JANUARY 1 2017- MARCH 31 2023:
Furry Friends took in 4,989 animals from WDM (including 1,666 owner surrenders). We also directly handled the impound of 1,528 WDM animals without assistance of the city animal control officers. We were available for more than 21,290 hours to the community and were paid $112,355. These payments were not just for staffing, but also providing the building (at a rate of $15,475 for the entire contract) for the city for that timeframe as well as the cost of supplies for intake vaccinations (with $12.50 average cost at an expense of $62,362). This leaves Furry Friends with $34,518.
FFR staff handled all animal care for these animals for the duration of their stay, provided medical care-both routine and emergency on-call needs, and facilitated returns to owners or adoptions for animals who were not able to be reunited.Animals placed for adoption were tested for diseases, spayed and neutered, and microchipped. The average cost for Furry Friends personnel per animal handled was $6.91 (including only animals from WDM).
City employees hired for animal control purposes impounded 1,795 animals from WDM in the same timeframe (and also 1,170 animals from Clive and Urbandale from a prior dissolved partnership). This means they drove the animals to the shelter and entered them in the computer system.
The costs for “personal services” or compensation only to the taxpayers for this was $1,430,393. This does not include the cost of equipment and materials. The average cost for city personnel per animal handled was $482 (including animals from Clive and Urbandale).
SINCE THE END OF FURRY FRIENDS CONTRACT JUNE 2023
Costs have continued to rise while services have drastically declined. The city spent over $60,000 retrofitting a building to be used as a holding facility. Personnel expenses continue to increase despite the number of animals being impounded drastically decreasing. Each full time officer costs the taxpayers over $90,000 a year–there are four employed by the city. In January-April 2025 the 4 full time officers impounded a total of 60 animals. This averages to each officer impounding one animal every eight days.
Despite a massive budget of over $500,000 to provide very limited services to only a portion of West Des Moines animals in need, the city spent no money whatsoever to provide vaccinations for animals, have veterinarians examine or treat animals, or purchase medication beyond the drugs used to put animals down. In contrast, one of the top expenses for nonprofit animal welfare organizations is medical care for animals. Here are the most recent available budgets:
2023/2024 budget neighborhood services (formerly animal control)
2024/2025 budget neighborhood services (formerly animal control)
Save WDM cats 