Belleville City Council approved a recommendation to increase the amount of the Pound Services Contract with the Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward for 2026.
Council approved the recommendation on Monday.
The recommendation calls for an increase in the amount of $255,800 for a total of $460,000.
The agreement is for a term of one year and can be renewed annually, based on agreement by both the parties.
In the recommendation to council, staff did a survey of other municipalities to see how they manage their pound services.
According to the report, in 2024 and 2025, the City of Peterborough’s contract with Peterborough Humane Society was $445K and $456K respectively.
At council’s meeting, Councillor Garnet Thomson supported the motion, saying reading the report made him realize how much the city had been under-funding the animal shelter.
“When you look at the Humane Society, what we’ve underfunded them for the last number of years is really not fair to the Humane Society with what they do in our community,” Councillor Garnet Thomson told council.
“I have to plead ignorance myself, because I didn’t realize how far we were behind on funding the Humane Society over the years.”
Councillor Barbara Enright-Miller also said she was supporting the motion, saying the Humane Society should be properly compensated for what they do in the community.
“I recognize that this is a difficult budget year ahead, and that everyone is feeling the pressure, including those of us serving on the Finance Committee. However, in my view, this contract needs correction,” Enright-Miller said.
“This issue is not going to go away, and I will be supporting the report.”
Council approved the contract.
