The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a one-year animal control contract with the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society on Tuesday, while the county also explores establishing its own animal control services.

• The $824,018 contract represents a 15.43% increase over the previous year’s rate, according to Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox, who presented the agreement to commissioners.

The new rate was calculated at $6.50 per capita for the county’s unincorporated population of 126,772 residents not covered by municipal animal control contracts.

“PAWS elected not to engage the one year renewal” of the existing contract, Maddox told commissioners, citing the organization’s financial difficulties in operating within existing contract levels across multiple jurisdictions.

The contract approval comes after PAWS Executive Director Tracey Kinsley informed the community on Aug. 1 that the organization faces “the very real possibility of closure in early 2026 unless immediate action is taken.”

In her letter to the community, Kinsley detailed the organization’s financial crisis, noting that PAWS has taken in 2,240 animals since October 2024 at an average cost of $500 per animal, totaling $1.12 million in basic care costs alone. However, the organization receives only $900,000 from all jurisdiction contracts combined.

• “This model is unsustainable, and we cannot continue on this path without your help,” Kinsley wrote in the August letter.

During Monday’s meeting, Maddox acknowledged the county’s vulnerable position, stating they have been “over a barrel because we have depended on this agency for service.”

“I don’t ever want to put us in that position again,” Maddox said, explaining the county’s decision to explore developing its own animal control capabilities.

Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who made the motion to approve the contract, said she hopes the county will eventually operate superior facilities compared to what currently exists.

• “I have toured the facility on a number of occasions we can do better and I want us to do better,” Ketchel said. She expressed her vision that if the county was to operate their own facility, that it would serve as “a place where animals will be saved during hurricanes, a place where animals will be treated humanely, a place that we can all be proud of.”

She continued: “Many counties have this responsibility. We have not had this responsibility up until now,” Ketchel said, adding that she doesn’t want to enter the animal control business but sees no other viable option given current circumstances.

The new contract includes a provision allowing PAWS to terminate with three months’ notice if the organization becomes insolvent. Maddox said the county has secured “soft confirmation” from two partner agencies to provide emergency services if PAWS suddenly closes.

PAWS is one of only two animal shelters in Florida that operates as both a municipal animal shelter and animal control provider, according to Kinsley’s community letter. The organization has served in this capacity for nearly 60 years.

The contract must still be finalized and signed by PAWS leadership before taking effect September 1, when the current agreement expires August 31. Commissioners granted authority to County Administrator John Hofstad to execute the final contract with any minor, non-financial changes.

• Maddox indicated the county is actively investigating options for establishing its own animal control services, including potential partnerships with municipalities and exploring available land for facilities.

The county’s exploration of independent animal control services comes as several local municipalities have made their own decisions regarding PAWS contracts. Crestview chose to start its own animal control operation, providing both animal control and sheltering services.

“Their budget has gone from $175,000 – this year it’s going to be $450,000,” Deputy County Administrator Craig Coffey said about Crestview’s transition. “So they’re looking at more permanent shelter stuff, but all these municipalities are looking to us for leadership.”

Other municipalities have taken different approaches. Destin returned to a contract with PAWS at the $6.50 per capita rate after temporarily using Walton County for emergency services only. Meanwhile, Niceville is still considering the new rate structure, according to Maddox.

• “The municipalities are still in flux,” Maddox told commissioners when asked about their status.

Coffey noted that municipalities are keeping their options open and looking to the county for direction. “Crestview, before they make big capital expenditures, they’re willing to talk to us and partner with us potentially if we come with some viable options,” he said.

The county is exploring whether to provide both animal control and sheltering services in-house or to split the functions, with Maddox noting that “there’s no option that’s off the table.” He emphasized the importance of building comprehensive capabilities to avoid future dependency issues.

“If we are going to do it and we’re going to go through the pain of developing it, we might as well build a facility that can handle both,” Maddox said, referencing the need for shelter space during hurricane evacuations as well as regular operations.