Animal Care Services Needs Structural Changes to Budget that add core services to operations.
History of Staffing
ACS Budgeted Staff (FTE)
100
80 60
40 - Budgeted staff (FTE)
20 0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
BUDGET BUDGETED
CONCURRENT
YEAR STAFF (FTE)
2012 45.68 operating over capacity
2013 49.71
2014 49.71
2015 49.71
2016 50.38
2017 49.87 ACS Audit Phase /
2018 51.20 ACS Audit Phase I
2019 50.80
2020 52.87 Pandemic / ACS empty
2021 53.87 Strategic Plan
2022 45.34 Over capacity
2023 50.34 Over capacity
2024 50.96
2018 ACS Audit Phase II (with more staffing than today) "Animal Care staffing levels do not allow for minimum care requirements - including properly feeding animals and cleaning their housing to be met." (ACS Audit, Phase II, 2018, Highlights Page 0) "Based on a staffing analysis of core shelter functions, at a minimum 12 additional staff are needed in various shelter roles." (ACS Audit, Phase II, 2018, Shelter Staffing Shortages, Page 3) "Veterinary Services: The Medical Team's staffing level cannot keep up with its significant workload." (ACS Audit, Phase II, 2018, Highlights Page 0)
"Based on a staffing analysis of core shelter functions, at a minimum 12 additional staff are needed in various shelter roles." (ACS Audit, Phase II, 2018, Shelter Staffing Shortages, Page 3) "ACS veterinarians recommended that ACS should have a full-time surgical team led by one veterinarian who can exclusively perform spay-and-neuter and other surgeries, and another veterinary team dedicated to the regular care and monitoring of animals A Audit, 2018, Phase, Finding #4Page 10)
COMMUNITY INPUT
Long Beach Proposed 2024 Budget
Parks, Recreation and Marine
ANIMAL CARE SERVICES
REQUEST TO MODIFY PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET
Structural changes needed to address critical positions:
REHOMING TEAM
Essential to ensure public safety & live outcomes
MODIFY TWO POSITIONS
1. Upgrade Position: Animal Behavior, Assessment & Transport from minimum wage (Public Health Associate I), to living wage (Public Health Associate III)
2. Upgrade Position: Foster Coordinator from minimum wage (Public Health Associate I) to Cat Foster Coordinator, at living wage (Public Health Associate III)
CREATE ONE POSITION
3. Add New Position: Dog Foster Coordinator, living wage (Public Health Associate III)
SPAY NEUTER TEAM
A spay neuter team is essential for legally compliant live outcomes. This is a fiscally responsible alternative to using outside contract services. The 3:1 Animal Technician to Veterinarian ratio is a standard for kennel facilities housing both pre-surgical and and post-surgical animal care.
CREATE FOUR POSITIONS
4. Add New Position: Full Time Spay Neuter Veterinarian
5. Add New Position: Full Time Spay Neuter Animal Technician, Surgery, Pre & Post Op
6. Add New Position: Full Time Spay Neuter Animal Technician, Surgery, Pre & Post Op
7. Add New Position: Full Time Spay Neuter Animal Technician, Surgery, Pre & Post Op
ANIMAL FOOD LINE ITEM
We believe the City needs to add a discrete line item the 2024 ACS budget for animal food. ACS food expenditures are currently captured as an ACS 'maintenance' expense. But the ACS mainte- nance budget is $30 per day which is insufficient to cover the daily cost to feed 200-300 animals at ACS, even when supplemented donations. It is unlear what other allocated funds are being used to pay for food.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
On August 21, 2023, our group met with the City's Budget Manager, Grace Yoon, PRM Director Brent Dennis, PRM Deputy Director, Steven Scott, ACS Interim Manager, Dr. Melanie Wagner and support staff, to discuss the Proposed '24 Budget for Animal Care Services. Our group was able to review the proposed ACS Budget and discuss our concerns based on our depth of involvement as volunteers, rescue partners and financial supporters of ACS for many years.
Laura Sellmer, ACS volunteer and advocate, medical foster, ACS rescue supporter.
Nici Daniels, ACS volunteer and advocate, K-9 Kismet Dog Rescue, (2022-23 highest number dogs pulled from ACS) Claudia Otis, Executive Director of the Little Lion Foundation, (2022-23 highest number cats/kittens pulled from ACS) Lauren Campbell, Friends of Long Beach Animals (single largest financial supporter of ACS animals and rescues pulling ACS animals) Barbara Polack, ACS Volunteer