BREWER – Trying to strike a balance between compassion for injured animals and keeping an eye on the bottom line, the Brewer City Council on Tuesday approved an adjusted way of doing things with the city’s fledgling Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic at Twin City Plaza in Brewer.

So far, the city has received only a bill for $80.51 from the clinic for treatment of an injured stray cat last July. Still, Councilor Larry Doughty pushed for a fee structure to be put into place that would put a cap on costs billed to the city for such animals.

Doughty, a professed animal lover, said he wanted a section on animal euthanasia taken out of the contract, but councilors agreed to give the city manager or his designee wide latitude in negotiating terms. A price limit of $110 to $120 for medical treatment of strays is about as high a cost as Brewer wants to incur before an official – most likely City Clerk Archie Verow in conjunction with the animal control officer – is consulted about further treatment, according to discussions at the City Council meeting.

The order approved by the council authorizes the city manager or his designee to sign a contract with the Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic.

As printed for Tuesday’s meeting, the contract calls for injured stray or abandoned animals from Brewer to be treated at the emergency clinic. The city will be responsible for emergency treatment when the animal is delivered by a “Good Samaritan, a law enforcement officer or an animal control officer.”