The nonprofit foundation that
operates animal shelters for Petaluma, Healdsburg and Cloverdale is now
offering to run Mendocino County’s facility, which was recently the subject of
a critical county grand jury report.
Petaluma Animal Services
Foundation’s executive director, Jeff Charter, has told the county he believes
his organization can make improvements to the facility without any additional
costs to taxpayers. Mendocino County Animal Care’s current budget is $924,087.
The department’s anticipated revenue is just under $593,000, leaving the county
to cover the $331,000 shortfall out of the general fund, according to county
budget documents.
Charter was unavailable Friday,
but in a letter to the county, he said he was asked by a group of people that
included shelter volunteers and other concerned area residents, to consider
taking over Mendocino County’s Ukiah-based facility.
County supervisors on Tuesday
will consider investigating the offer as part of a review of potential changes
to the organization following a critical grand jury report.
While the operation’s airy
lobby and other public areas are fairly new, kept clean and generally are
pleasant to visit, the report flunked the county agency on many grounds. The
grand jury concluded that the operation is underfunded, poorly run and
maintained, the shelter overcrowded and that staff members suffer from low
morale and discord in their ranks.
Animal control since 2009 has
been operated jointly by the county’s Health and Human Services department and
the Sheriff’s Office. The Grand Jury has suggested, among other things, that
operations be consolidated under one department, preferably the Sheriff’s
Office.
The heads of both departments
said Friday that Petaluma Animal Services Foundation’s proposition is worth
exploring.
“I think it would be an
interesting option to see what they could offer,” said Stacy Cryer, director of
Health and Human Services.
Sheriff Tom Allman said he’s
met with Charter and is enthusiastic about the potential improvements he could
bring to the operation, including expanded hours and services.
“I’m excited about it and I
certainly am anxious to hear more of what they have to offer,” he said.
February
15, 2015
The
Press Democrat
By Glenda Anderson
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