Central Nebraska Humane Society (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Central Nebraska Humane Society Board President Greg Geis commented Aug. 19 about the Humane Society’s contract with the city of Grand Island for housing stray pets and City Council member Chuck Haase’s criticism of the Humane Society.
Police Chief Kevin Denney said on Aug. 3 that the Humane Society had sent a letter to the city indicating it wanted to end the contract with the city in six months to provide care for stray pets that Police Department staff pick up.
The Police Department began providing animal control officers in August 2025, when previously the Humane Society had provided animal control officers.
Haase was interviewed Aug. 4 by former City Communications Director Spencer Schubert about the Humane Society, and that interview was made available to media. In that interview, Haase said that the city had to begin providing animal control officers because the Humane Society had lost its insurance. Geis said that’s not true. The Humane Society’s insurance with one insurance company was cancelled, but then the Humane Society found another insurance provider.
Haase also described the contract with the Humane Society as a “sweetheart deal.”
At multiple meetings, Haase has questioned claims submitted by the Humane Society. But ultimately, the City Council has voted to pay the claim, with Haase voting against it.
In August, the City Council entered a contract with the Humane Society for it to provide shelter for stray pets for $25,000 a month, plus $45 a day for three days. When the Humane Society was providing animal control officers, the annual contract with the city was for $550,000, Geis said.
Geis said that in 2025, the Humane Society housed 2,200 stray pets. Geis said that Grand Island has a larger animal population than towns with similar populations. He said that last year, the City of Lincoln dealt with 3,000 stray pets.
Geis said if the city issues an RFP to find an organization that will house stray pets, the Humane Society would submit a proposal.
He said that if the city has control over sheltering stray pets, the pets would be euthanized after being at a shelter for three days. The Humane Society does not euthanize pets. Geis said that local residents would not want to see the pets euthanized, and it’s not the pet’s fault that it has been placed at the Humane Society.
In some cases, the Humane Society houses a pet for a period of months before the pet is adopted.
Geis said that the Humane Society has met with the Police Department, City Attorney, and City Administrator to try to resolve the contract issue.
Geis said that if someone brings a stray pet to the Humane Society, the Police Department is contacted to start a case concerning that pet. The pet is then handled through the contract with the city. Geis said that the Humane Society has to check whether the person bringing in the pet found it as a stray animal, or whether it is the pet’s owner who is surrendering the pet.
Haase has mentioned at meetings that private kennels in Grand Island could house stray pets. For instance, he said that pets could be boarded at Pet Island for $20 a day. Geis said that’s not true, because the kennel does not have information about the pet, doesn’t know the vaccination history, doesn’t have a description of the pet’s health, and does not know if the pet is aggressive. Any of those factors can affect pets being boarded at the business.
Geis said that the Humane Society has 60 kennels, plus 12 kennels for stray pets.
The Police Department’s animal control officers work day shifts, Geis said. So if a stray pet is located at night or on weekends, a police officer has to handle those duties. The police officer has access to a key to the Humane Society if the Humane Society is closed, which could be after hours during the week or on weekends. If a police officer takes a stray pet to the Humane Society when it is closed, the Humane Society follows up on the situation when it is open.
If a stray pet has not been claimed, the Humane Society does not immediately place the pet for adoption. The pet’s medical condition is checked, and behavioral issues are modified. The pets also get microchips for identification and are neutered or spayed.
Geis said that the Humane Society cooperates with other Humane Societies in the state. If a Humane Society gets a large influx of pets, other Humane Societies will offer to take care of some of the pets.
He gave an example of a local woman had 80 rats, which did not meet city regulations. The Humane Society received the rats, and the males and females were separated. Even so, there were soon 100 rats. The Central Nebraska Humane Society worked with other Humane Societies to have them take some of the rats.
Geis said that the Humane Society is sometimes not being paid by the city for the $45 per day for three days.
Geis said that the Humane Society had 3.0 FTE animal control officers, plus a supervisor who could handle those tasks. The animal control officers received no benefits, including health insurance. The animal control officers were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He said that the Humane Society could not pay a high enough wage to the animal control officer for the employee to work at the Humane Society for a longer period of time.
The Humane Society has various fundraisers annually, including the Fur Ball, which is its largest fundraiser. A golf tournament is another fundraiser. Geis declined telling how much money the Humane Society received through the fundraisers. The Humane Society also sends letters annually close to Christmas, asking for donations.
Geis said that the Humane Society has 18.0 FTE employees, with many of them working part-time to do tasks such as cleaning kennels and feeding pets.
Geis said that he would like to see the Humane Society and the city “come back to the table” to discuss the contract.
“We did not want to be in this position,” Geis said.
Geis has been president of the Humane Society Board for two years. He has two dogs and has always gotten his pets from Humane Societies.
He does not want to see the Human Society described as the “bad guy.”
Geis said the Humane Society also has a contract with Hall County for housing stray animals.
“They don’t bring in a lot of pets,” Geis said.
The Humane Society Board has 13 members, plus liaisons from the City Council and Board of Commissioners. The current liaisons are City Council member Doug Lanfear,Hall County Commissioner Jane Richardson, and Jim Olson from the Grand Island Police Department.
Geis said that if the city decided to construct a facility to house stray animals, “it would just be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
The Humane Society was established in 1967 and is the largest nonprofit animal welfare organization in Central Nebraska. CNHS constructed its current facility at 1312 Sky Park Road, replacing a much smaller building. Although CNHS has contracts with municipalities, the majority of its operation relies on donations and fundraising, its website said.
The Humane Society’s mission is “to protect, enrich, and advocate for the lives of animals and the people who love them through compassionate care, meaningful connections, and community partnership across Central Nebraska.
Police Chief Kevin Denney and Division Chief Dean Elliott wrote a memo to the City Council about approving the January Humane Society billing.
“There are no alternatives. Failure to pay the invoice may result in the breach of contract with the Central Nebraska Humane Society. Therefore we may have no place to shelter the animals,” they wrote.
“The Grand Island Police Department requests that the Council will approve to pay the January 2026 shelter and care invoice in the amount of $7,903.28,” they wrote.
