Animal rights activists are expected to converge on this morning’s county supervisors meeting to protest potential cuts to animal services.
The county’s animal care office, which handles animal control, animal shelter services, animal licensing and public education programs, is facing a $626,000 funding gap this next fiscal year.
If supervisors move forward with cuts, the county’s animal shelter would be closed on Mondays, animal intake would end at 6 p.m. instead of 9 p.m., and a public education officer would be laid off, among other reductions.
Other options are to devote an extra $626,000 in county funds toward the agency or to increase its fees.
The debate comes on the heels of an in-depth discussion between activists and officials about what kind of role the county government should play in animal services across the region.
You can hear the discussion by clicking the play button below:
The county government’s animal services cover 17 cities and unincorporated areas.
County supervisors are also being asked whether to establish a new regional agency that would oversee animal services in conjunction with the cities or whether to abandon services for cities altogether.
The supervisors meeting starts Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Click here to read the staff report.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.