DELAND, Fla. – Volusia County leaders approved a proposal Tuesday that could mean higher costs for pet owners across the county.
The county council adopted a revised fee schedule for Volusia County Animal Services as it prepares to take over sheltering responsibilities from Halifax Humane Society.
Under the proposal, fees for spay and neuter surgeries would rise, with a large dog neuter increasing to $100, up from $65. Adoption fees for cats and senior dogs would drop to $25. Owner reclamation fees for unaltered pets picked up as strays would start at $100.
[WATCH: Halifax Humane ends contract with Volusia County for stray animals]
Some residents voiced concerns about affordability.
“I feel bad for the people who are really responsible for the animals,” said Sean, a local pet owner. “Now they’re going to have these exorbitant fees, and they’re just trying to do the right thing.”
Others said reasonable pricing is essential, particularly for students and families on tight budgets.
County officials say the changes are necessary as they plan to open a temporary intake facility in DeLand.
In a statement, officials said Halifax Humane Society’s “abrupt decision to abandon sheltering services” left little time to prepare. They added that updating the fee schedule is needed to cover costs and ensure animal welfare.
However, Halifax Humane Society says the county’s statement is inaccurate.
For one, the group said the county had known about the decision to stop accepting dangerous animals, going back to April. The group had created a webpage to explain it to the community. Halifax said it invited community members to work on solutions.
A spokesperson for Halifax says it had always planned to continue accepting non-dangerous stray pets and non-bite cases. CEO Sean Hawkins said it never wanted to leave the county in the lurch, and planned to continue to assist the county with strays until 2027.
However, Hawkins said county officials were the ones who made this decision to end the contract for stray animal intake on Oct. 1.
Hawkins said he received an email from the county on Sept. 12, weeks after News 6 first reported on Halifax’s decision.
“Of Florida’s 67 counties, there are only nine counties in the entire state that don’t have their own government-run animal shelter,” Hawkins explained to News 6’s Molly Reed in August.
Hawkins said continuing to take in dangerous animals or those needing quarantine presents outsized liability and financial challenges. Halifax Humane Society last year took in some 5,000 animals, and only 400 were dangerous. But those animals required more medical and behavioral care, and more logistical considerations.
Hawkins said Halifax will continue to accept non-dangerous strays for five cities in the county.