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Gardena extends contract with SPCA LA after council hears rise in animal intakes
Summary
Council approved a 12-month contract with SPCA LA for animal sheltering services after staff reported animal intakes rose from 890 in 2024 to about 1,031 and the monthly shelter fee will increase from $19,300 to $23,900.
The Gardena City Council on Aug. 26 approved a 12-month contract with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (SPCA LA) for animal sheltering and related services, after staff reported a year-over-year increase in animal intakes.
City staff said the city has used SPCA LA's Hawthorne shelter since 2021 and has been satisfied with its responsiveness. SPCA LA notified the city on June 4 that the monthly service fee would rise from $19,300 to $23,900, staff said. Staff attributed the increase largely to higher intake volumes: 890 animals in 2024 rising to approximately 1,031 annually. The contract retains a daily holding fee of $100 for animals kept beyond an initial three-day assessment period; staff noted that extended holds arise when an animal is subject to investigation or other special circumstances.
Finance staff presented an estimated general-fund impact, citing a combined amount of $8,289,800 for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 in the city's general fund budget; staff said the SPCA LA contract costs were included in the amended general-fund budget for 2025-26 and will be included in the 2026-27 budget. Councilmembers asked how the intake figures are documented and how the city's animal-control staffing supports pickup and processing. Councilmember Francis questioned whether the intake numbers matched residents' observations; staff and other councilmembers said Gardena's full-time animal-control officer plus code-enforcement personnel and part-time weekend help contribute to relatively high pickup rates compared with neighboring jurisdictions.
Council discussion noted that SPCA LA is a no-kill shelter and that other nearby shelters either do not service Gardena or lack capacity. The council voted to approve the contract covering Sept. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.
Decision vs. discussion: Staff presented the contract and intake statistics (discussion). Council formally approved the 12-month contract and authorized the expenditure (decision).
