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Record of Proceedings

Animal Wellbeing Commission Meeting - April 9, 2025

Animal Wellbeing Commission — Wednesday, April 9, 2025
BodySacramento, California
SessionAnimal Wellbeing Commission
DateWednesday, April 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:41:44

Transcript — VerbatimClick a line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Music

0:19

Awesome, we're down to nine.

0:27

Excellent.

0:29

All right.

0:31

Good evening and welcome to the Wednesday, April 9th meeting of the Animal Wellbeing Commission.

0:36

The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum?

0:40

Thank you, Chair.

0:42

Commissioners, please unmute your microphones.

0:44

Commissioner Tree.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Commissioner Snell.

0:48

Here.

0:49

Commissioner Aboushay.

0:51

Here.

0:55

Commissioner Middleton.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Commissioner Garcia.

0:59

Here.

1:00

Commissioner Bell is absent.

1:02

Commissioner Mousis.

1:04

Here.

1:05

Commissioner Bagley.

1:06

Here.

1:07

Commissioner Christie.

1:08

Here.

1:09

Commissioner Feu.

1:10

Here.

1:11

Vice Chair Morris.

1:12

Here.

1:13

Chair Hackner.

1:14

Here.

1:15

Thank you.

1:16

We have a quorum.

1:17

Excellent.

1:18

Thank you.

1:19

So just a reminder, all members of the public are welcome to address the commission as we are here to provide a quorum for public discussion.

1:27

I'd ask members of the public in chambers that if you'd like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip no later than when the item begins.

1:35

You'll have two minutes to speak once you're called on.

1:38

After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips.

1:42

So now we'll proceed with today's agenda starting with the land acknowledgement and pledge led by commissioner Garcia.

2:18

Thank you.

2:19

Thank you.

2:20

Thank you.

2:21

Thank you.

2:22

Thank you.

2:23

Thank you.

2:24

Thank you.

2:27

Thank you.

2:29

Thank you.

2:30

Thank you.

2:31

Thank you.

2:35

Thank you.

2:36

Thank you.

2:37

Thank you.

2:38

Thank you.

2:39

Thank you.

2:40

Thank you.

2:41

Thank you.

2:42

Thank you.

2:43

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Welfare█████████████████████████████████████████████80%
Public Safety███████████20%
Summary of Proceedings

Animal Wellbeing Commission Meeting - April 9, 2025

The Animal Wellbeing Commission met at City Hall Complex for their regular monthly meeting from 5:30 PM to 7:11 PM. The meeting focused on adoption strategies, facility improvements, and shelter operations updates.

Opening and Introductions

  • Commissioner attendance: 11 present, 1 absent
  • New Commissioner Samantha Christie introduced - brings wildlife rehabilitation and animal rescue experience
  • Meeting led by Chair Paul Hefner and Vice Chair Leah Morris

Consent Calendar

  • Approved March 12, 2025 meeting minutes
  • Adopted Commission Follow-Up Log
  • Received and filed 2025 Commission Workplan

Discussion Items

  • Offsite Adoptions Program:

    • Presentation on partnerships with Petco and PetSmart
    • Over 300 adoptions at offsite centers in 2023
    • Numbers dropped to 150 in 2024 due to spay/neuter limitations

  • Adoption Data Analysis:

    • February 2025: 390 waitlist signups, 191 completed adoptions (49% conversion rate)
    • New survey implementation showing adoption barriers and opportunities
    • Photos and online presence identified as key factors in adoption success

  • Shelter Updates:

    • Current population: 142 dogs, 32 cats in shelter
    • Foster program: 76 dogs, 72 cats in regular foster
    • Staffing nearly complete with 11% vacancy rate
    • Spay/neuter surgeries increasing through partnerships

Key Outcomes

  • Foster-to-adopt backlog reduced from 874 to 136 dogs
  • Completed 203 spay/neuter surgeries in March clinic
  • Interim shelter improvements approved by City Manager
  • Discussion of potential future use of Sacramento Zoo facility
  • New shelter site still primary long-term goal - minimum 7-8 acres needed

Meeting Transcript

Music Awesome, we're down to nine. Excellent. All right. Good evening and welcome to the Wednesday, April 9th meeting of the Animal Wellbeing Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute your microphones. Commissioner Tree. Here. Commissioner Snell. Here. Commissioner Aboushay. Here. Commissioner Middleton. Here. Commissioner Garcia. Here. Commissioner Bell is absent. Commissioner Mousis. Here. Commissioner Bagley. Here. Commissioner Christie. Here. Commissioner Feu. Here. Vice Chair Morris. Here. Chair Hackner. Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. Excellent. Thank you. So just a reminder, all members of the public are welcome to address the commission as we are here to provide a quorum for public discussion. I'd ask members of the public in chambers that if you'd like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip no later than when the item begins. You'll have two minutes to speak once you're called on. After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips. So now we'll proceed with today's agenda starting with the land acknowledgement and pledge led by commissioner Garcia. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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