STOP THE KING COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER CLOSING

King County Executive Kurt Triplett said Thursday that he will shut down the county's animal shelter and get out of the animal care and control business by June 30 of next year.

Operating the animal care and shelter costs $1.5 million more than those services collect in fees every year, Triplett said.

The county would provide a $3 million, one-time payment to transfer the shelter and animal control services to other jurisdictions.

"We can no longer afford to subsidize animal care and control," Triplett said in a statement. He said it's not a "Ccore business" of King County to operate the shelter and animal control service for 32 cities in King County. He said talks have begun with the 32 cities and community animal welfare agencies to replace the county's role in animal control.

The Kent animal shelter will close on Nov. 1 as part of the county plan.