The City of Minot would have the use of a Ward County building for a temporary dog pound under a proposal approved by the Ward County Commission Friday, Feb. 6.

County commissioners agreed to lease a building at the Ward County Highway Department that is currently used for administrative functions. The lease would run for up to six months and is estimated to start Feb. 28. The State’s Attorney’s Office will draft an agreement stating the city will cover any additional expenses incurred from use of the building, such as utilities, temporary interior changes and any damage repair.

The Minot Police Department has proposed to use the space for dogs only, with a limit of up to 10 animals, according to the Ward County Auditor’s Office.

The City of Minot has been without a pound since the expiration of a contract with Souris Valley Animal Shelter at the end of 2025. SVAS presented the only pound proposal for 2026, but the Minot City Council hesitated to accept it. The two entities ran into sticking points with the city’s request for a voting membership on the SVAS board and access to more of SVAS’s financial information. The council voted to put out a new proposal request that specifies different requirements. In the meantime, the police department has been working with local animal rescue operations to try to find available shelter space.

The Ward County Commission also recently voted to put out a request for proposals for shelter services to accommodate those occasions in which the Sheriff’s Department must take custody of a dog or cat. As part of the proposed building lease between the city and county, the city would accept dogs in Ward County’s custody into its temporary pound.