The City of Salina has completed its request for proposals seeking a private organization to potentially take over operation of Salina Animal Services, with one organization submitting a proposal.

Prairie Paws Animal Shelter submitted the sole proposal received through the RFP process.

The City began exploring potential privatization of animal shelter operations earlier this year, seeking proposals from organizations interested in providing animal sheltering and related services currently handled by the City.

Prairie Paws, a nonprofit animal welfare organization based in Ottawa, Kansas, was the only organization to submit a proposal before the City's deadline.

The completion of the RFP process does not mean Prairie Paws has been selected to operate the shelter. The proposal must still move through the City's review and decision-making process before any change in operations could occur.

The proposal is not listed as an action item on the agenda for the Salina City Commission meeting scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14.

That means commissioners are not currently scheduled to vote Monday on awarding a contract or transferring operation of Salina Animal Services to Prairie Paws.

Prairie Paws CEO Vanessa Cowie previously told Salina311 that her organization planned to submit a proposal and that, if selected, the process would move into contract negotiations before any transition occurred.

Cowie also said the earliest the proposal could be presented to the City Commission would be Sept. 28.

The privatization discussion comes during a year of significant scrutiny and change at Salina Animal Services. The City has been reviewing shelter operations following concerns surrounding animal care and procedures, including a December 2025 incident involving the euthanasia of three puppies diagnosed with parvovirus.

The City has also used an outside consultant to review shelter operations and procedures.

For now, Salina Animal Services remains a City operation.

The next step will depend on the City's evaluation of the Prairie Paws proposal and whether city staff ultimately recommends moving forward with negotiations or presenting an agreement to the City Commission for consideration.