Score: -7 (1/11/8)

Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2013-2014

County Delivery of Animal Control Services June 9, 2014

Published: June 09, 2014 10 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 24 findings

Manual re-entry of data is costly, inefficient, and introduces the possibility of transcription errors.

Related Recommendations (2)

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Animal Control Officers often have difficulty making contact with Animal Care while in the field.

Related Recommendations (2)

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Information access limitations restrict efficient handling of loose and stray animals because no background information is available to officers in the field.

Related Recommendations (2)

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Not being able to return stray animals directly to their owners leads to a more costly process for both the public and the Animal Control/Care system.

Related Recommendations (2)

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Not all data about an individual case is necessary to proceed on most licensing (small animal) cases. Large animal abuse or neglect cases require more extensive information from both Aegis and Chameleon to proceed.

Related Recommendations (2)

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Animal Control does not have adequate policy and procedures to meet the best practices criteria for handling large animal abuse or neglect cases.

Related Recommendations (2)

Animal Control and Animal Care develop joint policies and procedures for handling large animal removal and subsequent care. (F6, F7)

Animal Control develop and regularly update formal policy and procedures for investiga- tion and handling of large animal abuse or neglect cases. Policies and procedures including: (F6, F7) a. Addition of the investigating officer’s notes to the written case file b. When to close an animal abuse or neglect case c. Documentation of animal condition per best practices d. Decision Tree regarding when to call a Veterinarian e. Decision Tree regarding when to confiscate an animal f. Logistical check list for animal removal g. Procedures for removal and transport of large animals h. Decision Tree regarding when to perform field euthanasia i. Filing a case with the District Attorney j. Complainant confidentiality rules

There are no mutually agreed upon written procedures that cover responsibilities, contacts, logistics, and other items for large animal integrated operations involving the community and multiple agencies of the County.

Related Recommendations (2)

Animal Control and Animal Care develop joint policies and procedures for handling large animal removal and subsequent care. (F6, F7)

The Sheriff’s Office Animal Control unit logs an extensive number of calls beyond the capacity of current staffing level.

Related Recommendations (1)

The County Administration restore the level of staffing of the Sheriff’s Office Animal Control unit to at least four Animal Control Officers and restore appropriate funding. (F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15)

The absence of an Animal Control Officer stationed on the coast represents a serious risk to public health and safety.

Related Recommendations (1)

F10

Coastal calls require at least two extra hours of officer time.

Related Recommendations (1)

F11

There is an egregious degradation of coverage on the coast.

Related Recommendations (1)

F12

Staffing levels directly impact available and timely service.

Related Recommendations (1)

F13

The absence of a County Animal Care Shelter on the coast requires extensive transportation costs.

Related Recommendations (1)

F14

The closing of the County’s Fort Bragg Animal Care Shelter has added to the overload at the County Animal Care Shelter in Ukiah.

Related Recommendations (1)

F15

The impact of budget decreases has degraded services for the entire County.

Related Recommendations (1)

F16

Animal Control Officers are a visible presence of County Government.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

F17

Animal Control Officers are more than dog catchers. They are underpaid for the level of training they are required to have and the responsibilities they perform.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

F18

Animal Control Officers do not have safety officer retirement benefits equal to those of a Probation Officer I.

Related Recommendations (2)

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

Animal Control Officers be given the opportunity to join MCERA Safety Officers classification. (F18, F19)

F19

A comparison of job descriptions reveals a higher level of responsibility of the Animal Control Officer than that of the Deputy Probation Officer I. (Appendices A and B)

Related Recommendations (2)

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

Animal Control Officers be given the opportunity to join MCERA Safety Officers classification. (F18, F19)

F20

Veterinarians are not paid in a timely fashion when providing services to the County

Related Recommendations (2)

The Sheriff’s Office personnel and the County Contracts Office personnel meet with the veterinarian community to let them air their grievances. (F20, F21)

The Sheriff’s Office and the County Contracts Office act in accord with their best knowledge to solve the issues. (F20, F21)

F21

There is a disagreement between veterinarians and Animal Control over interpretation of what Animal Control can and cannot do.

Related Recommendations (2)

The Sheriff’s Office personnel and the County Contracts Office personnel meet with the veterinarian community to let them air their grievances. (F20, F21)

The Sheriff’s Office and the County Contracts Office act in accord with their best knowledge to solve the issues. (F20, F21)

F22

Veterinarians and Animal Control Officers are concerned about the District Attorney’s lack of prosecution of animal abuse or neglect cases.

Related Recommendations (1)

R11

The District Attorney and the County Sheriff meet to establish guidelines setting forth the standards necessary to refer a case to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. (F22, F23, F24) RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following individuals: • Sheriff, Mendocino County (All findings and All recommendations) • District Attorney, Mendocino County (F6, F7, F22, F23, F24 and R4, R10, R11) Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following governing bodies: • Board of Supervisors, Mendocino County. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12,

F23

The District Attorney’s reluctance to prosecute animal abuse cases, for whatever reason, has led to abusive owners keeping the abused animals longer.

Related Recommendations (1)

R11

F24

Lack of prosecution leads to Animal Control putting more emphasis on working with abusive owners longer in an attempt to alter owner behavior before proceeding with removal of the animals.

Related Recommendations (2)

R10

Board of Supervisors pass a County ordinance which forbids individuals found guilty of animal abuse from owning animals for a set period of time. (F24)

R11

Agency Responses 6

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Board of Supervisors

August 21, 2014 • 5 pages • 35 responses View Details ▾

PDF

35 responses to findings and recommendations

Manual re-entry of data is costly, inefficient, and introduces the possibility of transcription errors.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Animal Control Officers often have difficulty making contact with Animal Care while in the field.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Information access limitations restrict efficient handling of loose and stray animals because no background information is available to officers in the field.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control and Animal Care develop joint policies and procedures for handling large animal removal and subsequent care. (F6, F7)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Not being able to return stray animals directly to their owners leads to a more costly process for both the public and the Animal Control/Care system.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Animal Control does not have adequate policy and procedures to meet the best practices criteria for handling large animal abuse or neglect cases.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control Officers be given the opportunity to join MCERA Safety Officers classification. (F18, F19)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office Animal Control unit logs an extensive number of calls beyond the capacity of current staffing level.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office personnel and the County Contracts Office personnel meet with the veterinarian community to let them air their grievances. (F20, F21)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The absence of an Animal Control Officer stationed on the coast represents a serious risk to public health and safety.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office and the County Contracts Office act in accord with their best knowledge to solve the issues. (F20, F21)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F10

Coastal calls require at least two extra hours of officer time.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

R10

Board of Supervisors pass a County ordinance which forbids individuals found guilty of animal abuse from owning animals for a set period of time. (F24)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F11

There is an egregious degradation of coverage on the coast.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

R11

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F12

Staffing levels directly impact available and timely service.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F13

The absence of a County Animal Care Shelter on the coast requires extensive transportation costs.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F14

The closing of the County’s Fort Bragg Animal Care Shelter has added to the overload at the County Animal Care Shelter in Ukiah.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F15

The impact of budget decreases has degraded services for the entire County.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F16

Animal Control Officers are a visible presence of County Government.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F17

Animal Control Officers are more than dog catchers. They are underpaid for the level of training they are required to have and the responsibilities they perform.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F18

Animal Control Officers do not have safety officer retirement benefits equal to those of a Probation Officer I.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F19

A comparison of job descriptions reveals a higher level of responsibility of the Animal Control Officer than that of the Deputy Probation Officer I. (Appendices A and B)

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F20

Veterinarians are not paid in a timely fashion when providing services to the County

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F21

There is a disagreement between veterinarians and Animal Control over interpretation of what Animal Control can and cannot do.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F22

Veterinarians and Animal Control Officers are concerned about the District Attorney’s lack of prosecution of animal abuse or neglect cases.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F23

The District Attorney’s reluctance to prosecute animal abuse cases, for whatever reason, has led to abusive owners keeping the abused animals longer.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F24

Lack of prosecution leads to Animal Control putting more emphasis on working with abusive owners longer in an attempt to alter owner behavior before proceeding with removal of the animals.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Board of Supervisors

August 21, 2014 • 18 pages • 4 responses • Score: -3 (+0, 0, -3) View Details ▾

PDF

4 responses to findings and recommendations

Animal Control Officers often have difficulty making contact with Animal Care while in the field.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

, that "[b]eginning with the 2014/15 budget, we will more clearly identify these charges in Library Budget Unit 6110 under the line item 862194 titled "A-87 Costs". R5 - The County Treasurer establish an account for the Library in the County <b>Investment Pool. (F6)</b> This Recommendation has been implemented. Accounts in the County's financial system are established by the County Auditor-Controller, not the County Treasurer. That being said, the Board of Supervisors incorporates the response of the County Treasurer-Tax Collector which states: "The Library has had an account for several decad...

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

Response: Will Not Implement

Scheduled: FY 2010 Score: -1

will not be implemented - The County must account for all the Library's transactions together in one budget unit, regardless of the funding source. The ability for departments to track their own transactions at different levels already exists within the County's finance system. The Library can choose to track their funds separately through the use of "programs" or "projects". The Auditor-Controller's response notwithstanding, the Board of Supervisors notes that the Library's dedicated tax revenue derived from Measure A is clearly identified in Budget Unit 6110 at line item 821500 and the Libra...

R10

Board of Supervisors pass a County ordinance which forbids individuals found guilty of animal abuse from owning animals for a set period of time. (F24)

Response: Will Not Implement

Scheduled: FY 2010 Score: -1

Will not be implemented - Per the A-87 cost plan requirements, the Library's use allowance is calculated on the Library's equipment and building fixed asset listings... regardless of the source of funding. R11 - The Auditor use the proper cost figures when developing the County-wide Cost Plan and accompanying narrative. (F2, F3, F6, F12) This Recommendation will not be implemented, because it is not warranted. The Board of Supervisors has not been provided with any documentation that the amount of A-87 costs charged to the County Library is incorrect. The County Auditor-Controller is an indepe...

R11

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

which was; Will not be implemented - The amount of A-87costs charged to the Library is correct. The County's entire A-87 Cost Plan is certified annually by the State Controller's Office. The State also performs an audit on the plan once every two years. RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT TITLED: THE MENDOCINO COUNTY FREE LIBRARY PAGE 8 R13 - After implementation of the new accounting procedures, proper and accurate A-87 service costs be paid but care taken that County decisions do not inflate these charges. (F2, F3, F6, F9, F10) This Recommendation will not be implemented, because it is not warran...

Board of Supervisors

August 21, 2014 • 5 pages • 34 responses • Score: -5 (+0, 5, -5) View Details ▾

PDF

34 responses to findings and recommendations

Manual re-entry of data is costly, inefficient, and introduces the possibility of transcription errors.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F1 - Organizational separation of Animal Control and Animal Care has led to discord between the two factions resulting in delivery-of-service problems. The Board of Supervisors disagrees wholly with this Finding. Animal Care and Animal Control work well together and strive to improve their ability to provide outstanding services to the citizens of this County at every opportunity.

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Response: Requires Analysis

Scheduled: within six months Score: 0

R1 -The Board of Supervisors re-integrate Animal Control and Animal Care as a single operational unit under the Sheriff's Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F6) This Recommendation requires further study. The Board of Supervisors will request that H&HAS Director Cryer and Sheriff Allman evaluate the pros and cons of thisproposed change and make a recommendation to the Board within six months.

Animal Control Officers often have difficulty making contact with Animal Care while in the field.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F2 - The Shelter physical plant is not properly maintained. The Board of Supervisors disagrees wholly with this Finding. The Board of Supervisors agrees with and adopts the response of the H&HSA director to this Finding.

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

R2 - The Board of Supervisors use a third party to perform quarterly health and safety inspections of the Shelter. (F2, F3) This Recommendation will not be implemented. The Board of Supervisors agrees with and adopts the response of the H&HSA director.

Information access limitations restrict efficient handling of loose and stray animals because no background information is available to officers in the field.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control and Animal Care develop joint policies and procedures for handling large animal removal and subsequent care. (F6, F7)

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R3 - The Board of Supervisors recognize in County policy and actual practice that Animal Control and Care in a rural county is an integrated service to the community. (F1, F3, F5, F6, F8) This Recommendation has been adopted. The County has always recognized that the services are integrated.

Not being able to return stray animals directly to their owners leads to a more costly process for both the public and the Animal Control/Care system.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F5 - The overcrowding has a very serious effect on staff morale and is severely detrimental to the well-being of the animals. The Board of Supervisors disagrees wholly with this Finding. The Board of Supervisors agrees with and adopts the response of the H&HSA director to this Finding.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R5 - The Board of Supervisors develop and adopt a realistic and understandable final County budget for Animal Control and Care. (F9, F10) This Recommendation has always been adopted. The County's budget for Animal Care and Animal Control have always been realistic, understandable and based on the current needs and financial situation of the County.

Animal Control does not have adequate policy and procedures to meet the best practices criteria for handling large animal abuse or neglect cases.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F6 - The relationship between the management of the two organizations has become acrimonious hindering the possibility of meaningful dialogue. The Board of Supervisors disagrees wholly with this Finding. The Grand Jury presents no evidence in its report that supports this finding. The two organizations work well together and there are no complaints that there is a lack of communication between the two organizations.

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control Officers be given the opportunity to join MCERA Safety Officers classification. (F18, F19)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office Animal Control unit logs an extensive number of calls beyond the capacity of current staffing level.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

F8 - Senior managers lack formal management training, including contract writing, negotiation, and implementation. The Board of Supervisors disagrees partially with this Finding. The Board of Supervisors agrees with and adopts the response of the H&HSA director to this Finding.

The Sheriff’s Office personnel and the County Contracts Office personnel meet with the veterinarian community to let them air their grievances. (F20, F21)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office and the County Contracts Office act in accord with their best knowledge to solve the issues. (F20, F21)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F10

Coastal calls require at least two extra hours of officer time.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

F10 - The budgeted line item 862130 (Maintenance to structure and improvement to grounds) and line item 864360 (Structure/improvements) for 2013-2014 both show adopted at $0. This gives the impression that the Board of Supervisors request to add $20,000 for kennel repair is a misrepresentation because line item 865802 added an operating transfer out of funds, thereby negating the appropriation. The Board of Supervisors partially disagrees with this Finding.

R10

Board of Supervisors pass a County ordinance which forbids individuals found guilty of animal abuse from owning animals for a set period of time. (F24)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F11

There is an egregious degradation of coverage on the coast.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

R11

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F12

Staffing levels directly impact available and timely service.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F13

The absence of a County Animal Care Shelter on the coast requires extensive transportation costs.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F14

The closing of the County’s Fort Bragg Animal Care Shelter has added to the overload at the County Animal Care Shelter in Ukiah.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F15

The impact of budget decreases has degraded services for the entire County.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F16

Animal Control Officers are a visible presence of County Government.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F17

Animal Control Officers are more than dog catchers. They are underpaid for the level of training they are required to have and the responsibilities they perform.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F18

Animal Control Officers do not have safety officer retirement benefits equal to those of a Probation Officer I.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F19

A comparison of job descriptions reveals a higher level of responsibility of the Animal Control Officer than that of the Deputy Probation Officer I. (Appendices A and B)

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F20

Veterinarians are not paid in a timely fashion when providing services to the County

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F21

There is a disagreement between veterinarians and Animal Control over interpretation of what Animal Control can and cannot do.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F22

Veterinarians and Animal Control Officers are concerned about the District Attorney’s lack of prosecution of animal abuse or neglect cases.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F23

The District Attorney’s reluctance to prosecute animal abuse cases, for whatever reason, has led to abusive owners keeping the abused animals longer.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F24

Lack of prosecution leads to Animal Control putting more emphasis on working with abusive owners longer in an attempt to alter owner behavior before proceeding with removal of the animals.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Board of Supervisors

August 21, 2014 • 6 pages • 1 response • Score: 0 (+0, 1, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

1 response to findings and recommendations

The absence of an Animal Control Officer stationed on the coast represents a serious risk to public health and safety.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

above. Additionally, response times will be shorter if Animal Control is already on patrol in the coastal area. F11 - There is an egregious degradation of coverage on the coast. The Board of Supervisors disagrees wholly with this Finding. Although there is no Animal Control Officer stationed on the coast, the Animal Control Officers are out in the field while on duty and respond to calls from the coast. In addition, law enforcement officers, both County and City, respond to Animal Control calls when there is a risk of harm to citizens. F15 - The impact of budget decreases has degraded services...

Board of Supervisors

August 21, 2014 • 15 pages View Details ▾

PDF

Board of Supervisors

August 21, 2014 • 4 pages • 35 responses • Score: +1 (+1, 5, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

35 responses to findings and recommendations

Manual re-entry of data is costly, inefficient, and introduces the possibility of transcription errors.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control Officers be given the technology and equipment to access the animal care database from the field. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Response: Requires Analysis

Scheduled: Six months Score: 0

This Recommendation requires further analysis as it is unclear what additional funding the jail may need at this time. Six months should be sufficient time for the appropriate staff to analyze the situation and determine what needs are not being met within the current budget.

Animal Control Officers often have difficulty making contact with Animal Care while in the field.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control and Animal Care be re-integrated into one operational unit under the Sheriff’s Office. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)

Response: Requires Analysis

Scheduled: Six months Score: 0

Information access limitations restrict efficient handling of loose and stray animals because no background information is available to officers in the field.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Board of Supervisors disagrees in part with this Finding. Anything "may" happen. At the present time, the Sheriff's office has implemented policies and procedures to offset any increase in the number of inmates that may have resulted from Realignment.

Animal Control and Animal Care develop joint policies and procedures for handling large animal removal and subsequent care. (F6, F7)

Response: Will Implement

Scheduled: On-going basis Score: +1

This Recommendation will continue to be implemented on an on-going basis in that the County will continue to evaluate all ways to safely and more efficiently manage the jail.

Not being able to return stray animals directly to their owners leads to a more costly process for both the public and the Animal Control/Care system.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Board of Supervisors disagrees in part with this Finding. The rate of serious assaults in the jail has not substantially increased since the implementation of Realignment. Any increase is attributable to a multitude of factors, including increased sophistication of the inmates.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Animal Control does not have adequate policy and procedures to meet the best practices criteria for handling large animal abuse or neglect cases.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Board of Supervisors disagrees in part with this Finding. While the space is tight, the jail personnel have adjusted so that there is a sufficient room for all state mandated activities.

The Animal Control Officers’ salaries should be made at least commensurate with that of a Deputy Probation Officer I. (F16, F17, F18, F19)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Animal Control Officers be given the opportunity to join MCERA Safety Officers classification. (F18, F19)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office Animal Control unit logs an extensive number of calls beyond the capacity of current staffing level.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office personnel and the County Contracts Office personnel meet with the veterinarian community to let them air their grievances. (F20, F21)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The absence of an Animal Control Officer stationed on the coast represents a serious risk to public health and safety.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

The Sheriff’s Office and the County Contracts Office act in accord with their best knowledge to solve the issues. (F20, F21)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F10

Coastal calls require at least two extra hours of officer time.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

R10

Board of Supervisors pass a County ordinance which forbids individuals found guilty of animal abuse from owning animals for a set period of time. (F24)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F11

There is an egregious degradation of coverage on the coast.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

R11

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F12

Staffing levels directly impact available and timely service.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F13

The absence of a County Animal Care Shelter on the coast requires extensive transportation costs.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F14

The closing of the County’s Fort Bragg Animal Care Shelter has added to the overload at the County Animal Care Shelter in Ukiah.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F15

The impact of budget decreases has degraded services for the entire County.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F16

Animal Control Officers are a visible presence of County Government.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F17

Animal Control Officers are more than dog catchers. They are underpaid for the level of training they are required to have and the responsibilities they perform.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F18

Animal Control Officers do not have safety officer retirement benefits equal to those of a Probation Officer I.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F19

A comparison of job descriptions reveals a higher level of responsibility of the Animal Control Officer than that of the Deputy Probation Officer I. (Appendices A and B)

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F20

Veterinarians are not paid in a timely fashion when providing services to the County

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F21

There is a disagreement between veterinarians and Animal Control over interpretation of what Animal Control can and cannot do.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F22

Veterinarians and Animal Control Officers are concerned about the District Attorney’s lack of prosecution of animal abuse or neglect cases.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F23

The District Attorney’s reluctance to prosecute animal abuse cases, for whatever reason, has led to abusive owners keeping the abused animals longer.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F24

Lack of prosecution leads to Animal Control putting more emphasis on working with abusive owners longer in an attempt to alter owner behavior before proceeding with removal of the animals.

Response: Unknown Score: 0