City, county to discuss terms of long-term contract Friday.

It's been a month now since the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region began operating Pueblo's animal shelter on a temporary contract following the departure of PAWS for Life.

The Humane Society reports taking in just over 300 total animals in that time.

The shelter, operating under the name Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region Pueblo Shelter, has taken in 134 cats and 169 dogs, said the organization's CEO, Jan McHugh-Smith.

"We've been obviously reuniting lost pets with their families," McHugh-Smith said. "Also, the animals that are available for adoption have been going up to our partners on the Front Range, so the Denver Dumb Friends League has been getting those animals and trying to get them homes.

"Our animal law enforcement officers have been really busy. They handled a lot of calls."

The shelter is still offering limited services as it continues to work under a short-term contract.

That means pet adoptions are closed at the shelter and, as McHugh-Smith said, are being handled by the Denver Dumb Friends League. The facility is open from noon to 5 p.m., and animal law enforcement officers are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

McHugh-Smith said shelter operations would be increased when a long-term contract is presented by the city and county, which co-own the shelter.

A meeting is scheduled Friday among the city, county and Pikes Peak officials to discuss the terms of a long-term deal, Mayor Nick Gradisar said.

"Their contract right now is set not to exceed 90 days, but certainly our goal is to get the permanent contract in place as soon as possible, so that the scope of services at the shelter can be expanded," Gradisar said. "I think they will run a professional organization and they'll enforce the codes and ordinances we have on the books — and that's what we expect them to do.

"I think they've got an understanding that it's the desire of the community to euthanize as few animals as possible, even though we've taken out the percentage mandate. That's still how we want to operate going forward — and I think they understand that."

The Pueblo City Council voted to repeal the Pueblo Animal Protection Act, which required a 90% no-kill rate, as requested by the Pikes Peak group.

The city and county's contract with PAWS for Life was terminated on April 4, which left the city without a provider for animal services. The former operator was caught up in weeks of turmoil that included a state investigation, the closure of the facility, the ousting of its veterinarian and director, and decisions by the city and county to terminate its contract.

rseverance@chieftain.com

Twitter: @RyanS_Chieftain