12 Nov Richmond to Continue Receiving Animal Services From County, not Nonprofits

Zip, a Siberian Husky, was adopted from the Contra Costa Animal Services shelter. (Joe Porrello / CC Pulse file)

By Samantha Kennedy  

Richmond will maintain the status quo with current county animal control services, but additional collaborations between nonprofits and the city won’t be coming just yet.  

City Council approved $1.4 million to continue funding services through the Contra Costa County Animal Services Department, offering shelter to animals, emergency response to animal bites, and other services to the city.  

Adding formal partnerships with nonprofits right now, however, isn’t something the city has the capacity to do, according to City Manager Shasa Curl.

The proposal by council member Soheila Bana wasn’t considered at Tuesday’s meeting but had been prompted by years-long concerns over the county’s alleged treatment of animals in its care. 

“The County Animal Services kills dogs, and people are not happy with it, and we have received many complaints about it,” said Bana, who requested the city issue a request for proposals for nonprofits to provide some of the services. “It would be fair to give them a chance, even if we have to start with a small amount of services [offered] through nonprofits.” 

In October, CCAS euthanized 117 animals. That’s 17.65% of total animal outcomes recorded that month, according to a monthly performance report. More animals were adopted, totaling 234, that data shows.  

Curl said that a combination of crises — the planned and then canceled surge in immigration enforcement last month and the now-delayed CalFresh benefits —, staff having no policy experience in the area, and the city’s financial situation meant she could not back Bana’s suggestion. 

“We are not in a position where we can offer animal control services,” said Curl. “We currently have a backlog.” 

The city already offers $9 million in grants through the Department of Children and Youth, according to Curl. It also collaborates with Joybound People and Pets, which offers services for free. 

Curl said she’s “certainly seen an improvement” in services from CCAS. 

Other nonprofits also offer rescue services to residents. 

CCAS and the city-operated animal shelter in the city of Antioch, which Curl referred to, have faced criticism in recent years for overpopulation, “substandard” treatment of animals, and other concerns. CCCAS, in particular, has been criticized for the number of animals it euthanized.  

Local Advocates Say More Can Be Done to Save Animals. CCAS Says It’s Doing All It Can

In the last several months, Antioch has been in talks to reduce costs associated with the shelter by 30% in the face of its multimillion-dollar deficit. And, in 2020, CCAS shut down its Pinole shelter because of budget cuts. 

Veronica Ramos said that the location of the facility, in Martinez, and interactions with CCAS have left animals to be abandoned sometimes without further intervention.  

“Due to the use of euthanasia, many people prefer to re-release the stray or go to a rescue and beg them to take it,” Ramos told council members. “Other cases, people have contacted animal control, and animal control has [allegedly] told them to ‘Leave it where you found it.’” 

Council member Sue Wilson said that no nonprofit would be able to offer some of the services that CCAS provides but encouraged Bana to bring any ideas back to collaborate with no-kill shelters.