City to formalize MOU with Wayward Journey to expand volunteers, fosters and pet pantry for Grass Valley animal shelter

Members of Wayward Journey, a newly formed nonprofit, presented a partnership plan to the Grass Valley City Council on April 8 to run volunteer and foster programs, provide enrichment and behavioral support for shelter animals, operate a weekly pet pantry and fund veterinary care that exceeds the shelter’s budget.

Taylor Davis, treasurer of Wayward Journey, described the nonprofit’s mission: "Wayward Journey's mission is to improve the lives of animals through enrichment, individualized attention and necessary medical care on their journey to finding their forever homes," she said. The board said it expects to recruit about 50 volunteers across program areas, manage in-person training and orientation via video materials on its website, and step in quickly to place animals with foster families when needed. The nonprofit said it recently arranged medical care and foster placements for a litter of seven puppies found in Condon Park.

Police and shelter leadership told council the MOU in the packet is a draft; staff and the city attorney met with Wayward Journey to refine responsibilities and will return a finalized MOU for the council’s approval at a later meeting. Chief Alex Campbell (acting on behalf of the department) said staff support the partnership but want the MOU finalized: "In your packet, you have the proposed MOU that says draft on it…we still want to take a little bit of time to get that MOU dialed in perfectly." Council members praised the volunteer-driven model and asked staff to bring the finalized MOU back on the consent calendar.