Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed the Animal Control Department during its budget workshop last week, recognizing its importance but also seeing the potential for cuts.
The county expects a $2.47 million dollar budget shortfall in 2012-2013. Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster said “I was here when the shelter had all the problems” and “I don’t want to go back there.” But “I don’t know if that means reinstating lost positions.”
Supervisor Ted Novelli said if Triple Flip comes back to the county, through a budget rider, he would consider funds for Animal Control, and Supervisor Brian Oneto agreed.
Forster said other departments are severely affected by potential cuts. General Services has to take care of all county buildings, and is not doing any preventive maintenance, only emergencies, taking care of problems as needed.
In public comment, shelter volunteer Lynn Clevinger said the Stockton shelter recently killed 966 dogs in one month and “our animal shelter is a model: “It’s not the dogs’ fault they end up there. It’s people.”
Forster asked Animal Services Director John Vail for statistics on euthanasia. Vail said in the last six years 1,250 cats were euthanized in Amador County: 70 percent of cats leave the shelter alive, and 85 percent of dogs leave alive. Cats are put down because they are feral, and dogs due to attitude, if they can’t be safe in a home, if they kill other animals, and sometimes for medical reasons.
Novelli asked Vail: Depending on the way the budget goes, is there any way to reorganize things in your department to absorb the loss of 2.47. Vail said: “I don’t think so.” He said Animal Control’s budget has been slightly under $1 million. Services and supplies cost about $200,000 and they have tried to cut that down.
He said things we don’t have control over in spending is pretty much personnel costs. If they have animals, they have to have food. And if they have sick dogs they are required to treat them.
Susan Manning of A-PAL said she also was there when Animal Control services hit bottom. She said Supervisors stepped up and built a first class facility. We said: That is not enough. We want a wonderful, caring staff, and you gave us that.
Manning said back then, 20 percent came out alive, and now it is 15 percent being euthanized, and we adopted 500 cats. “Our shelter intake was the same” but euthanasia hasn’t increased, she said. “When we stay the same and don’t go up in an economy like this, it’s a win.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
