Animal rescue groups in Cleveland are calling it a victory.
The city's approved fee for spay and neutering and vaccinations will not be going up after all.
The Animal Shelter Advisory Board kept the fee low, although many veterinarians will likely have to charge more.
For years the city of Cleveland used private donations and pet adoptions at the Cleveland Animal Shelter to keep adoption prices around 50-dollars.
That was supplemented by adoption charges from refundable spay and neuter fees that were not claimed.
That fund is now exhausted and the Animal Shelter Advisory met to talk about raising the fee to 90 dollars for puppies and kittens effective July 1st.
Animal rescuer Betty Gravelle of the Dixie Day Spay, urged the board to hold the line.
BETTY GRAVELLE, DIXIE DAY SPAY "We are begging you to work with us..and to do that, the adoption fee has got to stay low. Applause."
After a lengthy discussion..the board decided to set the fee at 50-dollars, whereas it was 95-dollars.
The board acknowledged some veterinarians may not be able to go along.
DR. JOHN OWENS, CHAIRMAN , SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD "The veterinarians, Dixie Day and other veterinarians in the county will spay and neuter, vaccinate, and de-worm animals for 50-dollars when they are adopted from the pound."
Board member Beth Foster made the motion which passed 4 to 3.
BETH FOSTER, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER "You know there are people who adopt from the pound who can afford a higher adoption fee..anyone of the veterinarians in this community they worked with, and established a relationship with...we don't want this motion to exclude them from going to the veterinarian of their choice."
The board agreed with several who spoke, that a higher fee of 90 to a 100 dollars to adopt and neuter an animal, is more than most families can afford.
Gravelle, Foster and many others at today's meeting say they intend to turn Cleveland animal control into a no-kill shelter.
As for emergencies, Dr. Owens says the Shelter can continue to bring sick and injured animals to any local veterinarian who will treat the animals pro-bono.
