Petaluma, California — City leaders voiced significant concerns this week regarding the city’s relationship with North Bay Animal Services, following a critical civil grand jury report alleging the nonprofit is failing to meet essential industry standards for animal care and public safety.
The Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury’s report highlighted issues such as inadequate staffing and funding, which has left the organization struggling to fulfill its responsibilities effectively. The panel’s findings were corroborated by firsthand observations made during three separate inspections of the Petaluma shelter last fall and earlier this year, revealing unsanitary conditions.
During a recent council meeting, members called for enhanced oversight of North Bay Animal Services. They expressed support for the city’s decision to open the animal services contract to competitive bids when the current agreement concludes next summer.
In response to the grand jury’s report, city officials agreed with several findings but disagreed with others. Brian Cochran, assistant city manager, stressed that despite some discrepancies, there is consensus on the need for improvement in the organization’s performance, stating, “There are some performance issues with NBAS as it is currently operating, and those issues can and should be resolved.”
North Bay Animal Services also serves as the animal control and shelter operator for nearby towns, including Windsor, Sebastopol, and Cloverdale. In August, the city of Clearlake opted to end its contract with the organization due to similar concerns about management practices and communication failures with residents.
The grand jury’s criticism of North Bay Animal Services was part of a broader evaluation of animal services throughout Sonoma County. Findings indicated that the nonprofit failed to perform mandated sterilization surgeries before placing animals into foster or permanent homes. Additionally, it did not effectively manage pet licensing, did not hold required rabies vaccination clinics, and frequently neglected to submit bite reports to the county health officer.
Mark Scott, executive director of North Bay Animal Services, attended the council meeting and provided limited comments regarding the organization’s volunteer programs and animal control vehicles. In a follow-up email, Scott attributed several of the grand jury’s concerns to a lack of resources rather than commitment. He highlighted that increased funding is needed to address growing community requirements for animal care, behavior assessments, and rabies control programs.
The organization was awarded the Petaluma contract in 2018 after a competitive selection process, which included a bid from the prior operator, the Petaluma Animal Services Foundation, which had its own set of operational issues. Currently, the contract is set at $478,200 per year, but Cochran noted that this amount is insufficient compared to what other cities are allocating for similar services.
“It appears that the current funding is no longer sustainable for maintaining high-quality services,” Cochran remarked, indicating that the city may need to allocate hundreds of thousands of dollars more from its general fund to ensure adequate service levels.
To improve the agency’s effectiveness, the city has engaged a local third-party to evaluate the overall structure of animal services and recommend changes aimed at enhancing oversight and compliance, particularly concerning shelter operations and rabies and licensing services. Cochran expressed optimism regarding the consultant’s recommendations, hoping they would facilitate necessary improvements in collaboration with North Bay Animal Services.
Councilmember Brian Barnacle emphasized the urgency of the situation, drawing attention to a public comment about a resident’s difficulties in receiving timely assistance from the nonprofit after a dog bite incident. “I’m glad we’re doing an RFP,” he said, underscoring the expectation for improved service standards within the city.
Scott reiterated in his email that more taxpayer investment is crucial for effective animal services. “We are encouraged that the City recognizes this and has initiated a third-party review. We believe that will help align expectations, identify solutions, and ensure accountability,” he stated.
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