SEATTLE -- King County will close its animal shelters by January 31, 2010 and end offering animal control services to cities within the county by June 30, 2010, according to a new legislation adopted by the King County Council on Monday.

County officials said for the past three years, the cost of providing animal care has exceeded revenue from pet licenses and other pet-related fees by $2 million each year. And without another solution in sight, officials said closing the shelters is the only practical option.

"Despite the efforts of dedicated employees and volunteers to improve the county's animal shelter and control operation, the county can no longer afford subsidizing the almost $2 million general fund dollars for these services," said Council Vice Chair Bob Ferguson. "Moving towards a community-based model of animal services is both fiscally responsible and in the best interests of the animals."

Come June 30, 2010, the 32 cities that currently contract with King County for field animal control services will have to find a way to respond to animal-related calls themselves. However, the county will continue to respond to such calls in unincorporated King County.

The council's legislation also calls for a study to analyze the resources needed to meet the county's animal control responsibilities under state law.

The study was also to focus on the county's unincorporated areas -- to calculate the area's historical records on pet license revenues, and to identify potential options for animal control services that do not require support from the county's general fund.

The study must be completed by March 10, 2010, the council said.

Monday's decision speeds up a process the county has been pondering for some time now.

In September the county, citing a $56 million deficit, said it wants to get out of the animal control business by next summer. Interim King County Executive Kurt Triplett proposed cutting all funding for animal care and control by June 30, 2010.

Then in October, the King County Council said it was mulling April 1 as a deadline for transferring shelter operations for stray and unwanted cats and dogs to an outside agency. On Oct. 19, the county's two shelters in Bellevue and Kent stopped accepting unwanted pets.

Council member Kathy Lambert said the county should turn to community animal welfare partners for pet sheltering services.

"I am especially encouraged by the provision to establish an animal response team that combines county, community and volunteer resources to prepare for emergency protection of pets in the event of a disaster," she said.

Brenda Barnette, CEO of the Seattle Humane Society, said her organization and the county have been discussing a possible agreement to provide sheltering services once county shelters close. The Seattle Humane Society has also begun talks with local cities, she said.

Barnette said the Humane Society could accommodate the county's new deadline.

"If there is no delay in bringing all interested parties to the negotiating table, I believe that January 31st deadline set by County Council today is achievable," she said in a statement.

Shelters' conditions harshly criticized twice over

In 2007 a report by a citizens advisory committee blasted King County's two animal shelters, calling the conditions "deplorable."

The scathing report, which included 47 urgent recommendations, prompted the shelters to implement upgrades - refinishing cracked floors, covering up an open sewage drain, installing a new ventilation system in the cats' room - at the shelter.

But just six months later the shelters came under fire again when a county-hired consultant found inhumane conditions and little accountability.

Nathan Winograd said he found cages that were dirty enough to be labeled as a breeding ground for disease. He claimed he also witnessed animals left without food or water.

"Animals went 24 hours, possibly two full days without food," he said.

But animal control officers insisted the harsh 147-page report was filled with falsehood.

Sgt. John Diel said King County Animal Control needs more resources, but said there is no evidence that officers mistreated animals.

"It was specifically attacking our commitment to doing our job and our ability and willingness to do our job," he said. "The animals aren't in deplorable conditions and they have food and water."