Is Orange County Going to the Dogs?

- Some cities using limited-access shelters are sending animals deemed unadoptable to the County Animal Shelter, thereby shifting the cost and responsibility for care and euthanasia to the County if the animals are not adopted.

- The Orange County Animal County Shelter is faced with a growing animal population problem that exceeds the capacity of the County Shelter and its ability to place those animals in homes.

- The County Board of Supervisors has not taken a position on AB 1634, legislation which if passed could alleviate many future animal overpopulation problems. A response to Finding F-1 is required from the Mayors of all Orange County cities (listed below) that do not contract with OC Animal Care; and requested from OC Animal Care. Costa Mesa Dana Point Irvine Laguna Beach Laguna Niguel Laguna Woods Los Alamitos Mission Viejo Newport Beach San Clemente Seal Beach Westminster A response to Finding F-2 is requested from the County Executive Officer and requested from OC Community Resources/Animal Care. A response to Finding F-3 is required from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. RECOMMENDATIONS In accordance with California Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, each recommendation will be responded to by the government entity to which it is addressed. The responses are to be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. Based on the findings of this report, the 2007-2008 Orange County Grand Jury makes the following recommendations: R–1 – The cities utilizing limited-access shelters adopt an open-shelter policy for all dogs and cats within their city limits or reimburse the County Shelter for the expense of boarding and euthanizing animals from their cities. 1 0 R–2 – The OC Animal Care Department prepare and present to the Board of Supervisors a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance to reduce animal overpopulation and to ease the strain on the capacity of the County Shelter. R–3 – The County Board of Supervisors examine and consider supporting State Assembly Bill AB 1634 to assist in alleviating many of Orange County’s animal overpopulation problems. Responses to recommendation R-1 are required from the Mayors of all Orange County cities (listed below) that do not contract with the OC Animal Care and requested from the OC Community Resources/Animal Care. Costa Mesa Dana Point Irvine Laguna Beach Laguna Niguel Laguna Woods Los Alamitos Mission Viejo Newport Beach San Clemente Seal Beach Westminster Responses to recommendation R-2 is requested from the County Executive Officer and the OC Community Resources/Animal Care. Response to recommendation R-3 is required from the County of Orange Board of Supervisors. REQUIRED RESPONSES: The California Penal Code specifies the required permissible responses to the findings and recommendations contained in this report. The specific sections are quoted below: §933.05 (a) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following: (1) The respondent agrees with the finding. (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefore. 1 1 (b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions: (1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action. (2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a timeframe for implementation. (3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a timeframe for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when applicable. This timeframe shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of the grand jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefore. 1 2