County Audit Report

There is no standardized feeding protocol that identifies certain types of foods to be fed to the animals. The type of food being fed to the animals is dependent on what is donated.

The MOA recommended Animal Services replace the current Animal Control Officers’ trucks with new vehicles containing standard cage mounts that prevent exposure to the weather and have cooling and heating units. The Grand Jury found that Animal Services has the following vehicles: A) Two older 4-wheel drive vehicles with open compartments that expose animals to extreme weather conditions. The Grand Jury learned that during the winter months, animals being transported in these vehicles have arrived to the shelter cold and wet even when blankets were provided. B) Two used animal control trucks were recently purchased which have no cooling or heating units but rather two fans installed on top of each vehicle that only moves air through the six animal compartments. The two trucks do not have the 4-wheel drive needed for severe weather mountain conditions. The intent of the Sheriff’s Department is to transport animals immediately to the shelter during inclement weather. However, given the large size of Calaveras County, transporting animals across the County could take at least an hour or more, causing discomfort or possible death for an animal in extreme weather. The following temperatures were recorded in San Andreas, Calaveras County: During the Winter Months: During the Summer Months: (November 2005 - March 2006) (May - September 2005) 47 days were recorded 32 degrees 86 days were recorded 90 degrees or or below. above, and 38 days were recorded 100 degrees or above. These statistics were taken in San Andreas, which is fairly moderate compared to the mountains and the lower foothill communities of Calaveras County.

The Grand Jury confirmed complaints received by the consultant that cats without sedation were being euthanized by intracardiac injection. Also, the Grand Jury found there were complaints of abusive treatment of animals being taken to the euthanasia room. Assembly Bill 1426 – Chaptered Section 1. Section 597u of the Penal Code is amended to read: (a) No person, peace officer, officer of a humane society, or officer of a pound or animal regulation department of a public agency shall kill any animal by using (2) Intracardiac injection of a euthanasia agent on a conscious animal, unless the animal is heavily sedated or anesthetized in a humane manner, or comatose. Penal Code 597 (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or (c), whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, is for every such offense, guilty of a crime punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony and by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). 8

The Grand Jury found Calaveras County Animal Services, when compared to similar counties, is under funded. Budget amounts for 2006 divided by population resulted in the following: Name of County Population Budget for 2006 Cost per person/per year Calaveras County 49,000 $ 343,823 $ 7.02 Amador County 38,000 $ 798,211 $21.00 Tuolumne County 57,000 $ 823,000 $14.44 El Dorado/Westslope 68,100 $1,260,000 $18.50

The Grand Jury finds inadequate communication between Animal Services and the Calaveras Humane Society. Several animals selected for “Pet of the Week” or for transport to another facility were euthanized due to poor communication between Animal Services and the Humane Society. Animal Services developed “Pet of the Week” procedures, issued on March 3, 2006, to improve communications between Animal Services employees and volunteers of the Humane Society. Without the Humane Society’s 50 volunteers, it would be difficult to operate the Calaveras County animal shelter. These volunteers find foster families and permanent homes for the animals and help out with a variety of other tasks.

The Calaveras County Animal Services Facility is in need of developing and revising their Policies and Procedures Manual, job descriptions, methods for training, and evaluating its staff and volunteers. Animal Services has mentioned implementing a new tracking software program to maintain a more effective database. Animal Services management intends to have all the above items completed and in place by January 2007.