Town of Apple Valley Town Council
February 24, 2026
Public Comments
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. The high kill rate is deplorable. Cats are available for adoption and within 24 hours are at risk of euthanasia. This is unacceptable.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoptionfirst” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
Cats are being diverted away from adoption prematurely Mislabeling may be influencing life-and-death outcomes Reduced visibility undermines adoption and rescue opportunities Limited oversight increases risk for cats placed through barn programs And outcome reporting may not accurately reflect placement realities We respectfully ask the Town to review and clarify:
Why cats described as “adoption-first” are not consistently visible to the public What oversight and follow-up exist for cats placed through barn programs Why barn placements are not reported as a separate outcome category And what steps will be taken to improve evaluation accuracy, transparency, and adoption access
We believe that improving labeling practices, increasing public visibility, ensuring appropriate oversight, and clearly distinguishing placement outcomes would significantly improve animal welfare and public trust.
This comment is submitted to ensure these concerns are part of the public record.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Jessica Fennelly
I want to make a public comment about the delinquent utilities. I paid it in full on January 28th. On the notoce for the Feb 24th board meeting, my name and address is publicly available despite my account being paid in full. This is unacceptable and a violation of my privacy.
Ronda Fox
The Apple Valley shelter is denying rescues to pull cats from the shelter that are in the euthanasia list.
The shelter has an extremely high euthanasia rate, much higher than most shelters.
Cats are often mislabeled as feral.
Many cats are kept hidden from the adoption room for no reason. They are also not listed on the website, so have zero chance of being adopted.
Maddie
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Alexis Skinner
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Guadalupe Guardado
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Davin Stager
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at the Apple Valley Animal Shelter. As no observable improvements have occurred, I am resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am documenting ongoing concerns regarding shelter practices, specifically the expanded use of barn placement, the mislabeling of cats, limited adoption visibility, and how outcomes are tracked. Recently, we have observed cats being removed from the shelter’s website after their stray holds clear and routed toward barn placement, despite the shelter’s stated "adoption-first" approach.
Barn placement is problematic when based on incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have seen numerous cats labeled "feral" or "barn-only" who proved to be social and adoptable once removed from the shelter. When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement, they are removed from public view, reducing their chances for adoption and increasing the likelihood of euthanasia if a barn is not secured. Furthermore, barn placements lack oversight and are often recorded as "adoptions" in reports, which obscures performance data. Currently, only an estimated 10% of the cat population is in the public adoption area, significantly lower than regional counterparts.
I respectfully request that the Town take the following immediate corrective actions:
1. Improve Behavioral Labeling Practices: Review evaluation protocols and implement oversight to ensure "feral" or "barn-only" designations are evidence-based and accurate.
2. Pause Expanded Barn Placement: Suspend this practice until transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established to ensure it is not used as a default pathway.
3. Revise “Adoption-First” Implementation: Prioritize rescue partner pull requests for cats that are not publicly visible or are on restrictive holds.
4. List All Cats Online: Ensure all cats, including those under hold or barn designation, remain visible to the public to maintain transparency and provide equal opportunities for adoption and rescue.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust. This comment is submitted for formal documentation ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Heather Caulfield
1. Visibility saves lives. Not leaving them in the back room with no chance of adoption.
2. Cats are being kept in the back rooms. No one can see them and they are gone euthanized w/o any chance of having a life.
3. Rescue pull requests are denied.
4. 70% - 80% of cats labeled feral prove later to be friendly and adoptable.
5. What is the sense of having a shelter where people cannot come in to see if their missing pet may be there when there is NO visibility for these precious animals?
6. A shelter should be a humane place, not a place where the animals are neglected, quickly killed, have no options, and act like a slaughterhouse. Animals give great comfort. They are living creatures and should be treated with respect.
An animal advocate,
Sandi Manion
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Shanshan Zhao
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
I am concerned about animal welfare state at AVAS and submitting this public comment to request that the Town take corrective actions, including but not limited to the following:
1. Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access. I request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability.
2. Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances.
3. Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
4. List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
I believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Elena Mekhanoshina
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Lisa Haut
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoptionfirst” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety.
Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement.
Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter. Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category.
Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊 Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋 Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌 Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍 List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Christian Salgado Capistran
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully, Gail Panici
Hello.
Do better for the voiceless. They don’t have a Choice to where they live to survive. Once in the shelter, you are there to give them a chance for a safe and happy life. They deserve to be kept safe and healthy until their hooman comes along. May you never feel hungry, starved, persecuted, bullied, frightened as they do.
I help as many cats as I can in the high desert - foster, transport, TNR, and get to rescues.
I’ve been doing this a few years - it’s hard work but for every cat I rescue, I made a diƯerence.
Do better. They are living beings in this world that deserve respect and understanding from hoomans. Don’t hurt them!
Kelly
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Cody Macioce
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category.
Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Lorraine Lopez
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Pam Pearce
Dear Mayor and town council members,
On February 10, 2023 public comments were submitted to the town council regarding barn placement, mislabing, and visibility concerns at apple valley animal shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple valley animal shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
This combination raised concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavior evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as feral, barn only, or best suited for out door placement later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting the mislabing is occurring
When cats are prematurely route to barn placement
* adopters and rescues are fearless likely to step forward * cats are often removed from public view
* their opportunities for adoption is significantly reduced * And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an adoption-first policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters
* for cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interst should be approved and prioritized * when cats are kept out public view, an adoption- first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety
* adoption can not occur meaningfully if the public can not see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
Sincerely,
Ji Montgomery
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Annette H. Kim
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Connor G.
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoptionfirst” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety.
Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement.
Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter. Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category.
Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊 Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋 Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌 Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍 List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Jamie Jacobs
Dear Mayor and Town Council Members,
On February 10, 23 public comments were submitted to the Town Council regarding barn placement, mislabeling, and visibility concerns at Apple Valley Animal Shelter. Since that time, no observable improvement has occurred, and the concerning patterns outlined below continue.
I am therefore resubmitting and updating these concerns to ensure they remain part of the public record.
I am submitting this public comment to document current and ongoing concerns regarding practices at Apple Valley Animal Shelter, particularly involving the expanded use of barn placement, mislabeling of cats, limited visibility for adoption, and how outcomes are tracked and reported.
Over recent weeks, we have observed a pattern in which cats are removed from the shelter’s public website once they clear their stray hold and are then routed toward barn placement or alternative pathways, while the shelter states it is pursuing an “adoption-first” approach.
This combination raises serious concerns.
Barn placement can be appropriate in limited circumstances. However, it becomes problematic when used broadly and based on questionable or incomplete behavioral evaluations. We have observed numerous cases in which cats labeled as “feral,” “barnonly,” or “best suited for outdoor placement” later proved to be friendly, social, and adoptable once removed from the shelter environment, suggesting that mislabeling is occurring.
When cats are prematurely routed to barn placement:
Adopters and rescues are far less likely to step forward Cats are often removed from public view
Their opportunity for adoption is significantly reduced And if no barn placement is secured, the cats are then scheduled for euthanasia We are also concerned about the application of an “adoption-first” policy when cats are not publicly listed and not visible to adopters.
For cats who are not publicly listed, rescue interest should be approved and prioritized.
When cats are kept out of public view, an adoption-first approach becomes ineƯective, and rescues are often the only immediate path to safety. Adoption cannot occur meaningfully if the public cannot see the cats. In some cases, placement is delayed while waiting for adoption opportunities that are unlikely to materialize due to limited visibility.
In addition, we are concerned about the level of oversight associated with barn placement. Current practice appears to involve free placement, with only a short confinement period requested and no ongoing monitoring or follow-up by the shelter.
Without post-placement oversight, there is significant risk to the cats’ welfare, and limited ability to ensure outcomes align with intended standards of care.
We are further concerned that barn placement outcomes are being recorded as “adoptions” in shelter disposition reports, rather than being reported as a distinct category. Combining barn placements with traditional adoptions obscures important diƯerences in placement type, level of oversight, and long-term outcomes, and makes it diƯicult for the public to accurately assess shelter performance and animal welfare results.
Finally, the number of cats placed in the public adoption area remains extremely low — estimated at roughly 10% of the cat population. This is substantially lower than what is observed at other shelters in the same region and further limits meaningful adoption In light of these ongoing concerns, we respectfully request that the Town take immediate corrective action, including but not limited to the following:
膆膊Immediately improve behavioral labeling practices and address ongoing mislabeling concerns.
Mislabeling remains a persistent and serious issue. Inaccurate “feral” or “barn-only” designations significantly aƯect life-and-death outcomes by limiting adoption visibility and rescue access.
We request immediate corrective action, including review of current evaluation protocols, evaluator training and qualifications, and implementation of oversight safeguards to ensure labeling decisions are evidence-based, documented, and subject to accountability. 膆膋Pause the expanded implementation of barn placement until clear, transparent criteria and oversight safeguards are established.
Current data indicates that approximately 80–90% of cats are being labeled in ways that remove them from public view and route them toward barn placement or restricted holds.
Barn placement should not function as a default pathway. A temporary pause would allow policy review and ensure it is used only in appropriate, well-documented circumstances. 膆膌Revise the “adoption-first” implementation so that rescue partners are not denied pull requests when cats are not publicly visible.
When cats are placed on additional “feral” or restrictive holds after clearing stray hold, and are not physically accessible to adopters, rescue interest should be approved rather than delayed. Adoption cannot meaningfully occur when cats are neither visible online nor available in the public adoption area.
膆膍List all cats online, including those under hold, barn designation, or pending euthanasia.
Currently, many cats designated as barn candidates are unlisted while rescue pulls are restricted. This eliminates transparency and makes adoption unlikely. All cats should remain visible to the public unless legally restricted, ensuring equal opportunity for adoption and rescue intervention.
These actions are necessary to restore transparency, improve evaluation integrity, protect animal welfare, and rebuild public trust.
We believe meaningful reform requires clear standards, accurate reporting, and equitable access for both adopters and rescue partners.
This comment is submitted to ensure these ongoing concerns remain formally documented ahead of the upcoming public hearing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Linda Abbott