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developing plans for a new multi-service facility. Unfortunately, community controversy concerning animal control issues continued and the new Director soon resigned. The Board hired a second Director, who began working at cross purposes to the Tri-Agency Board by advocating a return of animal control services to the Humane Society. This led to the second Director also leaving. An Interim Director was then appointed from among Eugene Police staff. This Interim Director quickly completed a site survey and building plans, and oversaw the construction of the present animal shelter, completed in 1978. Following several site inspections and interviews with animal control agencies in the San Francisco area, the Tri-Agency Board and staff decided to offer low-cost spay and neuter services and immunizations. This met with immediate resistance from local veterinarians who felt it was unfair competition from the public sector. This led to the resignation of three vets hired by the Tri-Agency in a period of one year. Following this, the City of Eugene Spay/Neuter Clinic was started in 1980 to help achieve area spay and neuter goals. The five-year period from 1975 to 1980 saw protracted strife and community concern about animal issues. Euthanasia technique used by the Tri-Agency was a point of controversy until it was changed to a more humane method. In October 1976, after the Tri-Agency was established, the Human Society reversed its position on animal control and actively lobbied to regain control of all shelter facilities and operations. Local veterinarians were strongly opposed to the subsidized Spay/Neuter services and well as the low-cost immunizations. However, these conflicts gradually de-escalated and the Tri-Agency settled into its modeled pattern, operating as it was designed until 1981. At that point the City of Springfield, citing budget shortfalls, announced it would withdraw from the consortium. Springfield decided it would be more cost-effective to provide only complaint-generated code enforcement and to contract with Greenhill Humane Society for minimal shelter space. Greenhill had no affiliation or formal relationship with the Tri-Agency. Springfield later returned to using shelter services at the public shelter. Following Springfield’s disaffiliation and a resulting drop in revenue of about 20%, the consortium approach was abandoned in June, 1981, and animal services were then delivered by a division of Lane County government called the Lane County Animal Regulation Authority. In 2007, this agency was later renamed Lane County Animal Services (LCAS). Since the termination of the Tri-Agency, the City of Eugene has contracted directly with Lane County for services that are now delivered by LCAS. More Recent Studies and Developments Ongoing community concerns over animal overpopulation and euthanasia issues led to a series of town- hall meetings on animal services in 2001 and 2002. Lane County subsequently established an Animal Regulation Advisory Task Force, which produced a comprehensive report titled Findings and Recommendations, dated November 12, 2003. The task force studied a wide range of issues and provided numerous recommendations to Lane County and City of Eugene on licensing, spay and neuter, legal, public education, facilities and staffing, and funding issues. Measurable outcomes were also suggested. The report included a study requested by the task force and done by ECONorthwest on the design and feasibility of a surcharge on pet food, as a means of providing revenue for animal services.