CONTRA COSTA ANIMAL SERVICES
Animal Services Update
Hercules City Council
February 25, 2025
Ben Winkleblack
Animal Services Director
1 2
Department Summary
Shelter Operations & Medical Services
Provides basic daily care and necessary medical care to animals Public low-cost and targeted spay and neuter services for owned animals and unowned cats through a no-cost Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program Public low-cost vaccination clinic
Administration
Provides administrative oversight of departmental functions and other support such as customer services and dispatch 2 Community Services
Supports adoption, lost and found, public events, humane education, and volunteer services Field Services
Provides enforcement and community services to support administrative hearings for dangerous animals and noise violations
CCAS Serving Hercules
3 CCAS Serving Hercules
4 Shelter Services
139 Animals Impounded from Hercules
23 Adoptions to Hercules Residents
15 Animals from Hercules Reunited with Their Families
Stray
Deceased
Investigation
Assist
Other
69 69
35 12
10 FY 24/25 Hercules Field Activities
Assist6%
Challenges Identified
5 Field Services
5 vacant AS Officer positions
CCSO dispatch contract concluded on 1/1/25
Shelter Services
Trend of increasing animal intake
Overcrowding in the shelter
Increasing costs for supplies and staff
Medical supply costs increased 40% over previous fiscal year Emergency Veterinary Care Services costs increased almost 100% over previous fiscal year Community Services
Increased need for veterinary care in the community due to affordability and access.
CCAS’s Lt. Weissman responds to a stray Zebra that wound up in a pool
Capacity for Care
Capacity for Care means meeting the needs of every animal admitted to a shelter, regardless of how they came in, when they came in, their age, health status, or personality.
Intakes & Outcomes
In 2024, CCAS’s annual intake was 6,585 animals. Our adoption, transfer, and return to owner outcomes totaled 4,577. Divided by 365, that results in an average daily intake of 18 animals per day, and an average daily output of 12 animals per day. *Animal intake occurs 7 days/week whereas adoption, transfer, and RTO services (ie outputs) occur 5 days/week.
Visual Kennel
8 Approach to challenges
7 Shelter Operations
Pathway planning to decrease length of stay
Meeting 4 times weekly with to plan outcome pathways at time of impound and ongoing assessment to shorten stay.
Leading to faster decisions and better animal care
Current Length of Stay is 16 days, down from 20 days in July 2024 Operational evaluation – ongoing
Database vendor on-site in January and identified several opportunities for improvement that will increase efficiency, allow automation of tasks, and decrease errors Improved animal wellness – ongoing
Kuranda beds have been donated and provided for all dog enclosures Feline stress reduction project of sound deadening and allowing natural behavior expression to begin in the spring Recommendations from Veterinary Behaviorist
12 recommendations made by Dr. Sung MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB 11 recommendations already addressed or in process
Ongoing monitoring of Fear Anxiety and Stress (FAS)
Objective approach to identify changes earlier
Joybound’s Dr. Sung meeting with CCAS staff.
Approach to challenges
8 Field Services
Two Field Services Officers have completed Field Training and are now on full duty Offer letters have been given to two new Field Services Officers, currently in medical evaluation Dispatch services are now performed by San Ramon Valley Fire Integration of CAD and Chameleon currently in testing phase Search Warrant training to be hosted at CCAS
Follow-up to Penal Code 597.1 training in January
Increased implementation of GIS mapping for efficient delivery of services for high priority calls Two new Field Services Officers to begin training
Recruitment to fill additional vacancies
Sgt. Flauding impounding livestock
Approach to challenges
9 Medical Services
Michelle Mehalick DVM premises holder and DEA registrant as of February 1, 2025 Dr. Mehalick auditing and advising medical division through February Updated approach to surgical and medical practices to increase capacity and scope of care TNR (Trap Neuter Return) program has recently been expanded by additional 29 cats per week Planned increase to spay and neuter program
Measure X will fund approximately 2,700 surgeries
Animal Benefit Fund will fund approximately 544 surgeries Additional RVT support to include weekend coverage to shorten animal stay at emergency hospital
Administration
10 Licensing FYTD compared with same period last year
Evaluation on licensing performance showed an opportunity to increase compliance and revenue with additional reminders and updated language Response has increased total license sales 25%
New pet licensing increased 39%
New pet ownership up 44%
Total license revenue up 18%
Goals
Sustainable operation – waste and costs are down
Ensure industry best practices – ongoing
Decrease length of stay – goal of 13 days by July 2025
Increase revenue through animal licensing
Community & Outreach Services
11 Outreach Services
64 total community events fiscal year-to-date
3 Free Microchip Clinics
4 Free Vaccination Clinic
33 Offsite Adoption Events
24 Humane Education Events
Targeted in areas with high number of stray animals
Access to Services
Collaboration with Contra Costa County cities and partner animal welfare agencies has allowed us to bring even more services to county residents.
Measure X
$750,000 in total funds provided
Pet retention programs
Progressive programs to reduce shelter intake and increase animal health in the community
Fiscal Year to date comparison
12 Field Services
13 Active DA/PDA Permits by City
Coming Soon
14 Increased Services
Improved care of animals in the shelter through enrichment, increased volunteer support, enclosure improvements, and expedited medical care Ongoing relationship building with transfer partners
Planned training for staff including Fear Free Animal Handling Refinement of Pathway Planning
Implementation of Strategic Plan approved by Board of Supervisors Expansion of spay and neuter services at CCAS
Proposed budget includes clerical staff to open shelter 7 days a week Accessibility of services for residents
Increased opportunity for adoption, reunification, and licensing CCAS medical team prepping for a big day of surgery.
Resources for Wildlife/Coyotes
15 Wildlife & Coyote Resources
CA Department of Fish & Wildlife
Living with Wildlife (Including FAQ): https://wildlife.ca.gov/Living-with-Wildlife Wildlife Incident Reporting: https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir Contra Costa Animal Services
Wildlife Page: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7990/Living-with-Wildlife Wildlife In Your Backyard: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/43904/Wildlife-in-Your-Backyard?bidId=
Thank You
16 Please contact me with any questions: [email protected]