Bellflower shifts animal control to Southwest Patrol, brings licensing in‑house

The Bellflower City Council on Sept. 22 authorized a restructure of animal control services that transfers frontline animal‑control response to Southwest Patrol Inc., moves animal licensing in‑house with an online vendor, and places impounded animals with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (SPCA‑LA).

City staff said the contract amendment for Southwest Patrol (amendment No. 9 to agreement file 813) would add animal control services and extend security guard services; Turbo Data Systems would provide online animal licensing (amendment No. 2 to agreement file 685). Council approved the changes by a 5‑0 vote (motion by Council Member Sanchez, second by Council Member Morris).

Public safety and code enforcement staff outlined a new service model intended to address shortcomings in services the city had received from SIACA (Southeast Area Animal Control Authority). Staff said SIACA’s proposed new contract would have increased Bellflower’s cost from about $641,880 to $814,974 (a roughly 27% increase) and that SIACA had struggled recently to provide a dedicated 40‑hour‑per‑week animal patrol officer and to enforce municipal code proactively.

Under the new model, Southwest Patrol will supply one unarmed animal control guard for 40 hours per week, perform emergency callouts as requested by the sheriff or public safety staff, pick up visibly injured or sick animals, collect stray animals and remove deceased animals. Southwest told staff it would maintain its own contract with SPCA‑LA to house live impounds at SPCA‑LA’s facility in Hawthorne; staff said the SPCA facility is about 16 miles and a roughly 30‑minute drive from Bellflower. Deceased animals would go to Pet Haven Cemetery & Crematory in Gardena, also about 15–16 miles away.

Southwest’s guard vehicles will be equipped with multiple compartments and air conditioning to separate sick or injured animals. Staff said Southwest will transport live animals back to SPCA‑LA typically at the end of the guard’s shift; urgent veterinary cases would be taken to local veterinary hospitals as needed. The city will purchase one compartmented vehicle; staff said the vehicle purchase cost is included in the first‑year contract pricing and the vehicle will be titled in the city’s name for insurance purposes but remain Southwest’s vehicle under the contract terms.

Serveral council members and staff discussed enforcement of criminal animal‑cruelty statutes. Staff said criminal enforcement authority remains with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; city code enforcement will take primary responsibility for municipal animal‑code violations (for example, off‑leash dogs, barking complaints and unlicensed animals). Staff said Mercy House and other partners were not implicated in this item. The new model also moves animal‑licensing fee collection and administration to Bellflower public safety, with Turbo Data Systems building an online licensing module similar to the city’s existing parking‑permit platform.

Financially, staff presented estimated first‑year costs not to exceed $410,000 for Southwest Patrol’s animal control services (first year prorated for eight months) plus licensing platform costs and an additional part‑time administrative assistant estimated at up to 29 hours per week. Staff said the first‑year total (including incidental vet costs, tags and administrative startup) was roughly $475,300 and that the city had budgeted $675,000 for SIACA in the current fiscal year; staff estimated first‑year savings of about $269,700 compared to the SIACA budget. Staff also projected second‑year savings (full year) of roughly $221,000 relative to SIACA’s proposed pricing, assuming higher licensing revenue after improved canvassing.

Council members and residents asked questions about travel distance to the SPCA‑LA facility and the handling of exotic animals; staff said SPCA‑LA charges for certain exotic animal intake and that the city would pursue owner contact first to avoid costly transfers. Council member Coops noted the need to retrain public expectations, since residents historically called SIACA; staff said a communications campaign and direct phone routing will be used to transition calls to the city’s public‑safety line.

The motion to authorize the city manager to execute Amendment No. 9 to agreement file 813 with Southwest Patrol Inc. and Amendment No. 2 to agreement file 685 with Turbo Data Systems passed 5‑0 (Santinez, Coops, Morse, Sanchez, Mayor Dutton). Staff said implementation will begin as soon as contracts and pilot procedures are in place and that staff may return with fee adjustments if council desires after reviewing performance.