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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 27 findings
F1
Page 108
There have been no upgrades to the dog and cat cages at the Redlands Animal Shelter since 1985.
F2
Page 108
The kennels are outside and the guillotine doors (which let the dogs go into the shaded inner part of the kennel) are not working. Dog kennels do not have adequate drainage. The kennels are hosed down once per day, and the drains clog and feces cannot go down the drain as of 7.1.22.
F3
Page 108
The cats and kittens at the Redlands Animal Shelter are living in hot, crowded spaces and the food and water are placed next to the litter boxes. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report
F4
Page 109
On the visit of 8.12.22 evidence of controlled drugs being stored and locked up could not be located upon request.
F5
Page 109
There were expired medications at the Redlands Animal Shelter.
F6
Page 109
As of 7.1.22, the animals were lacking exercise, enrichment, and socialization with other animals and people. Also lacking at the Redlands Animal Shelter was shade for the animals. The animals were fed once a day and fresh water was not always available.
F7
Page 109
Redlands Animal Shelter is not using the Asilomar Live Release Rate to report to the City Council regarding euthanasia.
F8
Page 109
The Redlands Animal Shelter has not been reaching out to, and has been refusing offers of help from, local rescue groups such as REDfosa and the Redlands Humane Society.
F9
Page 109
As of August 2022, Redlands Animal Shelter had a list of seven rescue groups with which to work. Before 2018, the Redlands Animal Shelter had kept a list of forty-three rescue groups.
F10
Page 109
Redlands Animal Shelter has no permanent full-time Shelter Manager.
F11
Page 109
For months at a time, the Shelter had no on-site supervisor.
F12
Page 109
Staff level as of 8.12.22 was: two Kennel Assistants, two Animal Control Officers and two temporary Customer Service Representatives.
F13
Page 109
Redlands Animal Shelter had no volunteers as of 8.12.22. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 89
F14
Page 110
There have been multiple reports of sexual harassment at the Redlands Animal Shelter. Lack of supervision and monitoring has provided an atmosphere where sexual harassment opportunities can occur.
F15
Page 110
Redlands Animal Shelter has had one Community Adoption and/or Meet-and-Greet event since 2018.
F16
Page 110
Redlands Animal Shelter does not have training manuals for volunteers and staff. The Shelter has no Policies and Procedures Manual.
F17
Page 110
The Redlands Animal Shelter currently has no training for staff nor Shelter Management in the basic operations of an animal shelter. For example, courses such as: • leadership training • record-keeping • animal population management • medical and behavioral health of animals • euthanasia • animal transport • preventing infectious diseases • zoonotic disease control • sanitation practices • animal behavior management • identifying contagious diseases • animal handling • customer service techniques
F18
Page 110
As of 8.12.22, only one Animal Control Officer at Redlands Animal Shelter is certified by the State of California.
F19
Page 110
There is no tracking of specific individual donations that are made for a specific purpose. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report
F20
Page 111
The City of Redlands website does not inform the public if the money allocated for improvements at the Shelter is specifically spent on improvements for the Shelter.
F21
Page 111
Redlands Animal Shelter volunteers have spent their own money on shelter cleaning and other supplies.
F22
Page 111
Request for bids for veterinary services are not put out for competitive bids annually.
F23
Page 111
Redlands Animal Shelter has not been holding fundraising events for the Shelter to help fund medical care, adoption programs and improvements for the Shelter.
F24
Page 111
Redlands Animal Shelter has not successfully acquired grants and has no dedicated shelter grant writer and/or a Shelter Manager trained in writing grants.
F25
Page 111
There has not been an objective operational audit (evaluation) done by a qualified third party/agency regarding how to improve the operations at the Redlands Animal Shelter.
F26
Page 111
The Redlands City Council has no independent Animal Commission to oversee the Redlands Animal Shelter and report the Shelter’s operations to the City Council.
F27
Page 111
The City of Redlands has not implemented a formal written complaint process for the public specific to the Animal Shelter. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 91 RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations 28
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R1Page 112The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Redlands plan a new building that will house the animals under their care. Dogs to be housed in double kennels in an indoor/outdoor or indoor/indoor configuration, with the indoor component being heated and air-conditioned. Cats and kittens to be housed in cages large enough to have fifteen-inch spaces between the litter boxes and the food and water; with an area in which to rest. Cats and kittens to be put in a large, continuously air-conditioned cattery room, feral room, and isolation room. Creation of a written action plan to be done by August 2023.
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R2Page 112The Redlands Animal Shelter to keep a formal written and digital copy of all medications stored at the Shelter, and expired medications to be disposed of according to legal requirements. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R3Page 112The Grand Jury recommends a checklist be attached to each animal’s cage. Water and food bowls filled to be documented/recorded daily on the checklist. Exercise, enrichment activities, socialization with other animals and cage/kennel cleanings to be documented on the checklists. The checklists to be kept for three years. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R4Page 112The Grand Jury recommends that cat litter boxes be cleaned at least three times per day. Dog kennels to be hosed down at least three times per day. Recorded by checklist on every animal’s cage. Checklists to be kept three years. To implemented by March 2023.
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R5Page 112Within 24 hours of intake, all animals to be bathed, groomed, and examined for issues such as external parasites, injuries, infection and zoonotic diseases. To be recorded on a digital and hard copy log. Designate an area within the Redlands Animal Shelter to bathe, groom and inspect animals. To be implemented by March 2023. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report
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R6Page 113The Grand Jury recommends all euthanasia be reported as the Asilomar Live Release Rate to the City Council quarterly beginning March 2023.
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R7Page 113Initiate/reestablish partnerships with all available rescue groups. Keep a current list of them in the Redlands Animal Shelter Chameleon computer system. RAS to call or email every month to let rescue groups know about newly available animals. Log these calls and e-mails and report them to Redlands City Council quarterly. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R8Page 113The Grand Jury recommends that the Redlands Animal Shelter relinquishes an animal to a non-profit group for adoption if requested by that rescue group. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R9Page 113Hire and train a qualified and permanent full-time Shelter Manager by August 2023, who is to make bi-monthly Shelter status reports concerning Shelter operations to the local newspaper(s), the City website and the Redlands City Council beginning August 2023.
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R10Page 113The Grand Jury recommends that the Redlands Animal Shelter keep at least three full-time Animal Control Officers, three full-time Kennel Assistants, two permanent full-time front desk Customer Service Representatives, one Volunteer Coordinator and one full-time Shelter Manager continuously. To be implemented by August 2023.
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R11Page 113Utilize twenty-five or more volunteers at the Redlands Animal Shelter. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R12Page 113Redlands Animal Shelter to provide site-specific sexual harassment and adverse working conditions training using in-person role play scenarios to all staff at the Shelter on an annual basis. To be implemented by June 2023. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 93
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R13Page 114City of Redlands to set up anonymous (if desired) reporting of sexual harassment allegations at Redlands Animal Shelter. The report to go to the Director of Facilities and Community Services, the City Attorney and the Human Resources Department with a resolution required within two weeks. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R14Page 114Cameras, with audio recordings, to be placed in all Animal Control Officers’ City-owned trucks, operational and continuously activated. To be reviewed by Shelter Management weekly. To be implemented by August 2023.
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R15Page 114Redlands Animal Shelter to conduct at least six community, Adoption and/or Meet-and-Greet events per year. Advertise and report these events to Redlands City Council and Redlands local newspaper(s) quarterly. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R16Page 114City of Redlands, Facilities and Community Services Department, Shelter Manager, staff and volunteers to collaborate to develop formal, written and digital volunteer manuals, training manuals and policy and procedures manual for the Shelter. To be reviewed and updated annually. To be implemented by August 2023.
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R17Page 114Every ACO to complete the Certified Animal Control Officer Program which includes 60 hours of training in Animal Care and State Laws. The program is administered by CalAnimals.org. State Certification to be completed of hire date and paid for by the City of Redlands. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R18Page 114Require all Shelter staff and Management to obtain continuing education through online sites such as CalAnimals.org. City of Redlands to pay for the training. Staff and Management required to complete at least four courses per year, as verified by certificates of completion given to Facilities and Community Services Department. To be implemented by March 2023. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report
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R19Page 115The City Council and the Facilities and Community Services Department to post on the Redlands Animal Shelter website exactly what happens to donations and budget allocations and how the budget process works. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R20Page 115Redlands Animal Shelter to make it mandatory for Shelter personnel to print out donation receipts, give a copy to the donor and keep the duplicate and provide it to the City Treasurer. A thank you form letter to be used when donation is above a predetermined dollar amount. A blank space to be left and used to explain donation usage (if usage was designated by the donor). Provide a copy of the letter to the City Treasurer to match with the donation receipt. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R21Page 115Donation subaccounts to be set up for donations where the purpose is clearly designated. It is to be set apart in the yearly budget for the citizens’ information and reported to the City Council and on the Redlands Animal Shelter website quarterly. To be implemented by July 2023.
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R22Page 115The Shelter Manager to keep a written inventory of supplies and conduct a physical inventory of these items every month, informing the City when items need to be purchased. In cases of emergency the Shelter staff to use the Petty Cash fund. To be implemented by March 2023.
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R23Page 115Request for quotes on veterinary service to be done, as part of the City’s competitive bid process, annually for contracted veterinary service, with no automatic extensions included in the contract. To be implemented by June 2023 and/or end of current contract.
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R24Page 115Use rescue groups and volunteers to help with fundraising activities (at least one every month). Ensure money is accounted for by Shelter staff and input into Chameleon. To be implemented by March 2023. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 95
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R25Page 116Permanent Shelter Manager to complete a grant writing class. Shelter Manager to apply for at least four grants per year and keep a documented account of those applications in digital and hard copy. Report applications for grants to the City Council quarterly. To be implemented by August 2023.
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R26Page 116Redlands Animal Shelter to appoint an independent third party agency, such as Best Friends Animal Society, to conduct an operational audit of the Redlands Animal Shelter. Items evaluated by the third party will include such areas as management style; facilities; expired medications; records of drugs; improvements needed; adoptions and other outcomes, etc. The Shelter to report the results of the audit at the public portion of the City Council meeting. To be implemented by June 2023.
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R27Page 116City of Redlands City Council to form an independent (not city employees) oversight group/commission/ ad hoc committee to oversee the Redlands Animal Shelter. This Animal Commission to include, but not be limited to, local citizens; members from local animal rescue organizations; veterinarians and animal shelter consultants/professionals. The group to meet a minimum of four times per year and report to the City Council quarterly. Committee to be formed by June 2023.
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R28Page 116The Facilities and Community Services Department (F&CS) to create a process by which all complaints concerning the Redlands Animal Shelter are received, logged in, reviewed and answered in writing. The Grand Jury recommends creating a three-person panel (not City employees) to review and respond to all complaints within two weeks. Complaints and resolutions to be kept indefinitely by F&CS Department, and reported to the City Council, local newspapers and on the City website quarterly. The panel and process to be created by June 2023. REQUIRED RESPONSES Redlands City Council (All Findings and Recommendations) 96 San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report