NEWS RELEASE: City Welcomes Animal Care & Services Audit Findings, Lays Out Plan for Rapid Implementation
Post Date:12/03/2024 3:00 PMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Kellie Benz, Public Information Manager, Public Works Department
408-250-1594; kellie.benz@sanjoseca.gov
City Welcomes Animal Care & Services Audit Findings, Lays Out Plan for Rapid Implementation
SAN JOSE, Calif. (December 3, 2024) – The City of San José’s Animal Care & Services (ACS) Division welcomes the City Auditor’s San José Animal Care and Services Audit Report, called for in October 2023 by the City Council. The administration agrees with all of the City Auditor’s recommendations, recognizes the overpopulation crisis in the shelter, and supports the shelter staff as they re-affirm their mission to provide a welcoming and humane place for animals and those who care for them.
“San José is committed to providing the best outcome for all adoptable pets who come into our care,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “I am pleased that the team has already taken action on several recommendations, and we expect all March and June 2025 deadlines to be met on time or ahead of schedule.”
Of the 39 audit recommendations, 21 are considered the highest priority. Key performance metrics, commitment to effective protocols, and stringent data collection are themes throughout the audit that the shelter staff are keen to improve.
"The community's concerns about overcrowding and shelter conditions have been heard loud and clear," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "We called for an audit to find out exactly what is and isn't working – and it turns out the community was right. Now, it's crucial for staff to implement the auditor’s recommendations quickly to restore trust and ensure adoptable pets keep finding their forever homes."
“In 20 years, the demand for community animal care has changed dramatically, but our core mission remains the same; we will always be the temporary caretakers to adoptable pets until they find their forever families or rescue champions,” added Matt Loesch, Public Works Director, the department responsible for ACS. “We need to and must do better for the animals in our care, our partners and our community.”
Relationship building is a common theme throughout the audit and securing more partnerships will be key to the future of animal care responsibilities in the South Bay. This year, ACS has increased its rescue partnerships by seven percent for a total of 104 active rescue partners and will increase investment of staff time and other resources in this work. The partners specialize in everything from newborn kittens to pets in medical crises to senior pets and can help support the shelter further as the City works to reduce overcrowding.
"Today, the Mayor, City Council, and I are proposing measures to improve the San José Animal Shelter and make it easier for animals to find loving homes,” said Councilmember Bien Doan. “If approved, we'll make sure the audit recommendations are fully implemented and provide additional resources if needed by the end of 2025. Additionally, we are expanding Trap-Neuter-Release services and offering low-cost spay/neuter options for pets in lower-income areas. We’ll also work with rescue groups to help more animals leave the shelter and focus on securing contracts for spay/neuter services. Additionally, we’re proposing to remove the $50 fee for rescue partner registrations. These steps will help the shelter run more smoothly and give animals the care and attention they deserve."
As a municipal shelter, ACS does not turn away sick or injured pets, or pregnant cats, which increases unhealthy pets coming into ACS care. About twenty-nine percent of stray pets arrive in the category of Unhealthy/Untreatable animals on intake, almost 4,000 this year compared to almost 2,000 last year. ACS staff work collaboratively to ensure the best outcome for pets and is increasing vet tech staffing and adding a veterinarian to meet the demand.
Shelter staff have begun to work with the Finance Department for more contracted spay and neuter surgeries as recommended in Audit finding #9 and have finalized two contracts for this fiscal year. Recommendation 10 called for an easier way for online Trap-Neuter-Release appointments to be booked and staff made that improvement in October. By Nov. 1, 2024, all of the available free surgery spots were booked for the calendar year 2024. To better gauge the community’s needs, ACS staff have left the form open to continue collecting data.
ACS is eager to establish the recommended Community Action Committee to focus on ways to increase the spay and neuter services to the community, improve rescue partners’ engagement and communications, tailor information to rescues to their specific needs, and review options for providing affordable spay and neuter services to owned pets in the community.
“We look forward to delivering all of the recommendations of the audit and continuing to build our presence in the South Bay to be a resource for pets in need in our community,” added Loesch.
To make it even easier for San José residents to meet adoptable pets, ACS is opening its first-ever temporary downtown adoption location on Friday, Dec. 6. The San José Downtown PAWp-Up at 93 E. San Carlos Street. Adoptions of large and small dogs, cats, and rabbits can be made at the location with the pets ready to join their new families. The location will be open Friday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. each day until Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. All adoption fees are waived for pets adopted at the Downtown PAWp-Up. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, the City will host a press conference to spread the word about PAWp-Up at 11:15 a.m. More details will be shared with the media in the morning.
About the City of San José With almost one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 13th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
About City of San José Animal Care & Services Animal Care & Services is a division of the Public Works Department, City of San José The division works to fulfill a mission to provide a welcoming and humane place for animals and those who care for them; to protect, educate and serve the public; to develop programs that improve the lives of people and animals; and to create opportunities for our community and supporters to help us succeed. The division runs the City’s Animal Care Center at 2750 Monterey Road, San José, CA. In October 2024, the Center celebrated 20 years helping pets in need in the San Francisco Bay Area’s South Bay. Follow on Instagram or Facebook or go to www.adoptapetsj.org.
