was “very responsible”.

Considering that such an action “is in no way a reflection of the current contract and relationship with Humane Animal Rescue,” but an attempt to ensure that the department is “effective and responsible” in using taxpayers’ money, he said.

Dan Rossi, CEO of Humane Animal Rescue, told the Tribune review he knew the city was considering building its own animal shelter. Rossi said Humane Animal Rescue “would love to work with them” and would continue to offer help “in any way possible” if the city were to take this route.

Rossi said the city was already in contract negotiations to renew the deal when the performance audit was released.

The draft contract was presented on Tuesday without discussion. The Council could take a final vote on the measure in two weeks.

Julia Felton is the author of Tribune Review. You can contact Julia at 724-226-7724, jfelton@triblive.com, or on Twitter.