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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ 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 10 findings
F1
Page 18
The Grand Jury commends the Shelter and its employees for the excellent job they are doing to reunite lost pets with their owners and to find new homes for abandoned pets. Their cooperative work with other shelters, the use of the internet, and the use of newspaper ads to achieve these goals speaks volumes about the care and concern the Shelter and employees have for the County’s pet population. They are fulfilling their Mission Statement and Statement of Function.
F2
Page 18
The current under-supervised inmate work program raises multiple safety concerns: A. Inadequate staff levels with inmates present create multiple safety issues for the public, employees and volunteers, and animals. B. Inmates have the opportunity to have unsupervised communication and interaction with the public. C. Inmates have the opportunity to obtain and conceal contraband on Shelter property.
F3
Page 18
Under-supervised and untrained inmates do not have proper knowledge of care for the animals and may represent a danger to both the animals and themselves. Further, they may have no external motivation to perform to any required standard.
F4
Page 18
Given the size of the County, one Animal Control Officer in the field is not enough to protect the public from vicious or uncontrolled animal situations.
F5
Page 18
The absence of an approved and implemented Policies and Procedures Manual, lack of regular scheduled staff meetings, and failure to provide annual employee reviews contribute to misunderstandings among employees.
F6
Page 18
Non-functioning security camera surveillance is a serious safety concern for the public, the workers, and the animals.
F7
Page 18
The emergency generator for the Shelter is not connected to the Shelter’s electrical system, but is operational. In the event of a power outage no heat, air conditioning, or light is available for staff and animals.
F8
Page 18
The crematory oven is being used without any regular maintenance or servicing to assure its operational safety, which constitutes a risk to the Facility, staff, public, and animals. No on-site documentation is posted to verify maintenance, service, or operator training.
F9
Page 18
The failure to vaccinate all dogs being admitted to the Shelter endangers the health of all dogs at the Facility and in adoptive homes.
F10
Page 18
The two large animal exercise yards (approximately ¼ acre each) are not utilized efficiently; the lack of interior fencing allows for only one animal to occupy each of the ¼ acre areas at a time. 2015-2016 Plumas County Grand Jury Report: Animal Services
Recommendations 10
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R1Page 19The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff’s Department and the Board of Supervisors commend Shelter employees and volunteers for their excellent work, caring for, placing for adoption, and locating owners for the animals.
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R2Page 19A. The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff suspend the inmate work program until the Risk Management Department evaluates the safety and security issues stated in this report: 1) Potential risk to the public, employees and volunteers, and animals at the Facility 2) Unsupervised communication and interaction with the public 3) Opportunity to obtain and conceal contraband at the Facility B. The Grand Jury recommends that during the time of addressing inmate safety and security concerns, the Board of Supervisors approve funding for the Sheriff to hire a full-time kennel worker to perform the duties that had been assigned to the inmates.
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R3Page 19The Grand Jury recommends that, if an inmate worker program is to be re- implemented, the Sheriff’s Office first develop a written policy clearly defining screening and training requirements prior to re-implementing that policy.
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R4Page 19The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff add an additional Animal Control Officer to the staff of the Shelter.
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R5Page 19A. The Grand Jury recommends the County Human Resources Director work with the Sheriff to finalize the Animal Services Policy Manual and assure its use in training employees, volunteers, and, if applicable, inmates. B. The Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff’s Department provide all Animal Services employees with current job descriptions, including expectations of job performance. C. The Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff’s Department conduct annual reviews of each Animal Services employee to evaluate job performance. D. The Grand Jury recommends formal staff meetings between the Department head and Shelter employees on a monthly basis, with attendance mandatory. Employees should be allowed to add items to the agenda for discussion.
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R6Page 19The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct Building Maintenance to repair or replace the surveillance camera system with recording capability and arrange for its regular maintenance.
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R7Page 19The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct Building Maintenance to properly install the existing emergency generator and provide regular maintenance. 2015-2016 Plumas County Grand Jury Report: Animal Services
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R8Page 20The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors allocate and implement regular maintenance and servicing of the Animal Services crematory oven by qualified personnel according to manufacturer’s specifications.
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R9Page 20The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct and allocate the Sheriff’s Department to provide the Shelter with the means to provide basic vaccinations to new animals brought into the Facility.
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R10Page 20The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct and allocate monies to install interior fence partitions for the two large exercise yards to allow for multiple animals to use the outside yards.