Budget Cut Could Imperil Animal Shelter's Progress in Reducing Euthanasia

"I would be very sad to see us lower our standards," said lead volunteer Janice Elliott.

 

She cited figures showing that in the  past eight years, the shelter has doubled the number of animal adoptions, and at the same time, cut in half the the number of animals ultimately put down, reducing the euthanasia rate to 16  percent, among the lowest in Southern California.

 

The proposed cut of $350,000 represents a sizable portion of the approximately $1 million budget for Animal Services, of which about half is defrayed by collected fees.  In terms of net expenditures, the city's contribution would be cut by nearly two thirds.

 

The cuts could be carried out by lay-offs, reduced days of operation, and other means yet to be determined, according to  city manager Rod Butler.

 

"It'll be a significant impact on their operations," Butler said.

 

The budget cut was recommended Monday by the city's finance committee, composed of two council members and the city treasurer.  It also recommended not filling two open positions in city hall for an IT specialist and a human resources analyst.

 

The shelter currently has three full time staffers, and two part-time, in addition to the manager.

 

The finance committee envisions using the savings to augment staffing in the police department and restore four of the 15 officer positions cut after after the economic downtown of 2008.

 

"There has been a feeling by some in the community and some on the council the past few years that the Animal Services budget does need to be reduced in light of--especially public safety needs," Butler said.

 

The shelter's non-profit auxiliary, Friends of Upland Animal Shelter, cites the city's budget forecast of a surplus in excess of $400,000 beyond the required 10 percent reserve fund, and contends expanding public safety does not require cutting funding for animal services.

 

Over the past decade, the city's vision for animal services has varied significantly.  Facing a need to upgrade the previous aging and undersized shelter in 2007, the city considered outsourcing before authorizing construction of the current state of the art shelter adjacent to Memorial Park.

 

With whimsical exterior styling that mimics a large barn, and painted a bright red, the shelter is one of the most recognizable  buildings in the city of 70,000, located in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains at the westernmost edge of San Bernardino County.

 

Earlier this year, the city again considered outsourcing, and requested proposals, but did not pursue an agreement.  The finance committee recommended keeping animal services as a city department, but reducing its budget commitment.

 

In recent years, much of the work at the shelter has been performed by volunteers.  Elliott said some two dozen are active, and a dozen of them each volunteer several days every week.

 

Spaying and neutering for many animals, and some other veterinary procedures, are provided at no

cost to the shelter  under an agreement with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences.  Under supervision by a faculty veterinarian, the procedures are performed in the shelter's veterinary surgical room by students in training.

 

Friends of the Upland Animal Shelter has also raised money to pay for medical procedures not covered under the agreement.

 

The non-profit is now looking at additional means of fund-raising, including the opening next month of a thrift shop, but does not expect it can raise enough to meet a $350,000 annual shortfall, Elliott said.

 

With the shelter operating at less than full capacity, the possibility of cost-sharing by providing services to nearby cities such as Claremont has been proposed, but no agreements have resulted. 

 

At its meeting Monday, Upland's full city council will consider the budget revision, and the future of its shelter.