In Fight for Financial Survival, Shelter to Begin Charging City $120 Per Animal

The Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter says it will start charging the City of La Grange $120 for each dog and cat that the City’s animal control officer brings to the shelter.

Teresa Brown, a board member for the non-profit shelter, announced the change at last Monday’s City Council meeting.

The City increased its contribution to the shelter in 2026 to $36,000, which amounts to just under $60 per animal.

“We are grateful for the increase,” Brown said.

However, Brown said the cost to provide “very basic care” amounts to $458 per animal. Brown said Shelter donors have to pick up the remaining $398. “In today’s economy, less disposable income means donors are no longer willing or able to subsidize the City’s municipal responsibility,” Brown said. “We have addressed this through dialogue and transparency with no movement toward meaningful collaboration. Therefore, we are moving to a more sustainable business model.”

She said the City’s current $36,000 subsidy covers less than a quarter of the cost for the first 300 animals from La Grange.

“This year, upon the exhaustion of those funds, the shelter will begin invoicing the City of La Grange $120 per animal for every subsequent intake,” Brown said.

The Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter is a private, non-profit organization. It is not a branch of the County or City government, though it performs a service – caring for stray animals – that would otherwise fall upon local government. At Monday’s meeting, Brown called for the City of La Grange to partner with the shelter.

“Partners come to the table, strategize on ordinances and meaningful solutions, and share the financial weight of public safety,” she said. “But if the City chooses not to engage in a strategic funding plan, we must at least insist on being paid a fraction of the cost for the services we provide.”

Brown delivered her remarks during the meeting’s citizen participation period. Sam Wilson, a volunteer at the shelter, also spoke during the public comment period. He echoed Brown’s remarks about funding. He also urged the City to prioritize spay and neutering programs.

“In La Grange, we are losing the battle, and the population (of unwanted dogs and cats) is increasing,” Wilson said. “This isn’t just a shelter problem. It’s a communitywide reality. By prioritizing spay and neutering initiatives now, we save the City money by reducing the future burden on our animal control and the shelter.”

In an interview last Tuesday, City Manager Jack Thompson said he was surprised by the shelter’s announcement.

“We hadn’t heard anything from them until last night,” Thompson said. “We had increased their budget last fiscal year. We’re always open to hearing them out and see what numbers they’re experiencing. We’re willing to talk. That’s not a problem.”

Thompson said he did not yet know how the City will handle the new bills from the shelter.

“In mid-year, that’s something we’re going to need to talk about,” he said. “We budget a certain amount of money for the fiscal year. So I don’t know. A lot of things were kind of thrown out there last night at the meeting. I really need to sit down with them and hear them out, and what their expectations are.”

Thompson said there is not enough money in the City’s animal control budget to pay the new bills that the animal shelter announced.

“I completely understand,” Thompson said. “I get it. In these times, it’s expensive to do that. It was just a little surprising to hear a number like that thrown down. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to sit down and talk about it and figure out a strategy for moving forward.”