Private vets to help at animal shelters

Private veterinarians will start working Tuesday at King County animal shelters to help the county's hard-pressed shelter medical staff, the County Council decided Monday.

The council approved a motion arranging for private veterinarians to volunteer their services and calling for a stepped-up pet-adoption campaign among county employees, businesses and animal-rescue groups. County Executive Ron Sims issued a declaration of emergency at the shelters to streamline the measures.

The actions follow the release last week of a report faulting the operation of the shelters. Among other shortcomings, the report, from the University of California-Davis, cited overworked veterinarians who have time for little more than spaying and neutering of animals. The report was the third in recent months to criticize the management of the shelters and the conditions of animal care.

Sims and council leaders have announced plans to spend nearly $1 million this year to upgrade the main shelter in Kent and increase staff and to form an interagency task force to recommend longer-term improvements.

The county, which also operates a shelter in Bellevue, provides animal care and control services to most suburban cities and unincorporated areas. Seattle runs its own program.