After the shelter's announcement, the nine-member Animal Protection Board was formed to address a replacement. The board had announced plans to build a facility in Darby Township to take in municipal strays. The plan was scrapped after the expected costs nearly doubled to $2 million and the county declined to back a bond to finance construction.
The county now fronts the board $30,000 a month to cover the cost of housing strays at the Chester County SPCA. The board then bills municipalities $250 per animal to recoup the fee.
The contract calls for the Animal Control Board to pay for a minimum of 120 animals a month. The county has agreed to help the board with the reimbursement should the number of animals fall below the 120 monthly average.
Tom Judge, president of the board, could not be reached for comment.
Last year, 1,352 animals were taken to the Chester County SPCA. Of that number, 677 were dogs and 675 were cats. Darby Borough sent the most animals - 280. That was followed by Chester City with 152 and Upper Darby Township with 135.
The municipalities will soon be asked to sign the new agreement. In 2012, tiny Millbourne and Rutledge Boroughs declined to sign, as did Radnor Township.
Contact Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9149, mschaefer@phillynews.com, or follow @MariSchaefer on Twitter.
