Police Department
www.santa-ana.org/pd
Item # 15
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
June 2, 2026
TOPIC: Animal Care Services
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with County of Orange for Animal Care Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with the County of Orange for animal care services for a five-year term beginning May 31, 2026 through May 30, 2031 in an estimated total amount not to exceed $21,193,695. (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX) GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
On January 6, 2003, the Council approved actions to transition the operation of the City’s animal shelter to the County of Orange as a contracted service. The City has continued to contract with Orange County Animal Care since that time, with the latest ten-year agreement expiring on May 30, 2026.
As reported to the City Council on April 7, 2026, with the Early Direction Budget staff report, shelter operating costs have more than doubled in four years, from less than $2 million in FY21-22 to an estimated $4.2 million in FY25-26.
Staff reviewed detailed County data for July 2025 through March 2026 and summarized cost drivers on an annualized basis.
Intake Method Type of Animal
Expected
Number of
Animals for
FY25-26
Expected
Charge Days of
$44.52 each for
FY25-26
Expected
FY25-26 Cost
Public over-the-
counter Stray Cats 3,100 21,700 $966,000
Public over-the-
counter Stray Dogs 770 12,400 $552,000
Animal Care Services
June 2, 2026
5 7
6 7
Public over-the
counter All Other Dogs 180 3,900 $174,000
Public over-the
counter All Other Cats 60 650 $29,000
Public over-the-
counter All Other Animals 100 1,700 $76,000
City Officer Dogs 550 10,300 $459,000
City Officer Cats 280 1,800 $80,000
City Officer All Other Animals 75 260 $11,600
Subtotal Sheltering Cost $2,347,600
County Maintenance / Admin. $1,878,900
Total Expected Cost $4,226,500
The OC Animal Shelter follows policy set by the Board of Supervisors, including no limit on the number of days an animal can spend in the shelter. The statewide average is 20 days. On average, Santa Ana animals are spending 10-14 days in the shelter before being adopted; however, there are exceptions, such as a bird that has spent 138 days in the shelter as of March 31, costing the City’s taxpayers more than $6,000.
The OC Animal Shelter requires identification showing a Santa Ana address and information about the location where the animal was found.
There are a number of reasons for the high intake volume and lengthy stays. The OC Animal Shelter is required by state law to take every underage (less than 8 weeks), aggressive, sick, or injured cat, and every dog, regardless of status. Often, the shelter intakes entire litters of underage kittens. State law also limits the euthanasia of adoptable pets. The OC Animal Shelter only euthanizes morbidly sick animals and those with well-documented behavioral issues. Although infrequent, the shelter must also hold animals as part of litigation or investigation cases.
In addition to the shelter following county policy, state law, and court orders regarding intakes and shelter days, groups of cat advocates in Santa Ana are contributing to a high number of intakes.
There are steps the City can take to reduce overall costs over time, but each comes with challenges and/or initial costs.
Consider licensing pet cats, with a no-cost first-year license for adoptions.
Currently, the City only requires licenses for dogs.
Take proactive steps to acquire unlicensed pet information to increase licensing revenue.
Animal Care Services
June 2, 2026
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6 7
Implement a public information campaign on how to use the Animal Shelter. For example, concerned citizens should observe a litter of outdoor kittens before immediately taking them to the shelter, as the mother cat may be temporarily away hunting.
Adopt an Ordinance prohibiting cat-colony feeding to reduce the unintended impacts of attracting other wildlife to the food source, such as coyotes. Adopt a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program for cats with no-cost spay and neuter services.
Consider additional veterinarian staff at the Zoo to be available for both no-cost and low-cost spay and neuter services.
Staff is currently assessing each of these options to develop specific plans and recommendations to control costs over time.
City staff evaluated several options to provide animal shelter care services. It was determined that continuing to contract with Orange County Animal Care is the most cost-effective way to provide this legislatively required service to the City.
As part of our due diligence, Police Department staff contacted surrounding shelters and organizations. The Police Department determined that no other shelter has the capacity to address Santa Ana’s animal care needs. The shelters/organizations that were contacted include:
City of Irvine, CA
City of Long Beach, CA
City of Seal Beach, CA
Orange County Humane Society
Priceless Pet Rescue
Mission Viejo Animal Services
Additionally, and by way of comparison, the City of Anaheim’s City Council approved their agreement for animal care services with the County for 26-27 fiscal year with a cost of $5,788,082, plus 10% contingency. The City of Irvine, provides their own animal care services, titled Irvine Animal Care Center, which has an allocated FY 26-27 budget of $5,934,335. The City of Santa Ana’s total projected cost for the FY 26-27 budget cycle including City staff cost, vehicles, expenses, and agreement with the County is $4,735,659.
Animal Shelter Services Agreement
The proposed five-year animal care services agreement will begin on or about May 31, 2026, with an estimated cost of $21,193,695. The agreement shall not exceed five years, with no provision for extension, and shall terminate May 30, 2031. The estimated total cost does not include potential inflation adjustments and is solely based on the projected cost of $4,238,739 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year (Exhibit 3). The County may Animal Care Services
June 2, 2026
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adjust costs, higher or lower, to meet current service demands or to account for the costs of supplies.
The County may terminate the agreement, without cause, upon twelve (12) months written notice to the City or immediately upon default by the City of its obligations of the agreement. The obligations of the County or City as agreed upon are contingent upon the provision of sufficient funding for the services in the applicable budgets approved by the Board of Supervisors and the Santa Ana City Council. In the event such funding is subsequently reduced or not appropriated, either the County of the City may terminate the agreement upon thirty (30) calendar days written notice to the other party. In the event the County elects to discontinue usage of the shelter for sheltering purposes prior to December 31, 2066, the County is required to offer qualifying cities, including Santa Ana, the opportunity to lease the Shelter for animal sheltering purposes until such date, at a cost of $1.00 per year plus all rental costs, if any, owed to South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) pursuant to the Ground Lease entered into between County and SOCCCD.
Staff recommends the approval of the agreement with the County of Orange with the effective date of May 31, 2026 to ensure uninterrupted animal shelter services from Orange County Animal Care.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding will be available upon City Council adoption of the FY 26-27 budget and funding for subsequent fiscal years will be included in the proposed budgets for City Council consideration as follows:
Fiscal
Year
Account Unit –
Account #
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit,
Account Description Amount
FY 26-27 01114430-62300 General Fund
Animal Services,
Contract Services -
Professional
$ 4,238,739
FY 27-28 01114430-62300 General Fund
Animal Services,
Contract Services -
Professional
$ 4,238,739
FY 28-29 01114430-62300 General Fund
Animal Services,
Contract Services -
Professional
$ 4,238,739
FY 29-30 01114430-62300 General Fund
Animal Services,
Contract Services -
Professional
$ 4,238,739
Animal Care Services
June 2, 2026
5 7
6 7
FY 30-31 01114430-62300 General Fund
Animal Services,
Contract Services -
Professional
$ 4,238,739
Estimated Total $21,193,695
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Agreement for Provision of OC Animal Care Services
2. OC Animal Care Notice of Intent Cover Letter
3. OC Animal Care Notice of Intent - FY 26/27
Submitted By: Robert Rodriguez, Police Chief
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager