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Contra Costa Animal Services reports falling shelter length‑of‑stay, increased outreach and spay/neuter programs
Summary
Contra Costa Animal Services director Ben Winkelblack briefed the Orinda City Council on shelter operations, describing rising intake since the pandemic, efforts to reduce average length of stay from 20 to 16 days, expanded community outreach and spay/neuter capacity funded by Measure X and other sources.
Ben Winkelblack, director of Contra Costa Animal Services, gave the Orinda City Council an annual update on March 4 describing operational changes at the county shelter in Martinez and outreach in Orinda.
Winkelblack said the shelter currently houses about 50 dogs and 50 cats and described an annual intake of roughly 6,500 animals for calendar year 2024. “On average, 18 come in per day and 12 leave,” he said, adding that staff have reduced average length of stay for animals from about 20 days to 16 days through tighter case management and “pathway planning” meetings with partner groups.
Winkelblack told the council the shelter runs broad community services—field services (animal control), a medical division that performs surgery five to six days a week, outreach clinics and a large shelter…
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