Deschutes County has reached an agreement with local banks and the Redmond Humane Society on a plan to ensure the continued survival and operation of the Humane Society.

"With the Redmond Humane Society’s survival now assured, it’s time for all of those people and businesses who have been holding back to step forward with donations and help us stabilize and strengthen the Humane Society’s operations," said Dennis Luke, chair of the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners.

Under the agreed-upon deal, the County will pay off the Humane Society’s current mortgage debt via a negotiated settlement stipulated to by mutual agreement of Bank of the Cascades, Columbia River Bank and Community First Bank, and the banks will in turn assign to the County all liens and trust deeds relating to the Humane Society. The Redmond Humane Society will, for its part, transfer title to its property at 1355 NE Hemlock Avenue, Redmond, to the County, which will then lease the shelter property back to the Humane Society. The County will partition the property and may, at its option, sell off that portion of the property that is not directly used for shelter/impound services in order to satisfy some or all of the Humane Society’s obligation to the County. The value of the property provides full security for the County’s loan. Should the Humane Society be able to satisfy its obligations to the County prior to the sale of the partitioned piece, the County will transfer title to the property back to the Humane Society, but with a reversionary interest requiring that the property be used as an animal shelter.

In addition, the County will seek to retire other unsecured debts incurred by the Humane Society, and will make additional operating capital available to the Humane Society via short-term loans, while the Humane Society implements a new fundraising plan aimed at making its operation self-sustaining.

"There are many, many details still to be worked out, and a great deal of paperwork to be executed, but it’s a tremendous relief to have the basic framework of this rescue package agreed upon," said County Commissioner Mike Daly.

"It’s now up to the community to show its support," added County Commissioner Tammy Baney. "The County, the banks and the Redmond Humane Society have clearly demonstrated their desire to sustain animal shelter services in the northern part of Deschutes County. But we can’t do it alone. It must be a team effort; a collaboration with the community."

County Administrator Dave Kanner said it would likely be several weeks before all of the necessary paperwork was ready for Board of Commissioners’ approval. He said loan funds, subject to Board approval, would likely come from capital reserve funds in the Department of Solid Waste for which there are no near-term expenditure plans. Kanner further noted that as a statutory dog control agency, Deschutes County is required to provide impound facilities for stray and dangerous animals. He said it would be more expensive for the County to run such a facility itself or to contract with another agency to do so than it would be to stabilize the Redmond Humane Society and have them continue to run the shelter.

The mission of the Redmond Humane Society is to provide shelter, educate the public, return lost animals to their owners, find homes for unwanted animals, and promote humane treatment and protection of animals. For more information about the Redmond Humane Society, please call (541) 923-0882 or visit their temporary website at http://www.redmondhumane.org/ .