PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: October 7, 2024
Subject: Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Submitted For: Ben Winkleblack, Animal Services Director
Department: Animal Services Department
Referral Name: Animal Services Department Operations Updates
Presenter: Ben Winkleblack, Animal Services Director
Contact: Steve.Burdo@asd.cccounty.us
Referral History:
On May 23, 2023, the Board of Supervisors referred the Contra Costa Animal Servies (CCAS) Department to the Public Protection Committee (PPC) to provide an update on its center operations. The update would inform the Board and the public of the operational performance measures of CCAS, including animal shelter intake and outcomes.
On July 3, 2023, the Department presented the animal shelter’s challenges, which other animal welfare organizations share both nationally and statewide. The pressing issue CCAS presented was the limited capacity to serve a growing animal shelter population. During public comments, members of the public shared their needs and concerns around CCAS’ lack of overall animal services within the County, and the lack of spay and neuter services in the community.
The PPC requested that CCAS return to its next meeting on August 7, 2023, with a draft CCAS proposal for Measure X funding and strategies to address the following areas:
• Increasing public access to low cost spay and neuter clinics,
• Building more robust foster and adoption programs, and
• Increasing CCAS community adoption and vaccine events.
On February 6, 2024, the Board of Supervisor’s referred CCAS to the PPC to provide a status on the FY 2023/24 operations and community engagement updates, along with the FY 2024/25 plan on increasing service delivery operations and community services.
On March 4, 2024, CCAS provided a report to the PPC with information on low-cost spay and neuter services, community outreach and engagement, and additional funding sources to support community-based services. During this discussion, the PPC requested that CCAS return to the Committee with information regarding backyard breeding issues in the County and areas where city partnerships and support are needed.
On June 3, 2024, CCAS provided a report to the PPC with information on backyard breeding issues in the County. The Animal Services Director, Ben Winkleblack discussed the challenges with enforcing mandatory spay and neuter ordinances and overall backyard breeding limitations. The PPC requested that CCAS return to the Committee with additional information on whether all 18 cities in the county have formally adopted the County’s Ordinance Code section 416 and provide to the Committee with additional recommendations. The Committee also requested that County Ordinance Code section 416-6.216 (b) be amended to replace two antiquated terms with "female”.
Referral Update:
Please see the attached report from CCAS, which will be presented by the Animal Services Director, Ben Winkleblack.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
RECEIVE the report from the Animal Services Department on spay and neuter approaches, including mandatory spay and neuter considerations, and provide direction to staff, as needed.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
There is no fiscal impact for receiving this report.