The impasse remains between Hinsdale Humane Society and the village over the terms for taking in stray dogs, but officials on both sides hope a deal can be reached.
At Tuesday’s village board meeting, Village President Tom Cauley opened discussion on the dispute, which came to public light last month when the humane society notified Hinsdale police that it would no longer accept dogs picked up by the department. Cauley said he was unable to accept the nonprofit’s new fees to house dogs from partner municipalities for either $100 per day per dog for seven days or a flat $375 payment.
“$100 a day just seems too steep to me,” said Cauley, noting that it only cost $15 daily at DuPage County Animal Services in Wheaton, where stray dogs have been taken in the last several weeks.
The police department has purchased two cages to hold dogs until they can either be reunited with their owners or transported to the shelter.
Cauley also balked at the stipulation that if the dog is claimed, the village is responsible for collecting those fees from the resident.
“We just don’t have the manpower to collect fees,” Cauley said.
Until now the humane society had not charged a fee for taking in animals. Officials said the village has provided grants to support shelter operations.
The police department reported that it took 27 dogs to the humane society in 2023, about one-quarter of which were never claimed. But JoAnn McGuinness, president of the humane society, said that 70 animals on average are brought to the shelter each year from both police and residents and that the financial burden has become unsustainable.
“Our cost on average is about $1,500 per animal to feed, vaccinate, medicate, care for those animals,” McGuinness told trustees. “So on average that means what Hinsdale is costing us as a nonprofit is almost $80,000 per year.”
McGuinness said the humane society does not need to euthanize animals for space needs as DuPage County may have to, even though it’s a no-kill facility with a 92-percent live release rate. That means there’s a risk that a resident’s pet could be put down there if not claimed within a certain time, she suggested.
Other communities that partner with the humane society, including Oak Brook, have agreed to the terms for services, McGuinness reported, an they’ve all chosen to pay the $375 flat fee per dog.
“I wanted you to know how this happened,” McGuinness said of the stalemate. “It is our mission to save lives, especially for the surrounding communities.
“We want this to be a positive outcome,” she added.
While the discussion focused on dogs, McGuinness said feral cats also are recipients of the agency’s resources.
Cauley said the village will continue to negotiate with the humane society and echoed McGuinness’ hope that the two sides can work out a contract that is amenable to both parties.
“I’d like to see them prosper and I’d like to see them partner with us,” he said. “But it’s just a lot of money.”
