The City of Pittsburgh may have to find a new place to take stray dogs and cats as a result of a vote Thursday night by the board of the Animal Rescue League to end its 30-year role as the shelter for lost and feral animals caught by a city squad.

The board voted unanimously to stop taking animals from the city Animal Control Division after July 31, giving the city two months to find an alternative. A contract extension would have otherwise expired next week.

The move comes a week after a 30-year relationship between the city and the league's Larimer shelter became controversial due to a proposed change in euthanasia rules and a fee hike.

"Our board made a proposal to the City which it believed was fair and addressed several needed revisions of our old contract," league Treasurer Joseph Vater said in a press release yesterday. "While the City administration seemed satisfied with those changes, it has become apparent from statements made by members of City Council and by the City Controller that they viewed the value of the services performed by the Animal Rescue League significantly different than the board."

The release said the city hasn't paid its bills from the league in months. "We have been forced into this decision by the City, and it is a sad day for the animals," said league board President John Beering in the release.

Public Works Director Guy Costa said he was saddened by the league's move.

"They were very good for the city and very good for the animals in the city of Pittsburgh," he said. "We've got to find an alternative facility to take our animals after July 31. Our options are very limited."

The league asked the city to change its code to allow the shelter to put up for adoption, or euthanize, unlicensed pet-type animals after a 48-hour holding period, rather than the current 72-hour rule. The league said it only euthanizes dangerous, injured or unadoptable animals.

That proposed change was opposed by some animal advocates who spoke before council Tuesday, and was put on indefinite hold Wednesday by Councilwoman Darlene Harris, who said she would "euthanize" it.

Council and Acting Controller Tony Pokora also learned this week that a proposed new contract, signed by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration, would nearly quadruple the fee the city pays the league for each animal it takes, to $182.

The league's release said the hike was needed to boost staffing and continue the "proper and humane treatment" of animals. Mr. Pokora refused to sign the pact without further information, and council members demanded the opportunity to vote on it.

"The controller's office and council were not privy to this negotiation," Mr. Pokora said. "I think we both would be remiss in our duties if we did not question why a contract has quadrupled from one year to the next."

"I hope they reconsider," he said of the league's decision.

If they don't, the city may begin talks with Triangle Pet Control Service of McKees Rocks, Mr. Costa said. That firm is already taking on the euthanization of wildlife caught by the city.

Animal Control workers continued to push their proposal to have the city buy the former Animal Friends kennel in the Strip District for $440,000, spend $20,000 on repairs, and operate it in-house.

"The city really needs to consider basically taking control of their own destiny, financially, and we can provide an even better service for the residents by running our own kennel," said Gerald Akrie, a Teamsters Union steward who represents Animal Control workers.

He said such a city-run kennel could serve as the pet licensing center and provide service for neighboring municipalities, too.

"I have not seen [the workers'] plan," said Mr. Costa. "We did look at that [Animal Friends] building. Unfortunately it's more than $20,000 to get that building up and running" because it has been raided by vandals and metal thieves.

The city turns over an average of 810 dogs and 984 cats to the league annually.