Columbia City Council set to vote on new animal control facility

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council is expected to vote on purchasing a new animal control facility at its meeting Monday night.

The former site of Columbia Animal Hospital, located at 1300 Boone Industrial Drive, if approved, will house animal control operations. Operations will include animal shelter services, veterinary care and facility maintenance.

The property at 1300 Boone Industrial Drive costs $995,000. In a council meeting on Sept. 21, the proposal was for the City of Columbia to pay $595,000 and Boone County to pay $400,000. But documents set for a meeting on Oct. 5 show that the city will now take the full total out of reserves, and Boone County will contribute $400,000 at a later date.

Veterinary care for animal control is currently provided through a contract with the Central Missouri Humane Society, by Animal Control staff, and by the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center.

Just recently, the Central Missouri Humane Society ended its contract with Boone County and Columbia’s animal control, making 2027 its final year providing services under the current contract. All other providers will continue to provide services, according to a memo from Monday's meeting.

According to the memo, the Department of Public Health and Human Services plans to request proposals for new non-profit or private organizations to take over these services starting in 2028.

Currently, animal control relies on the Central Missouri Humane Society to house its animals; however, the new facility will bring those operations in-house.