MARYVILLE, Mo. - The New Nodaway Humane Society has announced a change in policy regarding services at the community animal shelter.

As of Wednesday, the shelter will no longer be able to accept animals from outside the areas with which they do not have an animal control agreement. Communities that have these contracts include Maryville, Burlington Junction, Hopkins and Pickering.

Humane Society board president Doug Sutton said the decision relates to a decline in the annual donation from the county over the past five years. The society has continued animal control services without any changes or charges to residents.

"We also experienced a state-mandated wage increase of $25,000 with no government support," Mr. Sutton said. "So we have to reduce our expenses with what is already a very lean budget."

The society's shelter is a not-for-profit operation, funded through community animal control agreements, donations, grants, fundraisers and memberships. Nodaway County is preserved in the society's name, due to the wishes of a past donor and to reflect its geographic mission, Mr. Sutton said.

Animal control services have been provided to all the county's rural areas, accounting for a large percentage of animals brought into the shelter.

Without county support, the society determined that it was unfair to provide free animal control when other communities are paying for equal service. Residents will still be able to adopt or reclaim an animal from the shelter.

The shelter should be contacted so staff members can make a report in cases where a stray is found. Pet owners also may bring the animal to the shelter to have it scanned for an identification microchip. At that time, shelter staff will take a photo and retain it with the person's contact information in case the owner comes forward.

Maryville residents can continue to drop off an animal at the shelter at no cost. Residents of communities that maintain animal control contracts with the society should call the shelter first.

For more information, log onto www.nodawayhumanesociety.org or call the society at (660) 562-3333. The shelter is located at 829 S. Depot St. in Maryville.