To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ben Winkleblack, Animal Services Director
Report Title: Contract with Petszel, Inc. for No-Cost Post-Adoption Support Services
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Animal Services Director, or designee, to execute a no-cost contract with Petszel, Inc. to provide an on-demand web-based support platform application to offer behavioral and training resources to pet adopters for the period of January 21, 2026, through January 20, 2027, and for successive one-year terms thereafter until terminated.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa Animal Services (CCAS) continues to focus on reducing the length of stay, maintaining safe shelter capacity, and placing animals into successful, permanent homes. A portion of animal returns is driven by common, manageable behaviors, medical issues, and transition challenges that occur shortly after adoption. When these issues are not addressed early, they can result in returns that increase shelter population, disease risk, and operational costs.
Petszel, Inc. provides an on-demand virtual post-adoption support platform that connects adopters with certified behavior and training professionals and veterinary resources during the critical post-adoption period. This early, accessible support helps prevent minor issues from escalating, increases adopter confidence, and improves the likelihood that animals remain in their homes.
After each adoption, CCAS will automatically send adopters a Petszel invitation by email and text. Petszel will serve as CCAS’s post-adoption service provider for training, behavior, and care resources, replacing our current post-adoption email. Participation in Petszel is completely voluntary, and adopters choose whether to opt in and engage with the platform. Once enrolled, adopters will have a simple, friendly way to access support right when they need it. Petszel also allows CCAS to identify and address concerns early, reducing the likelihood that small challenges turn into returns, while providing valuable insight into how adopted animals are doing in their new homes.
By offering this service at no cost to the County, Petszel may strengthen CCAS’s adoption-retention efforts, support stable shelter capacity, and help reduce the fiscal and operational impacts of returns and extended stays.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Delays in addressing post-adoption medical or behavior concerns can increase the likelihood that animals will be returned to the shelter.