Contract agreement reached between Oshkosh and Oshkosh Area Humane Society 

OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)— Earlier this week, the Oshkosh Common Council voted to approve a new contract between the city and the Oshkosh Area Humane Society (OAHS). The new contract includes an almost 50% reduction in payments to the OAHS, but officials say it will not affect services for the city or animal lovers.

A press release from the city says the agreement focuses on the city-specific needs, providing shelter, care, and adoption services for stray domesticated animals found within the City of Oshkosh. 

“The agreement reinforces the City’s commitment to animal welfare and community service by continuing a collaborative services approach designed to continue providing reliable, compassionate support for the animals in Oshkosh,” the press release said.

Ieva Engel, Executive Director of the OAHS, said the shelter takes in approximately 700 stray and surrendered animals a year, with the majority coming from Oshkosh. The main change the community will see is in overnight and after-hours services.

“From our standpoint, we’re still going to take care of all those animals that come in. They will receive the same service that they have so far and the same care and love that they have received from us up until now. So, it really should not be any change to the public or the services that we are able to deliver,” Engel said.

Cutting the budget

Oshkosh Police Chief Dean Smith said that the renegotiation of the contract was part of the City of Oshkosh’s overall effort to reduce costs and taxpayer burdens.

“The city manager, along with city council and city staff, have been spending about a year going through all of our expenses, where we put city money at taxpayer dollars and evaluating each of the programs that are out there,” Smith said. “We had about a $6 million structural deficit going into the 2026 budget year, that we had to overcome a $6 million deficit.”

Changes for the community after the new contract

Engel said due to the cuts, the three on-call positions will be eliminated. These were the people who would transport stray animals found during overnight and off-hours to the shelter for the police.

“ I do want to say that during daytime, the process really will not be changing. So if public encounters a stray animal and would like to bring it to the shelter, of course, they are welcome to do so. They do not have to call the police department every time they encounter a stray animal during daytime hours!” Engel explained.

Chief Smith said the OPD will handle impounds and injured strays for the most part.

“We’re always gonna evaluate if somebody calls and says that there’s an animal that is harming people or a stray. We’re still doing that work. We’re not going to not do those things,” said Smith. “But if you find a cat, if you find a dog, we’re gonna say, ‘Hey, um, you can call the Humane Society in the morning, please.’”

Details of the contract

According to information in the Common Council Agenda, the new agreement includes the following:

• An initial annual payment of $50,000 a year to the OAHS. This payment covers the first 500 animals serviced in a calendar year.
• $100 for each additional animal serviced from the additional $10,000 allocated in the city budget.
• A fee schedule that delineates the types of animals served and the costs associated with each.
• A reduced fee of 50% of the per animal cost will be provided for mammals/exotic animals (i.e. mice, rats, rabbits, birds, etc.) serviced by the OAHS
• A fee schedule for costs associated with the cremation of deceased animals
• A declaration of non-payment by the city for animals or mammal/exotic animals born at the OAHS
• A declaration of non-payment for any animals or mammals/exotic animals surrendered by their owner.
• A provision providing the OAHS licensing fees collected by the OAHS minus required county and state fees

The contract covers three years, 2026-2028. 

Engel said the Oshkosh City Contract only represents about 5% of the OAHS budget. Most of the shelter services are funded through donations, grants, and fundraising.

“We’ve received, really, an amazing outpouring of support, both in person and also emails and phone calls,” Engel said. “And we’re just so grateful that our community is making this work possible.”

Anyone who would like to donate to the OAHS can do so through their website.