On Tuesday, May 7, Riverside County supervisors failed to pass a $2.1 million contract with San Bernardino which would enable the fielding, sheltering, and licensing of San Bernardino animals. Subsequently, the San Bernardino shelter held a free adoption event on Thursday, May 9, successfully finding homes for its 100 animals, a mixture of dogs and cats.
The Riverside County shelter is already in contract with four cities: Grand Terrace, Colton, Rialto and Fontana. According to the Riverside Director of Animal Services, Dr. Allan Drusys, the existing number of animals at the Riverside County shelter is 7,500. 10 years ago, there were 13,552 animals. This fiscal year, the Riverside shelter's release percentage for dogs was 89.2%, which is just shy of a 10 percent goal for euthanasia which “no kill" shelters strive for. Unfortunately, for cats, only 39.3 percent were adopted in Riverside shelters, while the rest were euthanized. The Department is reportedly engaged in programs that will raise the adoption rate. Dr. Drusys later said the county has a policy that it does not euthanize healthy, adoptable animals.
Euthanasia became an increasing concern after rumors circulated over social media that the San Bernardino animals would be euthanized as a result of them closing their doors. These rumors were false. The animals were scheduled to be freely adopted in the following days after the decision, which took place on Thursday, May 9.
“The shelter is in very poor condition, hence why we believe this agreement will work well for our city,” Police Captain with San Bernardino, David Green said. “I can tell you that it would certainly be the desire of our city to be able to fund and build our own shelter and end this contract within the next couple of years, but given the financial circumstance of our city and the challenges that we're facing right now, I really think that that's very improbable.”
Thirteen citizens voiced their opinions regarding the decision at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors Meeting. Some of the issues addressed were that the people in San Bernardino should be given a chance to resolve the issue themselves, rather than relying on outside help. It was also addressed that animals' lives are being put at risk in Riverside County and that disease would spread more easily within the more crowded Riverside shelters. While another concern was the drive that the San Bernardino residents would have to make to the Riverside shelter.
With all of these factors being presented the County of Riverside had to take into careful consideration how they would proceed with the San Bernardino contract. “Please don't take more lives in exchange for money," said San Bernardino resident and volunteer Alice Chow. In the end, they ultimately decided it was in the best interest of the citizens and animals not to pursue the contract. "We are preventing San Bernardino from solving their own problem,” said resident of Riverside County Lauren Jackson.
Dr. Drusys said he expects the staffing to be adequate at least in the short term to address the needs of the incoming animals. When asked what was to be done if the proposal does not continue after the one-year agreement, Drusys suggested layoffs, adding that he anticipates the accommodation of those workers in other areas.
The proposal for a new shelter was around $18 million, but despite the amount, Captain Green of San Bernardino clarified that “even if it's one million dollars to build a shelter, we don't have the money to build that shelter, which is why we’re in this situation.” When asked if any donors have come forward in support of a new shelter, Green said, “we've received exactly zero dollars, zero pledges.”
Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries said that the only reason the contract was being considered by the board was that the San Bernardino City Council asked.
Supervisor Jeffries highlighted concerns of layoffs, budget cuts and costs to the County of Riverside being his motivation for voting no on the measure. The proposal then died when a motion to act was not received from the board.
The adoption event for the San Bernardino City shelter included free spay and neutering, rabies vaccination and microchip. By 6 pm on Thursday, May 9, the San Bernardino Police Department tweeted that all the animals in the shelter's care were adopted and encouraged those seeking adoptions to visit other local shelters.