City of Sacramento
Animal Care Services
Survey Results
February 2022
Farishta Ahrary, Principal Fiscal Policy Analyst, Office of the City Auditor Phillip Zimmerman, Animal Care Services Manager, Community Development Department
Office of the
City Auditor’s
Role
Used Polco subscription and
consultants to administer survey
Provided feedback on questions
included in survey
Administered and monitored
survey results
Reviewed and assisted with
finalizing survey report
Community
Outreach
Posted on Animal Care Services Facebook
and Instagram accounts
Posted on City Minute Blog
Posted on the City Express website
Sent to 4,264 volunteers in Animal Care
Services Volunteer Management System
Sent to Animal Care Services transfer
partners
Key Findings
When asked about important focus areas for the City of Sacramento, Animal Services scored high. Only safety and openness and acceptance of residents were given higher priority ratings.
Many of the survey respondents reported using Animal Services previously. About 8 in 10 had visited Sacramento’s Animal Services-Front Street Shelter with the most common reasons to adopt or license a pet. About three-fourths preferred appointments to walk in services.
Dealing with stray and injured animals and providing lost and found services were considered the most essential programs offered by Animal Care Services. Picking up or investigating dangerous animals also were considered essential or very important by nearly all residents surveyed.
Access to affordable veterinary care was rated as excellent or good by fewer than 40% of survey respondents, and 9 in 10 rated services related to increasing the affordability of care to all residents and services for pets of low-income residents as essential or very important.
Investigating animal neglect was a high priority of residents, although opinions were mixed on prosecution versus alternative programs. A majority of residents felt that action should depend on the seriousness of the neglect.
What do we
do with this
data?
The survey respondents rated Animal Care Services a
high priority for the Sacramento community.
The powers and duties that are proposed in a new
ordinance should align with the community's
concerns about animal welfare issues in the
community.
The results of the survey can assist the current
Animal Care Citizens Advisory Committee on what
animal welfare issues in the City need to be
addressed and will assist them in providing
recommendations to the Council.