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ANIMAL WELFARE COMMISSION

BACKGROUND: On October 4th, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion to create a Santa Barbara Animal Welfare Commission.  It’s role will be to assure that your tax dollars are spent effectively and that animals impounded in our county’s three shelters receive the best possible care and have every opportunity to be returned to their owners or to find loving adoptive homes. This Commission would also assure that the services of caring volunteers are protected and that the concerns of citizens are heard.

The proposed Animal Welfare Commission would be a separate nonpartisan committee, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, to ensure that the concerns of both volunteers and citizens are heard and addressed.

Why does Santa Barbara County need an Animal Welfare Commission? Here are some of the ways the current system is NOT working: 

• The County often deems dogs “unadoptable” from the County Shelters but offers these dogs to local rescues. If not taken, these dogs will be euthanized. Many of these rescued dogs have found forever homes and are doing fine.
• There have been several incidents recently where County Management has “miscommunicated” with stakeholders about shelter dogs
• The AHA process is flawed due to the lack of stakeholder involvement. 
• Managers in the Animal Services Department are inconsistent in their treatment of stakeholders and dogs.  ​
• The Animal Services budget has increased while the number of animals arriving at the shelters is decreasing. Some cities are looking for alternative sheltering arrangements due to the high cost of their contracts
• The County has always called the SB Shelter in Goleta a no-kill facility. This used to mean that they didn’t kill any animals they considered to be “adoptable.” Now it means that they kill less than 10% of the animals that arrive at the shelter involuntarily.
• The SB shelter facilities are outdated and do not meet the Humane Society of the US guidelines for long term kenneling.
• The dog volunteer hours at the SB shelter are currently lower than the last available data from 2011.  
• The County has had several Protective Custody dogs killed while in custody at the shelter. Other PC dogs have been stolen.  The PC dogs can be held at the shelter in kennels that don’t meet HSUS guidelines for long periods without any exercise.  ​

Read more at http://www.worldclasssheltersinsb.org/

THE PROPOSAL:

The overall mission of the Santa Barbara County Animal Commission is to sustain and improve care of homeless animals and improve service to the general public in Santa Barbara County by:

1. Promoting and sustaining a public-private partnership between Santa Barbara County Animal Services, volunteers, non-profit organizations and other interested citizens;
2. Ensuring accountability and transparency in operations of Santa Barbara County Animal Services and partnering organizations; and
3. Enhancing communication and cooperation among all persons interested in animal welfare in Santa Barbara County.

Authorized activities of the Animal Commission shall include:

a.  Monitoring the operations of SBCAS, holding public hearings and making periodic reports and recommendations for improvements, including recommendations for facility improvements.

b. Promoting and facilitating collaboration between SBCAS, outside non-profit organizations and interested members of the public.

c.  Receiving and investigating citizen and employee complaints concerning SBCAS and other animal welfare matters within Santa Barbara County; making recommendations for corrective action where warranted.

d. Reviewing and making recommendations concerning SBCAS policies and procedures, in consultation with SBCAS staff, stakeholders and interested members of the public. The Animal Commission shall make final decisions on SBCAS policies affecting animal care and service to the public, subject to override by Board of Supervisors.

e. Reviewing and making recommendations on SBCAS budget proposals, staffing and organization.

f.  Reviewing and making recommendations on contracts or other agreements affecting care and disposition of SBCAS animals, including contracts concerning uses and improvements of SBCAS grounds and facilities, contracts for professional services (e.g. dog trainers), and contracts or operating agreements with non-profit partners.

g.  Conducting applicant interviews and making recommendations on hiring of senior management personnel (SBCAS Director, Operations Manager, Shelter Supervisors).

h.  Evaluating and making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on local, state and federal legislative matters and regulations related to animal welfare.

PLEASE contact your Board of Supervisors in support of this motion:

1st District: Salud Carbajal. Phone: (805) 568-2186. Email: SupervisorCarbajal@sbcbos1.org
2nd District: Janet Wolf. Phone: (805) 568-2191. Email: jwolf@sbcbos2.org
3rd District: Doreen Farr, Vice Chair.  Phone: (805) 568-2192.  Email: dfarr@countyofsb.org
4th District: Peter Adam, Chair.  Lompoc: (805) 737-7700. Santa Maria: (805) 346-8407 Email: peter.adam@countyofsb.org
5th District: Steve Lavagnino. Santa Maria: (805) 346-8407. Email: steve.lavagnino@countyofsb.org

Please sign and share this petition to support the creation of this commission to help all homeless SB County animals! Thank You!  

#BeTheirVoice  www.daveysvoice.org