North Liberty switches to Cedar Valley Humane Society

The city of North Liberty has switched from the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center to the Cedar Rapids-based Cedar Valley Humane Society for its animal shelter needs.

The city made the change, effective April 25, after Iowa City asked neighboring communities for more money to help build and operate a new facility to replace the one damaged in the 2008 flood.

North Liberty will save an estimated $40,000 a year with the Cedar Valley Humane Society compared with what it would have paid Iowa City, City Administrator Ryan Heiar said. The city will pay $130 per animal sent to the shelter, with owners paying the fee if they claim the animal.

Heiar also has said that the city is confident Cedar Valley Humane Society treats its animals well, and that the drive to the shelter is not much longer than to Iowa City's temporary shelter several miles south of Iowa City. The new Iowa City shelter also is to be built south of town.

The protocol for reporting a stray animal in North Liberty remains the same, with residents asked to call City Hall at (319) 626-5700.

The Cedar Valley Humane Society's website is

http://www.cvhumane.org/