OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Animal Wellbeing Commission Meeting - March 11, 2026

Animal Wellbeing Commission — Wednesday, March 11, 2026
BodySacramento, California
SessionAnimal Wellbeing Commission
DateWednesday, March 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:55:39

Transcript — Verbatim
0:42

Good evening, everyone.

0:43

It is uh 5 31, so let's go ahead and get started so we are on time.

0:49

Uh welcome to the March 11th meeting of the Animal Well-being commission.

0:56

This meeting is now called to order.

0:58

Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum?

1:02

Yes, Chair.

1:03

Uh Commissioners, please unmute your microphones.

1:06

Commissioner Treat.

1:07

Present.

1:08

Commissioner Verga.

1:09

Present.

1:10

Commissioner Hayes.

1:11

Uh present.

1:12

Commissioner Buttagon is absent.

1:14

Commissioner Bell.

1:15

Here.

1:16

Commissioner Benedict.

1:17

Here.

1:17

Vice Chair Backley.

1:18

Here.

1:19

Commissioner Christie.

1:20

Here.

1:20

Commissioner Asquith.

1:22

Here.

1:24

Commissioner Few is absent.

1:26

Commissioner Morris.

1:28

Here.

1:28

Commissioner Garcia.

1:29

Here.

1:30

And Chair McDowell.

1:31

Here.

1:31

Thank you.

1:32

We have quorum.

1:33

Thank you.

1:34

I'd like to remind members of the public in the chamber that if you'd like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip before the item begins.

1:42

After the item is called, we will no longer accept speaker slips.

1:46

And you will have two minutes, which will be on the clock to speak once you're called on.

1:50

So we'll now proceed with today's agenda.

1:59

Yeah.

2:00

So please rise if you're able to for the opening acknowledgement in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands.

2:07

I'm gonna ask Commissioner Hayes to read it for us.

2:14

So the original people of this land.

2:18

So the original people of this land, the Nissanong people, the Southern Maidu Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwin, Wintoon peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe.

2:32

May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the active practice of acknowledgment and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples history, contribution, and lives.

3:27

Thank you.

3:28

My name is Shannon Asquith, and I have sense of experience doing lots of different things in animal welfare, volunteering and working both at a local and national level, and I'm really excited to be back serving Front Street.

3:51

So super excited to sort of be home.

4:04

Next is approval of the consent calendar.

4:12

I don't have any speaker slips for this item.

4:16

Okay, thank you.

4:19

Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on this item?

4:28

Commissioner Morris.

4:30

I don't know which one I'm on the summit.

4:32

Commissioner Morris.

4:44

Separate the log from the minutes.

4:46

Do we add things now?

4:48

What is the process?

4:49

I can't.

4:50

Are you looking to correct things that are entered or add additional items?

4:54

Add additional items.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Services█████████████████████████████████████████████66%
Procedural██████████████21%
Personnel Matters███5%
Public Comments███4%
Technology and Innovation██3%
Budget and Finance█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Animal Wellbeing Commission Meeting - March 11, 2026

The Animal Wellbeing Commission met on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 5:31 p.m. at Sacramento City Hall. The meeting, chaired by Jamie McDole, lasted until 8:26 p.m. after a vote to extend past two hours. Key discussions focused on methods to promote adoption of senior and at-risk animals, the Animal Care Services monthly report, and procedural concerns about agenda setting and the power to make motions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of February 11, 2026 Meeting Minutes (File ID: 2026-00016): Approved unanimously.
  • Animal Wellbeing Commission Follow-Up Log (File ID: 2026-00193): Adopted as presented. During discussion, commissioners raised concerns about the log's length and process for removing items. Vice Chair Bagley asked to add a presentation on shelter law and remove a cruelty presentation. The deputy city attorney clarified that items can be removed via commissioner recommendation without a formal vote unless there is disagreement.

Discussion Items

  • Promoting Adoption of Senior and At-Risk Animals (File ID: 2026-00640): Staff presented pros and cons of euthanasia-based marketing (e.g., "final plea" posts). The shelter reported an 86% live release rate for dogs in 2025 and cited a California study showing 50% of non-adopters avoid shelters due to fear of sadness and euthanasia. Commissioners advocated for a pilot program, suggesting kennel signs, a lobby board, and social media posts using less alarming language. Assistant City Manager Michael Jasso committed to working with an informal commissioner work group to design a pilot. The commission agreed to bring a formal recommendation to the next meeting.
  • Animal Care Services Monthly Report (File ID: 2026-00645): Staff reported February 2026 statistics: 150 cats and 358 dogs intaken; 87% overall live release rate (75% cats, 92% dogs). Updates included recruitment for an Animal Care Services Manager (closes April 7), a vendor selection for policy/procedure development, kennel repair contracts, and a planned TikTok pilot.

Commissioner Comments & Follow-Up Log Adjustments

  • Several items were removed from the follow-up log: additional spay/neuter events, shelter manager report in advance, pre-COVID capacity, cat euthanasia list, kitten connection, and animals not on rescue list.
  • Items added or retained: Vice Chair Bagley's presentation on shelter law, return-to-owner redemption policy discussion, and follow-up on a site improvement review (after a walkthrough).
  • Commissioner Morris requested adding three items: follow-up on the 2024 dog adoption ad hoc committee recommendations, identifying an eight-acre site for a new shelter, and exploring a capital campaign. These were previously approved by city council.

Key Outcomes

  • The commission reached consensus to develop a recommendation for the April meeting on a pilot program to promote at-risk animals, including kennel cards, lobby signage, and digital notifications.
  • Assistant City Manager Jasso committed to working with an informal work group (Commissioners Hayes, McDole, Asquith, and Morris) to design the pilot.
  • The meeting was extended past the two-hour limit by a unanimous vote (Commissioners Hayes and Treat had left by 7:18 p.m.).
  • No public comments were received on agenda items or matters not on the agenda.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. It is uh 5 31, so let's go ahead and get started so we are on time. Uh welcome to the March 11th meeting of the Animal Well-being commission. This meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum? Yes, Chair. Uh Commissioners, please unmute your microphones. Commissioner Treat. Present. Commissioner Verga. Present. Commissioner Hayes. Uh present. Commissioner Buttagon is absent. Commissioner Bell. Here. Commissioner Benedict. Here. Vice Chair Backley. Here. Commissioner Christie. Here. Commissioner Asquith. Here. Commissioner Few is absent. Commissioner Morris. Here. Commissioner Garcia. Here. And Chair McDowell. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Thank you. I'd like to remind members of the public in the chamber that if you'd like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip before the item begins. After the item is called, we will no longer accept speaker slips. And you will have two minutes, which will be on the clock to speak once you're called on. So we'll now proceed with today's agenda. Yeah. So please rise if you're able to for the opening acknowledgement in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. I'm gonna ask Commissioner Hayes to read it for us. So the original people of this land. So the original people of this land, the Nissanong people, the Southern Maidu Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwin, Wintoon peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the active practice of acknowledgment and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples history, contribution, and lives. Thank you. My name is Shannon Asquith, and I have sense of experience doing lots of different things in animal welfare, volunteering and working both at a local and national level, and I'm really excited to be back serving Front Street. So super excited to sort of be home. Next is approval of the consent calendar. I don't have any speaker slips for this item. Okay, thank you.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com