ABC27 WHTM Update: Harrisburg reaches contract deal with Humane Society

Update: Harrisburg reaches contract deal with Humane Society

The City of Harrisburg and the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area have come to an agreement and have a signed deal in place for the shelter to start receiving animals from the city again.
 
"The city, the police and the Humane Society really have a black eye after this," said City Councilman Brad Koplinski.

Harrisburg and the Humane Society have spent months going back and forth over a new deal to care for the city's strays. Late Friday afternoon, a signed contract by the city was faxed to the Humane Society and the deal was finalized. Koplinski doesn't understand what took so long.

"This can never happen again," Koplinksi said. "City Council allocated the funding for this. There are people in the solicitor's office and the humane society trying to work out this contract. I know there are other concerns in the city, but this is one that should have just gone through without any issues at all."

The city agreed on a $70,000 deal to have the Humane Society shelter the city's strays. They say it took so long because they were trying to update the past administration's contracts and be more specific with its terms.

"It was important to go through this process and the details and the costs involved and make sure that both parties were agreeable to a resolution," said city spokesman Bob Philbin. "I don't think it would be necessary to repeat that in the coming years or for at least the next couple years."

City officials came under heavy criticism when a leaked internal memo gave City Police the permission to release or destroy the animals because the city had failed to pay its 2011 contract with the humane society.

Residents like Taris Wilkerson thought the policy was unconscionable.

"I see [pitbulls] all day and you know, it tears me up not to see them in a warm, comfortable, cozy home," said Wilkerson.

The city would pay half of the cost of the contract up front for the deal to officially begin.

"I think it was a healthy process and along with the other pet lovers in the community...I'm glad it's resolved," said Philbin.

All involved say they are happy to have gotten past this hurdle and to have a signed deal in place. However, officials with the Humane Society say they will feel even better when the city actually pays them the $35,000 dollars they are owed. The deadline is in 30 days.