Heartland Pet Connection seeks funding increase from Hastings, Adams County

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Heartland Pet Connection is asking the City of Hastings and Adams County for more funding as the animal shelter faces a budget shortfall.

The shelter has spent the last 24 hours presenting to the Hastings City Council and Adams County commissioners. Leaders say rising veterinary bills, utilities and wages are putting the shelter’s work at risk after more than two decades of caring for hundreds of animals.

Requesting higher per-animal costs

The shelter is asking for an increase in the amount of money it receives for each animal that comes to the facility. The per-animal reimbursement would go from $50 to $200.

Heartland Pet Connection founding board member Penny Pratt said it costs the shelter $211 for animal treatment, which is why the shelter chose that amount for the increase.

“Like so many other small businesses and 501c3s, the minimum wage, the increase in utilities and veterinary costs. And well, it just goes on and on. We are not able to really continue to provide the quality of service that we pride ourselves in providing,” Pratt said.

County and city responses

Heartland Pet Connection is also asking Adams County to boost its annual support from the current $7,000 to $10,000 per year for up to 100 pets to help cover the cost of taking in more than 40 animals a year from the sheriff’s office and surrounding communities.

Adams County Commissioner Lee Hogan said commissioners are in favor of Heartland Pet Connection and hope the shelter can resolve its issues with the City of Hastings.

Pratt said the shelter hopes to reach an agreement with the city for more funds.

“So now we’ll see what happens on Monday. But we definitely are looking forward to presenting the same kind of presentation to them that we did to Adams County. And so I anticipate the fact that we will be received positively there as well,” Pratt said.

The City of Hastings said its contract with Heartland Pet Connection will remain unchanged for the time being.

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