OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Animal Wellbeing Commission Meeting – April 15, 2026

Animal Wellbeing Commission — Wednesday, April 15, 2026
BodySacramento, California
SessionAnimal Wellbeing Commission
DateWednesday, April 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:38:08

Transcript — Verbatim
1:05

Good afternoon.

1:11

Good evening.

1:13

Welcome to the Wednesday, April 15th, meeting of the Animal Wellbeing Commission.

1:18

The meeting is now called to order.

1:20

Will the clerk please call roll to establish a quorum?

1:23

Yes.

1:23

Commissioners, if you would unmute your microphones.

1:26

Commissioner Treat.

1:27

Present.

1:28

Commissioner Verga.

1:30

Present.

1:30

Commissioner Hayes.

1:32

Here.

1:32

Commissioner Badagon is absent.

1:34

Commissioner Bell.

1:35

Here.

1:36

Commissioner Benedict.

1:37

Here.

1:37

Vice Chair Bagley.

1:39

Here.

1:39

Commissioner Christie.

1:40

Here.

1:41

Commissioner Aswith.

1:42

Here.

1:42

Commissioner Few.

1:44

Here.

1:44

Commissioner Garcia.

1:45

Here.

1:47

Commissioner Morris.

1:48

Here.

1:48

And Chair McDoll.

1:50

Here.

1:50

Thank you.

1:50

We have a quorum.

1:52

Thank you.

1:54

All right.

1:54

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

2:02

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

2:06

And you will have two minutes to speak once you are called on.

2:09

We'll now proceed with today's agenda.

2:14

So first uh land acknowledgement and pledge.

2:16

Please rise if you're able for the opening acknowledgement uh in honor of Sacramento's indigenous indigenous people and tribal land.

2:30

Commissioner Benedict, if you would be okay.

2:34

Uh to the original people of this land, the Nisan people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains, My Wook, Patwin, Winton peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe.

2:50

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 together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contributions, and lives.

3:09

Thank you.

3:35

All right, next is the approval of the consent calendar.

3:39

Um, just for members of the public, the consent calendar is considered one item consisting of matters deemed routine and non-controversial and typically adopted in one motion.

3:49

Any member may comment on any item or request to pull an item from the consent calendar for a separate vote.

3:56

Uh clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar?

4:02

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

4:04

All right, thank you.

4:08

Are there any commission members who wish to speak on this item?

4:15

Commissioner Morris.

4:17

Thank you.

4:18

Um I don't really want to pull anything off.

4:21

I just want to thank you all for adding to the follow-up log the two items related to um implementing strategies from the adoption ad hoc committee as well as following up on uh potential new shelter site and sheltered um fundraising efforts.

4:37

So I appreciate that those were on the uh follow-up log, and I wanted to acknowledge that.

4:42

Um as we move along later in the agenda in terms of the dissolution of the rates, the adoption rate study ad hoc.

4:51

I hope that we can also talk a little bit about some of the implementation of the findings of that because I think it segues into our at-risk discussion.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Services█████████████████████████████████████████████87%
Procedural████8%
Community Engagement██3%
Housing█1%
Budget and Finance█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Animal Wellbeing Commission Meeting – April 15, 2026

The Sacramento Animal Wellbeing Commission held a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 5:31 PM to 8:08 PM at City Hall Council Chamber. The commission unanimously approved routine consent items, debated amendments to city code allowing up to four dogs per dwelling, forwarded a recommendation for a pilot program promoting senior and at-risk animal adoptions, and reviewed the March 2026 monthly shelter report.

Consent Calendar

The commission unanimously adopted the Consent Calendar, which included:

  • Approval of the March 11, 2026 meeting minutes.
  • Adoption of the Animal Wellbeing Commission Follow-Up Log.
  • Dissolution of the Dog Adoption Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dia Good (Item 4) supported the proposed code language, stating it aligns with Bradshaw and other shelters and does not discriminate against owners with medically exempt dogs.
  • Paul Hefner (Item 5) opposed the pilot program, arguing that “sadvertising” (emphasizing euthanasia risk) reduces foot traffic and adoption conversion rates, citing adoption metrics.
  • Susan Falcone (Item 5) supported the pilot, asserting transparency about euthanasia drives action and that the public wants truth.
  • Dia Good (Item 5) thanked Commissioner Hayes for the proposal but raised concerns about Front Street Shelter staffing vacancies (shelter manager resigned, ops manager on leave, kennel supervisor quit, rescue coordinator position open) and urged consideration of staff capacity, volunteer mental health, and prevention before implementation.
  • Dia Good (Matters not on agenda) shared Friends of Front Street 2025 accomplishments and reminded of the May 7 “Big Day of Giving.” She also noted that city code Section 9.44.430 already requires spay/neuter for all seven cats.

Discussion Items

4. Amending Sacramento City Code Section 9.44.370 (Number of Swine, Dogs, Cats per Dwelling Unit)

The commission considered an ordinance to increase the allowable number of dogs per dwelling unit from three to four, mandating spay/neuter for all four dogs with exceptions for unaltered license holders, veterinarian-certified health/age exemptions, show dogs, and service/law enforcement animals.

  • Commissioner Hilary Bagley-Franzoia expressed disappointment that spay/neuter was not required for all four dogs but accepted the exceptions. She requested clarifying “if each of the dogs” to “each of the four dogs” and opposed the purebred show dog exemption, citing overbreeding.
  • Commissioner Leah Morris questioned why the amendment did not include cats and raised concerns about exemptions for guide and signal dogs.
  • Commissioner Shannon Asquith and Kellee Benedict supported adding cats to spay/neuter requirements.
  • Commissioner Julie Virga endorsed the changes and noted the shelter turns away pregnant cats, suggesting a need for broader discussion on cat intake.
  • City Attorney staff clarified the commission could only forward recommendations; City Council would finalize language.

Action: Motion to forward the ordinance to City Council with recommendations: (1) amend line three to “each of the four dogs” for clarity, and (2) strike exemptions for show dogs, service dogs, guide dogs, and signal dogs. Vote: Unanimous (all present commissioners voted yes).

5. Pilot Program to Promote Adoption/Rescue of Senior Animals and Animals at Risk of Euthanasia

The commission debated forwarding a recommendation to the Personnel and Public Employees Committee (PPE) for a pilot program using kennel cards, identification boards, social media, and “Final Plea” notification protocols.

  • Commissioner Julia Hayes (subcommittee chair) presented the draft, based on meetings with other shelters and volunteers. She stressed the program saves lives and that volunteers are eager to participate.
  • Supporters (Commissioners Bagley-Franzoia, Benedict, Virga, Barragan, Treat) emphasized transparency, public demand for truth, anecdotal evidence of euthanasia-list adoptions, and commissioner willingness to volunteer to ease staff burden.
  • Opponents (Commissioners Asquith, Christie, Morris) cited risks of deterring general public adoptions, insufficient data on negative impacts, severe staffing shortages, and need for methodical research. Commissioner Asquith also raised the moral burden on shelter staff.
  • Commissioner Morris noted other shelters use less stark language (“long-timer” vs. “euthanasia list”) and suggested studying other programs.
  • Staff confirmed the motion simply forwards to PPE; details can be worked out later but noted staffing vacancies as a constraint.

Action: Motion to forward a recommendation to PPE for staff to initiate the pilot program. Vote: 8 in favor (Bagley-Franzoia, Barragan, Benedict, Hayes, Phew, Treat, Virga, McDole), 3 opposed (Asquith, Christie, Morris), 2 abstaining (Bell, Garcia). Motion carried.

6. Animal Care Services Monthly Report (March 2026)

Interim Manager Ryan Hinderman presented statistics:

  • Intake: 236 cats, 535 dogs.
  • Outcomes: 29 cat, 513 dog.
  • Live release rates: 83% overall, 76% cats, 86% dogs.
  • Staffing updates: recruiting for animal control officer, dog foster/rescue coordinator, senior animal care technician; accepted RVTech offer; animal care services manager applications under review.
  • Policies & procedures contract in negotiation ($75K budget), prioritizing euthanasia and rescue policies, including existing documents.
  • Applied for Petco Love grant for social media ads (including Spanish), homeless outreach, and innovation.
  • Highlighted a dog adoption story: severely matted dog groomed and adopted.

Commissioners commented on return-to-owner numbers (171), short rescue lists, urgent need for bottle-baby kitten fosters, and interest in a bond measure for a new shelter. Staff noted open recruitment for shelter manager.

Action: Reviewed and commented; no formal vote.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance amendment (Item 4): Unanimously forwarded to City Council with recommendations to clarify language and remove specified exemptions.
  • Pilot program (Item 5): Forwarded to PPE with recommendation to initiate (8-3-2).
  • Monthly report (Item 6): Reviewed and commented.
  • Meeting extended by 10-1-2 vote to allow completion of agenda.
  • Follow-up: Commissioners instructed staff to add a potential Facebook advertising pilot to the follow-up log and planned to revisit large dog adoption ad hoc recommendations.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Good evening. Welcome to the Wednesday, April 15th, meeting of the Animal Wellbeing Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call roll to establish a quorum? Yes. Commissioners, if you would unmute your microphones. Commissioner Treat. Present. Commissioner Verga. Present. Commissioner Hayes. Here. Commissioner Badagon is absent. Commissioner Bell. Here. Commissioner Benedict. Here. Vice Chair Bagley. Here. Commissioner Christie. Here. Commissioner Aswith. Here. Commissioner Few. Here. Commissioner Garcia. Here. Commissioner Morris. Here. And Chair McDoll. Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. Thank you. All right. I'd like to remind members of the public and chambers 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 to speak once you are called on. We'll now proceed with today's agenda. So first uh land acknowledgement and pledge. Please rise if you're able for the opening acknowledgement uh in honor of Sacramento's indigenous indigenous people and tribal land. Commissioner Benedict, if you would be okay. Uh to the original people of this land, the Nisan people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains, My Wook, Patwin, Winton 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 together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. All right, next is the approval of the consent calendar. Um, just for members of the public, the consent calendar is considered one item consisting of matters deemed routine and non-controversial and typically adopted in one motion. Any member may comment on any item or request to pull an item from the consent calendar for a separate vote. Uh clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar?

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