Animal Services Division Doing the Best with What They Have

The Animal Services Division (ASD) is doing the best that they can with what they have. They do this despite an aging facility, being understaffed and having a challenging work environment. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) audit suggested upgrades to the facility. The shelter itself is 40 years old and needs to be expanded, remodeled and/or replaced. While an expansion is planned for the entry that will increase the public reception area and provide improved housing for the cat population, it is only a fraction of what is needed. The phone system lacks capacity and there is insufficient staff to answer telephone calls. The HSUS audit pointed out that ASD was understaffed. For daily operations, ASD has responded to this situation by using community volunteers and Honor Farm inmates. While the volunteers bring enthusiasm and compassion, the lack of a volunteer coordinator complicates their contribution as a resource. Volunteers schedule their own time and no comprehensive schedule can be developed. The Honor Farm inmates cannot substitute for full-time kennel workers. With all staff resources plus volunteers and inmate labor committed to daily operations, ASD is forced to rely on assistance from the San Luis Obispo County Health Agency in order to keep up with internal County administrative tasks such as budgeting, inventory reporting and managing personnel. The ASD work environment can be stressful. Staff deals with people who have lost, or must surrender animals that in some cases are like their children. They must deal with customers denied the adoption of an animal as well as those searching for a lost pet. This takes place in an environment dominated by the barking of dogs under stress and the awareness that terminal illness, serious injuries and, in some cases, lack of space will result in euthanasia. A notable area of ASD strength is field services where Animal Control Officers cover the entire county helping citizens and animals alike. They provide a valuable service to the County. The Grand Jury is aware that current economic conditions have caused the budgets of many departments to suffer. The HSUS audit documents the need for additional ASD staff and rehabilitation of the facility. Recommendations not requiring additional funds have been implemented; however, major improvements to the facility and staffing increases are still unaddressed. The Grand Jury believes that ASD's seven to eight year oscillation between the Health Agency and the Sheriff's Office, after being an independent department, may be related to this underfunding. It appears that after a number of years, budgetary pressures grow to such an extent that ASD becomes a candidate for orphanage. This situation should be corrected by fully funding ASD's needs, stabilizing it within one county entity, or allowing it to operate as a stand-alone department. Informational report, no response required.

retrieving the dog, found it had been micro-chipped. The animal was taken to the shelter. The owner will be notified and an impound fee charged. The officer then responded to a call from an elderly woman living in a senior housing 0 facility who had been caring for a stray cat. The senior housing facility does not allow pets. The officer retrieved the cat from under the bed and took it to the shelter. Dispatch called to request the pick-up of a toy poodle found at a Paso Robles golf course 0 and taken home to Creston for safety by a citizen. The officer drove to the rural area to pick up the dog. Dispatch also called for pick-up of a dead animal, but there was insufficient time to respond and that call was rescheduled for the next day. By the end of the day, three dogs and four cats were retrieved. All animals were taken to the shelter for processing, which includes vaccination, before being put in individual enclosures. The Jurors were surprised by the length of time and travel required for each call. Both Grand Jurors were impressed with the officers' patience, professionalism and compassion when interacting with the public in the performance of their duties, which at times were physically difficult, stressful and emotional.