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Casa Grande animal services reports higher save rate, requests facility upgrades as intake rises
Summary
Animal control staff reported improved save rates and outlined staffing, licensing, and capital needs including kennels, kennel air conditioning and security cameras as the city’s intake and calls for service rise.
Casa Grande animal control staff told the city council they have increased their live‑release rate and are pursuing several capital improvements while continuing to run near or over kennel capacity.
Supervisor Therese Anafelt and Lt. Scott Shervin presented staffing levels, licensing changes and capital improvement project (CIP) plans at the study session. Anafelt said the department currently has one full‑time animal control supervisor, three full‑time animal control officers, one kennel technician, two part‑time kennel technicians and two volunteers, with one open position and a planned additional hire in July. The department began online licensing and licensing‑related services in February.
Staff provided operational figures: 46 dog kennels and 77 cat kennels are on site; the department reported an average of about 49 dogs in 2024 (high count 55) and 38 cats in 2024 (high count 85 in one reporting period). Total impounds were reported as 835 in 2023 and about 1,175 in 2024; staff said the first quarter of the current year recorded 195 impounds. Anafelt reported the department’s live‑release (save) rate was 80% in 2024 and about 97% so far this year.
Staff described several ongoing and planned projects: installation of security cameras to alert staff to animals left outside overnight, procurement of a replacement animal control vehicle (build delayed by manufacturer backlog), bids for air‑conditioning upgrades in the kennel and cat rooms intended to meet higher recirculation standards, a mural project for public outreach, and back‑lot paving. Anafelt said staff seek to add more outdoor runs or kennels on an adjacent parcel and ultimately to build a combined office on the same property to consolidate operations.
Anafelt highlighted partnerships with statewide rescue organizations that take animals for adoption and noted those partners have limited capacity. She said the department is one of the first agencies in the state to operate under an audited state‑level veterinary licensing arrangement (referred to in the presentation as the state veterinary program), and staff require ACO1/ACO2 certification for officers through the National Animal Control Association before officers participate in certain medical or euthanasia protocols.
Councilmembers thanked staff and asked about community outreach; staff said the public information office (PIO) has promoted low‑cost vaccine clinics, adoption events and trap‑neuter‑release (TNR) programs and will continue community engagement. Anafelt asked for council support for the kennel expansion and combined office concept so staff can pursue design and budgeting in coming CIP cycles.
No formal council action occurred; the presentation closed with staff requests for direction on pursuing design and budgets for facility upgrades.
