Animal Wellbeing Commission Regular Meeting - September 9, 2026

The Animal Wellbeing Commission convened at 5:32 p.m. at Sacramento City Hall, chaired by Jamie McDole, with 14 commissioners present (Shannon Asquith arrived at 5:46 p.m.). The meeting featured a land acknowledgement and pledge of allegiance, followed by discussion and action on a consent calendar and two major agenda items: the Final Plea Program pilot and the Animal Care Services monthly report. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. after extending past two hours.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of August 12, 2026 Meeting Minutes (File ID 2026-00021): Passed unanimously (13-0-1, with Commissioner Paula Treat abstaining; Commissioner Shannon Asquith absent at the time).
• Animal Wellbeing Commission Follow-Up Log (File ID 2026-01611): Adopted, but Commissioner Julia Hayes noted two missing items originally requested: kennel cleaning protocols and spay/neuter voucher program updates. Staff agreed to restore them to the log.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On Item 3 (Final Plea Pilot): Four speakers addressed the commission:
  • Brianna Brown (volunteer and rescue advocate) supported the program, citing success stories of dogs Biggs and Red, stating final plea “gives animals a chance to be seen and saved.”
  • Jared Fowler questioned the reported 57% success rate, highlighting a 50% adoption return rate and arguing that the program’s metrics are misleading and that costs to volunteer and staff morale are high.
  • Paul Hefner opposed the pilot, claiming dog adoptions declined by nearly 40 in May and June compared to the prior year and that the program repels adopters.
• On General Public Comments (Matters Not on the Agenda):
  • Jared Ballard praised shelter staff for saving a medically complex dog named Zina.
  • Susan Fallon urged prioritizing spay/neuter, sharing community frustration via Nextdoor.
  • Brianna Brown did not appear for this segment.

Discussion Items

• 3. Discussion of Final Plea Program Pilot and Procedure (File ID 2026-01609):
  • Staff presenter Ryan Hinderman reviewed the program’s history: a six-month pilot was approved in March 2026, a working group drafted a procedure in April, and the city’s personnel committee paused the pilot in June pending input from the new shelter manager and a volunteer survey. The pilot (May 19 – June 23) posted 14 animals (13 dogs, 1 cat). Outcomes: 7 adopted/rescued directly (57% success), 1 returned and later euthanized, 1 euthanized with no interest, 2 euthanized due to new behaviors, and 2 still in foster. Key differences between the working group’s draft and staff’s revised procedure include: which animals qualify (all dogs at risk vs. staff judgment), frequency of posts (2–4 per week vs. ~1 per week), and internal meeting requirements.
  • Commissioners debated the program’s merits. Supporters (e.g., Julia Hayes, Julie Virga, Kellee Benedict) emphasized life-saving and transparency, arguing the one-month trial was too brief and that individual lives matter. Opponents and skeptics (e.g., Shannon Asquith, Samantha Christie) called for a robust comprehensive adoption program and warned of negative impacts on overall adoptions, staff morale, and public perception. Several commissioners requested better metrics—conversion rates, foot traffic, and comparisons to historical adoption numbers—and suggested a longer (6-month) pilot. The new shelter manager, April Stevenson, committed to conducting a volunteer survey (and possibly public/rescuer surveys) within two weeks before deciding whether to resume the pilot and under what procedure. No formal vote was taken; the item was for review and comment only.
• 4. Animal Care Services Monthly Managers Report (File ID 2026-01610):
  • Manager Stevenson presented August 2026 statistics: 936 animals taken in (447 cats, 431 dogs), 791 outcomes (373 cats, 418 dogs). Live release rate: 83% overall (91% dogs, 75% cats). Adoptions: 195 cats, 229 dogs. Staffing updates: four animal care technician vacancies (two conditional offers out), two coordinator positions open (volunteer coordinator and behavior/rescue specialist), shelter operations manager position expected to be filled soon. Kennel improvements are being re-evaluated to coordinate all changes at once. New policies and procedures (sanitation, animal pathway) are being developed with vendor City Gate. A vaccine clinic in Natomas served 350+ pets. Upcoming foster training events on September 20 and 27.
  • Discussion on spay/neuter: A $500,000 community spay/neuter fund is being directed primarily to Animal Balance, but staff are exploring other vendors to reach more animals sooner, including brachycephalic and large-breed dogs. Commissioners urged faster spending and outreach to underserved districts, especially District 2. Commissioner Bagley-Franzoia requested quarterly reporting on second-reclaim spay/neuter compliance and an update on code language changes for reclaim fees. Staff agreed to begin quarterly reports next month and to look into the code amendment.
  • A motion to extend the meeting past two hours was passed (12-2-1, with Commissioners Bell and Hayes opposed and Commissioner Barragan abstaining).

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved with two items adopted, and staff agreed to add the two missing follow-up log items.
• The Final Plea Pilot remains paused; staff will conduct a volunteer survey (and potentially other stakeholder surveys) within two weeks to inform a decision on resuming the program with a refined procedure.
• The new shelter manager will provide quarterly statistics on second-reclaim spay/neuter compliance beginning next month, and will pursue amending the city code to incentivize spay/neuter on first reclaims.
• Commissioners will assist in identifying suitable community center locations for low-cost spay/neuter clinics, particularly in underserved districts.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.