By Robert King -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — The Board of Supervisors has given Warren County officials more time to reach an agreement over funding for the animal shelter.

The supervisors extended the existing agreement until October so county officials can continue negotiations with the Humane Society of Warren County for a new three-year contract. The amount of funding for the shelter has been the main sticking point in the negotiations, county officials said.

The county is required by state law to have an animal shelter. It provides yearly funding to the Humane Society of Warren County, which runs the shelter.

The current contract has the shelter receiving roughly $126,000 a year.

The supervisors approved $139,901 for the current fiscal year, which started in July. The funding is nearly $14,000 more than the previous annual appropriation.

"When the county administrator put the budget together, this was the number that he recommended and the board adopted," said County Attorney Blair D. Mitchell.

The board agreed to fund the shelter over the next two months using a part of that amount.

"[It] came down to $23,000 for two months," Mitchell said.

This is the second time the supervisors have extended the existing agreement. It was extended in June for two months.

The main sticking point in the negotiations is the $139,901.

"The shelter has asked for more than that, and they are working with us to try and justify that and what expenses are and income are," Mitchell said.

The shelter, on Progress Drive in Front Royal, houses cats and dogs and puts them up for adoption.

It also houses animals caught by the county's animal control department, which is run by the Sheriff's Office.

Humane Society President Doug Scott said with the county growing, the extra funding is needed. He also said the funding request brings the county in line with nearby localities.

"You compare us to the other counties that are in the same situation, we receive significantly less money than the others," Scott said.

Clarke County's animal shelter receives $134,063, according to Bobby Levi, the county's animal control supervisor. Officials with Shenandoah and Frederick counties weren't available for comment earlier this week on their respective funding figures.

The Humane Society of Warren County asked for $175,000 in funding for the current fiscal year, $180,000 in fiscal 2010, and $185,000 in fiscal 2011, Warren County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley wrote in an e-mail.

Scott said the Humane Society is willing to negotiate those terms.

"We are still in the process of gathering information," he said.

* Contact Robert King at rking@nvdaily.com