Animal Control Services
September 30, 2025
Daniel Pistor, Chief
Ava Fanucchi, Deputy Chief
Jeromy Lima, Captain
Peter Hoang, Sr. Management Analyst
2City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025
1. Overview of the Animal Services Program
2. Impact of Humane Society closure & new shelter provider
3. Next Steps
Agenda
3City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 • DPS's Animal Control Program consists of the
following:
One (1.0 FTE) Senior Community Services Officer
One (1.0 FTE) Animal Control Officer
One (1) Animal Control Vehicle
• Agreement with external service provider for
shelter services
HSSV until February 1, 2025
Santa Clara County beginning on February 1, 2025
Overview of Program
4City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 Program Budget
Line Item FY24 - 25 FY 25 - 26
Staffing $325,871 $338,433
Contract Services $492,320 $505,164
TOTAL $818,191 $843,597
5City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 • Investigate reports of stray, nuisance, injured,
abused, neglected and dangerous animals.
• Impound stray, injured, aggressive or dangerous animals. • Enforce codes, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to the care and control of animals.
• Remove and dispose of deceased animals.
Services Provided
6City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 • Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) served as Sunnyvale’s animal services provider for 18 years (since April 19, 2007).
• On December 16, 2024, a fire severely damaged HSSV’s Milpitas facility, impacting operations.
• On January 28, 2025, HSSV notified the city of its intent to terminate services effective February 1, 2025.
• HSSV estimated a two-year repair timeline.
• City and HSSV mutually agreed to terminate the agreement via official notice delivered June 6, 2025.
Shelter Services Recap - HSSV
7City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 • On February 1, 2025, City and County entered into an
agreement under an emergency procurement
• County of Santa Clara Animal Shelter does not impound healthy stray cats
• Shelter approach to community cats:
Impounding causes stress to cats
Cats can return home on their own without intervention Fewer than 2% of impounded cats are reclaimed by
owners
• SMC 6.05.010 related to impounding healthy stray cats suspended by Council Resolution 1289-25 on April 22, 2025 Current Shelter Services - County
8City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 General
Processes of
Stray Cats
• Since the suspension of SMC 6.05.010 on April 22, 2025 via Resolution 1289-25, related to impounding healthy stray cats, animal control has tracked 19 calls for service that did not meet the impound criteria outlined above.
9City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 Animal Control Program Data
FY22-23 FY23-24 FY24-25
Calls for service 1,394 1,675 1,790
Number of animals transported 196 239 342
Number of trips to shelter 147 200 192
Hours spent traveling to & from shelter 176 230 269
10City of Sunnyvale – Animal Shelter Services Update, September 2025 • Additional resources for animal services will be evaluated and, if needed, proposed during future budget cycles.
• Staff has begun development of solicitation materials and plans to go out to bid in mid 2026.
• In the meantime, the City will exercise a 1-year extension for shelter services with the County.
Next Steps