Nevada County to assume day-to-day animal shelter operations; board approves budget, contract and new positions

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 approved a package of actions to shift primary day-to-day operations of the county animal shelter from the nonprofit Sammy's Friends to county staff while retaining the nonprofit for supportive services.

County Director of Information and General Services Craig Griesbach told the board the recommended model “maximizes organizational strengths for the county to resume day to day operations, while Sammy's Friends continues to provide technical wrap around services that enhance outcomes for both animals and our residents.” Griesbach, Laurie Hennessy (administrative analyst) and representatives of Sammy's Friends presented the item.

The board approved three linked items: a budget amendment to support the new service model, a one-month extension of the current full-services contract with Sammy's Friends through Oct. 31, 2025, and a supportive-services contract with Sammy's Friends for Nov. 1, 2025–July 30, 2026. Laurie Hennessy said the county plans to “assume shelter operations on 11/01/2025.”

The contract with Sammy's Friends for supportive wrap-around services was presented as totaling $110,422 for 11/01/2025–07/30/2026. Hennessy said the proposed budget amendment increases appropriations by $380,529, with a $270,529 general-fund impact, and that the amended budget would fund “5 full time and 2 part time employees to run the shelter.”

Sammy's Friends volunteer and board member Joyce Chan urged the supervisors to view the agreement as an “evolving partnership” and cautioned that “we can't continue to adopt our way out of the problem,” urging patience while the new model is implemented and refined.

The board also considered personnel changes tied to the operational shift. Interim Human Resources Director Susan Cadera presented staffing and salary resolutions that add positions she said are necessary to run shelter operations: one animal shelter supervisor, four kennel attendants and one senior office assistant. The salary resolution adds the new classification and assigns pay ranges.

Supervisors who commented thanked Sammy's Friends volunteers and county staff and noted the arrangement is intended as an interim, evolving approach while the county works toward a permanent shelter facility. Supervisor Lisa (first reference used exactly as in transcript: Chair Hall and supervisors occasionally used first names in the record) noted a planned community spay-and-neuter program as part of efforts to reduce intake.

Votes: The board voted unanimously to approve the budget amendment, the one-month contract extension and the supportive-services contract, and to adopt the staffing and salary resolutions enabling the new positions. (Roll calls in the transcript recorded affirmative votes by Districts 1–5.)

Next steps: County staff said the one-month extension will maintain uninterrupted services while the county hires and onboards staff for the November transition; Sammy's Friends will provide volunteer, foster, adoption, fundraising and other community services under the supportive-services contract. County staff and Sammy's Friends said they will continue to assess the model and expect further proposals in 2026.

Why it matters: The change shifts mandated sheltering duties to county employees (per presenters) while keeping a local nonprofit engaged for community-facing services. County staff framed the move as a way to stabilize operations, align finances, and pursue a longer-term, county-owned shelter site that officials said they own and are planning to build in the future.

Ending: Board members said they appreciated community volunteers and emphasized the need to monitor costs and outcomes as the new model is implemented. The board directed staff to proceed with the contracts and budget changes approved at the Aug. 26 meeting.