SEATTLE - Three King County Council members are proposing that the county get out of the animal shelter business and privatize it.

In a rare Sunday press conference, Council members from both parties announced a push to scrap the county-run shelter.

"Today we are faced with the disturbing reality that progress has not been achieved," said Councilmember Julia Patterson.

Citing numerous reports of deplorable conditions at the shelter and an entrenched culture resistant to change, the council members say a privatized model is best for the animals.

"We're choosing this organizational model because the model we have at King County Animal Care and Control simply isn't working. It just doesn't work," said Council member Reagan Dunn.

"Under this plan, we will be seeking partners in the community to operate a model shelter. We're open to any structure for his partnership so long as it delivers a model program for the animals in King County," said Patterson.

Under the proposal, an outside group will run the shelter, while the sheriff's office will handle cases of animal cruelty and attacks. The public health department will take over inspection and licensing of pet shops and kennels, while the records and licensing division will handle pet licensing.

"Many of these changes, in all likelihood will have to be bargained," said Patterson.

"We pledged to keep the best interests of the animals in our shelter foremost in our mind as we negotiate the difficult transitions to come," said Council Member Dow Constantine.

Kurt Triplett, the Chief of Staff for County Executive Rom Sims, acknowledges that there have been problems, but says the county has replaced the shelter's management and this year invested $1 million in upgrades and improvements.

Triplett says the council members' plan is shortsighted and impractical.

"You know, we take the sick and the injured. The private sector doesn't take those animals, so if you don't have a plan for where those animals are going to go, how can you responsibly get out of the system," he said.

The three council member say it's too early to tell how much the new system would cost taxpayers and how many existing employees will have to be laid off. They say the process will take months and would require changing the county code.