The higher cost to shelter lost and stray animals is prompting the county government and some municipalities to withhold payments to the city of El Paso while they dispute monthly invoices and reconsider long-standing service agreements.
The city has interlocal agreements for animal services with seven area local governments, including the county, Horizon City, San Elizario, Socorro and Fort Bliss. Under the agreement, the city accepts animals from other jurisdictions and shelters them, treats them for illness or injury and helps to return pets to their owners, get them fostered or adopted, or transferred to other rescues.
El Paso County and Horizon City stopped making payments more than a year ago, while San Elizario paused payments two months ago – all citing the need to audit the invoices to make sure they are being charged properly…