Stanislaus County wants to dramatically overhaul its animal control department, and it’s seeking partners, including the city of Patterson.

On Tuesday, the Patterson City Council discussed whether to join the proposed partnership. The council decided that a few too many questions remained for the body to act on the matter, but if some agreement isn’t made soon, the city will lose its animal control services in mid-2010.

If the city wants to continue receiving service through the county, it means more than tripling the city’s current annual animal control bill to $81,267 and entering a 25-year agreement that could be difficult to opt out of.

County animal control is currently responsible for dealing with loose animals, road kill and strays. Often, this involves taking animals to the county shelter that many have called out-of-date.

The shelter was built before the onset of many of the state laws that now govern shelter operations. Because of that, it was never designed for its current uses, namely housing an animal for several days before killing it.

This has led to overcrowded conditions, or as Councilman Dominic Farinha said, an “animal Auschwitz.”

A major component of the new animal control program would be a new shelter. The county is asking Patterson to pay for part of that shelter, which would allow the city to have a representative on the board that will eventually run the program.

The city’s contribution, which would come from the $81,267 annual payment, is only about 3 percent of the shelter’s total estimated cost. Because the city’s contribution is relatively small compared to that of the other proposed partners, the council is not being asked to give an answer until May. However, at least one council member believes the city has few other options.

“We really have no other choice,” Councilman Sam Cuellar said. “To start our own program … it’s unlikely we’ll be able to do that by 2010.”

Mayor Becky Campo, on the other hand, was reluctant to make any decision before the council’s midyear budget review. City Manager Cleve Morris, who has been in animal control negotiations with the county, said the deadline for the decision to join the program could likely be extended.