Selma animal-shelter advisory committee urges more staff, dedicated funding and stronger ordinances

Arvin Sandhu, a member of the Animal Services Advisory Committee, told the Selma City Council on April 1 that the city shelter is understaffed and operating at levels the committee described as insufficient to meet daily care and outreach needs.

At a report to the council, Sandhu said the shelter had 51 animals and only three employees at the time of the committee’s latest visit, adding, “They only have 3 employees.” The committee asked the council for funding to fill approved positions, more bilingual staff and a better volunteer protocol to avoid staff burnout and improve animal outcomes.

The committee said the shelter has spent roughly $400,000 on facility repairs and upgrades since a change in contractor late in 2023. Sandhu said the committee will request a line-item breakdown of those costs so it can determine whether the funds were grants, city allocations or other sources. He said much of the work included insulation, plumbing and other infrastructure needed to make the facility usable for the expanded program.

Why it matters: Committee members told council that staffing shortages affect day-to-day care — kennels are being spot-cleaned rather than washed daily — and limit outreach such as adoption and spay/neuter clinics. The committee recommended shifting budget priorities away from additional management positions and toward “downline” animal-care staff and kennel technicians.

Committee recommendations and council response

- Staffing: The committee said positions were approved in December 2023 and on later occasions but were not filled; the committee recommended hiring additional animal care officers and field services staff and making bilingual ability a hiring priority. The committee said recruiting for two positions was underway and that hiring processes would take at least a month.

- Volunteers and youth programs: The committee urged development of formal volunteer protocols to expand use of high-school and community volunteers for routine tasks and to create a pipeline from volunteer to paid employment.

- Programs and outreach: Members recommended reinstating frequent low-cost vaccination and spay/neuter clinics tied to license deadlines and called for a dedicated shelter website or PetPoint feed to make adoptable animals easier to find.

- Ordinances and enforcement: The committee pressed for mandatory microchipping, spay/neuter requirements tied to licensing, and stronger anti-dumping penalties. City Attorney Constanza told council such ordinances are legally possible but are best structured together in a comprehensive animal ordinance.

Council members and staff responses emphasized partnership. Councilmember Oseguera and other council members said they had accompanied the committee on a site visit. City Manager staff and department directors said they would provide follow-up: a staffing plan, a breakdown of the $400,000 in repairs, and options for volunteer protocols and ordinances. The council asked staff and the committee to return with specific budget and ordinance language during the budget cycle.

A committee data snapshot provided to council said 40 animals were euthanized last year (mostly “failure to thrive”) and 44 died (largely bottle‑fed kittens). The committee said those figures underscore the shelter’s need for more fosters, veterinary support and staff capacity during “kitten season.”

Ending: Council members thanked the advisory committee and asked staff to include staffing-level recommendations and projected costs during the upcoming budget discussions. The committee said it will continue regular visits and provide specific draft ordinance language to the city attorney.