F I N a L R E P O R T Ardin

Community outreach – Reach out and schedule several adoption/foster/ rescue events per year held in conjunction with the businesses and rescue

heavy duty fire blanket which covers the E-vehicle is to try to limit the amount of San Bernardino County is a tinderbox. Its mountains, deserts, scrublands, oxygen, and to manage the smoke and toxic gases that emanate from the batteries urban and suburban neighborhoods render it particularly susceptible to wildfires and (gasmet.com/blog). One popular electric vehicle’s maintenance manual state that it structure blazes. FEMA’s Fire Risk Analysis rates San Bernardino County as the could take from 3,000 to 8,000 gallons of water to extinguish and cool the battery third most hazardous county in the country. The rating is not unusual, or unexpected. which could take up to 24 hours. FEMA rates many California counties as high-fire risks; several are in the top ten. In an April 2021 article on the Popular Science.com website, it was reported FEMA isn’t assigning blame, though; its ratings merely acknowledge that in Houston, Texas, that one EV fire took up to four hours and nearly 30,000 gallons California’s locations and climates, Southern California especially and San of water to extinguish (popsci.com/story/technology/electric-vehicle-battery-tesla- Bernardino in particular, contribute to elevated fire risks. fire). Although San Bernardino County rates high in risk, it also rates high in There are new possibilities being developed, such as specialized extinguishing resilience: it recovers from disasters, learns from them and journeys to the future agents, innovative fire-retardant materials and a high-pressure water delivery system with confidence in its abilities to provide effective, efficient and timely responses to (fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-technology-innovation). fire-related crises, and thus to protect its people, property and the environment. The CGJ acknowledges that the lithium-ion battery hazards are not only a San Bernardino County also has quality and dedicated personnel, an innovative county issue, or state, or even a federal one. This is a global concern, and it will be technological approach to firefighting and a Board of Supervisors that supports the resolved through continual research and innovative thinking. county’s Fire Protection District. San Bernardino is prepared to respond to events and to confront and overcome the risks. COMMENDATION They Are Ready! The San Bernardino County Civil Grand Jury commends the Board of Supervisors. During this investigation the CGJ found the board has continually supported the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District in its ongoing efforts 106 San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report Due to this characteristic, there is no simple method to extinguish this type of to protect the county. This support has been crucial and has led to some new and fire. The CGJ has found that the standard operation procedure to fight these types of promising technological advances. fires is the use of a very large amount of water. In addition to the use of water, the possible use of a large specially designed

The Civil Grand Jury has found evidence that the employees of Apple Valley Animal Shelter do care about the animals. As explained above, there are many factors that make it hard for the staff to implement some of the best practices In conclusion, the study of the Apple Valley Animal Shelter has been a very mentioned in this report. interesting and informative one. Apple Valley is a unique town, and its shelter has unique problems. The community is very rural and spread out. Parcels are large and There is, however, a road map to improvement for the Apple Valley Animal animals are not used to leashes or kennels. There is a lot of wildlife in desert areas Shelter and the community it serves. The GJ is confident that if the following which spread disease. Many stray cats tend to have traits belonging to feral recommendations are considered, the citizens of Apple Valley, animal rescue San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 157 cats. Dogs come to the shelter with diseases common to desert rural areas. The F-2: R-2: 06/01/26 Apple AVAS’s Rescue AVTC provides AVAS’s Valley community is just beginning to learn the benefits of an active and robust TNVR Shelter Liaison’s Rescue-Liaison employee(s) Town program for cats. inability to send/ a shelter-owned cell phone Council receive texts on which the RSL may While the Grand Jury commends the people working diligently for the hinder timely communicate with rescue and effective groups by text. animals, and the citizens speaking out for the animals, it also recommends that the interacting with Apple Valley Town Council and the Apple Valley Animal Shelter seriously consider rescue agencies and the recommendations at the end of this report. Working together for the animals is a networkers. road map to improvement. F-3: R-3: 06/01/26 Apple Because AVAS AVAS fully vaccinate all Valley The ending verse of the song, Bless the Beasts and the Children (De Vorzon does not incoming animals within Town and Batkin) is: vaccinate all twenty-four hours of intake. Council animals Bless the Beasts and the Children, immediately upon intake, the Give them shelter from the storm, spread of Keep them safe, keep them warm. disease in the shelter contributes to more euthanasia FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS of sick animals, and the shelter Implementation Required being closed for Findings Recommendations: Date: Responses: periods of time. F-1: R-1: 06/01/26 Apple F-4: R-4: 06/01/26 Apple AVAS’s lack of AVAS posts daily, all Valley AVAS’s failure Apple Valley Town Council Valley providing posted housed animals and its Town to have the cats’ sound-proof the AVAS cat Town lists of all euthanasia list on social Council areas “out of intake area and/or move the Council housed animals media such as Facebook and earshot” of the cat areas to reduce the and euthanasia Instagram, as well as the barking dogs has amount of barking the cats lists leads to AVAS’s website. caused the cats can hear. higher to exhibit some euthanasia rates of the and lower characteristics adoption of feral cats and rates. has resulted in 158 Sa n Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report cats. Dogs come to the shelter with diseases common to desert rural areas. The F-2: R-2: 06/01/26 Apple AVAS’s Rescue AVTC provides AVAS’s Valley community is just beginning to learn the benefits of an active and robust TNVR Shelter Liaison’s Rescue-Liaison employee(s) Town program for cats. inability to send/ a shelter-owned cell phone Council receive texts on which the RSL may While the Grand Jury commends the people working diligently for the hinder timely communicate with rescue and effective groups by text. animals, and the citizens speaking out for the animals, it also recommends that the interacting with Apple Valley Town Council and the Apple Valley Animal Shelter seriously consider rescue agencies and the recommendations at the end of this report. Working together for the animals is a networkers. road map to improvement. F-3: R-3: 06/01/26 Apple Because AVAS AVAS fully vaccinate all Valley The ending verse of the song, Bless the Beasts and the Children (De Vorzon does not incoming animals within Town and Batkin) is: vaccinate all twenty-four hours of intake. Council animals Bless the Beasts and the Children, immediately upon intake, the Give them shelter from the storm, spread of Keep them safe, keep them warm. disease in the shelter contributes to more euthanasia FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS of sick animals, and the shelter Implementation Required being closed for Findings Recommendations: Date: Responses: periods of time. F-1: R-1: 06/01/26 Apple F-4: R-4: 06/01/26 Apple AVAS’s lack of AVAS posts daily, all Valley AVAS’s failure Apple Valley Town Council Valley providing posted housed animals and its Town to have the cats’ sound-proof the AVAS cat Town lists of all euthanasia list on social Council areas “out of intake area and/or move the Council housed animals media such as Facebook and earshot” of the cat areas to reduce the and euthanasia Instagram, as well as the barking dogs has amount of barking the cats lists leads to AVAS’s website. caused the cats can hear. higher to exhibit some euthanasia rates of the and lower characteristics adoption of feral cats and rates. has resulted in San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 159 increased and as a result euthanasia rates. fewer animals F-5: R-5: 05/01/26 Apple have been AVAS’s lack of AVAS initiates the use Valley adopted. the use of color- of color-coded kennel cards Town F-8: R-8: 05/01/26 Apple coded kennel to easily distinguish Council AVAS’s failure AVAS purchase varied-sized Valley cards has between the different to use squeeze squeeze cages and begin Town resulted in classifications of its cages for training and usage. Council delays in kenneled animals. vaccinating or employees and euthanizing adopters animals, such as knowing which feral cats, causes animals are a higher immediately probability of adoptable. injury and F-6: R-6: 10/01/26 Apple disease spread. AVAS does not The Apple Valley Town Valley F-9: R-9: 06/01/26 Apple employ a Council hire and/or provide Town AVAS’s failure AVAS revise and update the Valley Certified training for an employee to Council to update their shelter’s Policy and Town Applied Animal become a Certified Applied Policies and Procedures Manual and add Council Behaviorist, Animal Behaviorist to work Procedures employee and volunteer which causes a at AVAS. Manual (2014), sections that describe the lack of proper in a timely respective procedures and assessment of manner causes training programs. Training the animals for the current for all employees on the adoption and manual to be new Policy and Procedures euthanasia outdated, Manual is to be completed. possibilities. incorrect and F-7: R-7: 05/01/26 Apple incomplete. AVAS has AVAS improves Valley F-10: R-10: 06/01/26 Apple minimally communication with animal Town Opening AVAS The AVTC authorizes and Valley worked with rescue organizations and Council for a sixth day fund an extra position for Town other animal other shelters, nearby of the week for one more day per week so Council entities and humane societies and Apple rescue groups that AVAS may open for businesses in the Valley businesses to plan only, will give rescue organizations only to local area to more community adoption more time for pull animals. plan for events. rescue of the community animals, thereby adoption events 160 Sa n Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report increased and as a result euthanasia rates. fewer animals F-5: R-5: 05/01/26 Apple have been AVAS’s lack of AVAS initiates the use Valley adopted. the use of color- of color-coded kennel cards Town F-8: R-8: 05/01/26 Apple coded kennel to easily distinguish Council AVAS’s failure AVAS purchase varied-sized Valley cards has between the different to use squeeze squeeze cages and begin Town resulted in classifications of its cages for training and usage. Council delays in kenneled animals. vaccinating or employees and euthanizing adopters animals, such as knowing which feral cats, causes animals are a higher immediately probability of adoptable. injury and F-6: R-6: 10/01/26 Apple disease spread. AVAS does not The Apple Valley Town Valley F-9: R-9: 06/01/26 Apple employ a Council hire and/or provide Town AVAS’s failure AVAS revise and update the Valley Certified training for an employee to Council to update their shelter’s Policy and Town Applied Animal become a Certified Applied Policies and Procedures Manual and add Council Behaviorist, Animal Behaviorist to work Procedures employee and volunteer which causes a at AVAS. Manual (2014), sections that describe the lack of proper in a timely respective procedures and assessment of manner causes training programs. Training the animals for the current for all employees on the adoption and manual to be new Policy and Procedures euthanasia outdated, Manual is to be completed. possibilities. incorrect and F-7: R-7: 05/01/26 Apple incomplete. AVAS has AVAS improves Valley F-10: R-10: 06/01/26 Apple minimally communication with animal Town Opening AVAS The AVTC authorizes and Valley worked with rescue organizations and Council for a sixth day fund an extra position for Town other animal other shelters, nearby of the week for one more day per week so Council entities and humane societies and Apple rescue groups that AVAS may open for businesses in the Valley businesses to plan only, will give rescue organizations only to local area to more community adoption more time for pull animals. plan for events. rescue of the community animals, thereby adoption events San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 161 decreasing support for the euthanasia. shelter. F-11: R-11: 06/01/26 Apple F-14: R-14: 06/01/26 Apple AVAS’s practice AVAS establish a Valley Lack of offering The AVTC, along with Valley of using only Population Management Town discounted rates AVAS, develop programs Town one or two Board that meets weekly, Council for certain that allow for a permanent Council employees in made up of qualified adopters causes reduction in adoption and deciding the fate employees, to manage the a decrease in alteration fees for certain of an animal shelter’s population size and adoptions. residents, for example; causes higher decrease euthanasia rates. seniors, first responders and employee stress, disabled citizens. greater F-15: R-15: 11/01/26 Apple euthanasia rates The lack of an The AVTC to provide an in- Valley and a narrowed in-house house veterinarian for AVAS Town view of the veterinarian and add a medical/surgical Council animal’s dedicated to center inside the shelter, behavior. AVAS, and an where neutering and other F-12: R-12: 06/01/26 Apple in-shelter medical procedures may AVAS’s lack of The AVTC to provide a paid Valley medical/surgery take place. a strong full-time employee to Town center in AVAS volunteer manage and coordinate the Council has caused a program, shelter’s program of decrease in managed by a adult/student volunteers. neutering full-time surgeries and employee and other medical with many procedures. adult/student volunteers, causes less hands-on care and socialization

organizations in the area. This would provide the community residents and rescue group members with more education about the shelter and animal care in general. The shelter employees The 2025 San Bernardino County Civil Grand Jury appreciates the Town of and the rescue group members could have beneficial two-way communication and Apple Valley, the shelter employees, the rescue group members (who speak out at get together in their ideas to help the dogs and cats. meetings for the animals) and the San Bernardino County staff for complying quickly with requests for information. Solutions: A Road Map to Improvement Interviewees were very helpful and informative, and showed passion for animals. Multiple shelters welcomed the GJ members while visiting. The community of Apple Valley has some unhappy customers because of The GJ also appreciates employees of AVAS who truly and obviously have problems at the Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Whether these concerns are real or the best interests of the animals at heart. The GJ commends the employees of the perceived, or a combination of both, the view of many residents is that the Town of Town of Apple Valley who work at the shelter. AVAS staff continue to work hard Apple Valley and the staff of AVAS do not care about the animals. These residents and care for the animals and have done so under less than ideal conditions. point to the high euthanasia rate, shown by the shelter’s own monthly disposition reports. These reports show a higher euthanasia rate than other shelters in California.