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Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s recent editorial regarding the city of Eugene’s budget and the questions the editorial board believes should be asked suggested that the services the city contracts for with Greenhill Humane Society may not be core services and that community alternatives might exist.
That suggestion reflects a misunderstanding of what the city of Eugene actually pays for through its contract with Greenhill, and it overlooks the history that led to the highly successful public-private partnership that has been in place since 2012.
Many community members are familiar with Greenhill’s lifesaving work. They know us as an animal adoption center. They may also know about our pet pantry, which distributes pet food and supplies to families in need throughout Lane County; our spay/neuter programs that have helped manage feral and free-roaming cat populations for nearly two decades; and our disaster response efforts, which place Greenhill staff at the table and on the ground during wildfires and severe weather emergencies to help people with pets.
All of these programs, the services for which Greenhill is best known, are funded entirely through private donations. The city of Eugene does not pay for them.
So what does the City pay for?
Under the contract, Greenhill serves as:
- The central repository for stray and abandoned animals in Eugene
- The quarantine facility for dogs involved in severe bite incidents
- The secure holding and veterinary care facility for animals connected to abuse or neglect investigations or other criminal matters
The contract provides the Eugene Police Department and other city departments with 24/7 access to the shelter and to trained Greenhill staff whenever animals are involved in a public safety situation.
This is not ancillary work. It is a portion of the city’s core public safety infrastructure that requires licensed veterinary professionals, highly trained animal handling staff, secure facilities and personnel skilled at managing complex and often emotionally charged situations. These services are utilized thousands of times each year.
As for whether a “community alternative” exists: This question was thoroughly examined more than a decade ago.
From 1978 through mid-2012, animal sheltering services were provided directly by Lane County in an aging facility in west Eugene. After years of budget instability, rising costs and growing community concern about the quality of care animals were receiving, the city of Eugene made a deliberate decision to pursue a public-private partnership to improve service delivery while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
The result is the partnership that exists today. In 2012, with a contracted amount that was less than what the city was providing to Lane County, Greenhill staff and volunteers took on the work that was performed in the public shelter. Additionally, in 2019, Greenhill constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility that was funded entirely through private philanthropy.
No city dollars were used to build it. Animals in Eugene now receive high-quality care in a modern facility. Our return-to-owner rate for lost pets is among the highest in the country. Police officers and other public safety personnel have immediate access to professional, responsive support when animals are involved.
Importantly, the amount the city provides annually for contracted services represents only a fraction of the true cost of delivering this work. The difference is covered by private donations and thousands of volunteer hours. In other words, Eugene receives enhanced public safety services that are subsidized by philanthropic investment from across the community.
Public discussion about budgets is healthy and appropriate. But those discussions should be grounded in a clear understanding of what services are being provided and what the alternatives would realistically require.
I welcome thoughtful questions and dialogue about the work we do and the partnership that has served Eugene well for more than a decade.
