Public commenters at the San Bernardino City Council meeting urged officials to change animal services practices, increase spay‑and‑neuter capacity and provide clearer accounting for partnership funding after years of criticism from residents and advocacy groups.

Speakers described animals arriving terrified, questioned euthanasia and rendering practices, and urged the council to require stronger enforcement of local rules on breeding and pet sales. “These are people’s pets,” one speaker said, arguing the city should not be “rendering” animals into byproducts. Other commenters provided intake data and said the shelter’s live‑release rate remains poor.

City staff and the city manager responded with an update: the animal services department opened a new customer service center and added 34 kennels at Chandler Place to expand capacity. Staff said the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians helped fund the new facility and that the new kennels will be available for animals needing care or medical isolation.

The council also debated a related budget item to cover supplies and operating costs tied to a regional partnership with neighboring jurisdictions. Councilmember Ibarra (who pulled the item for discussion) asked for a quarter‑by‑quarter accounting of how much partner cities had paid the city; staff said the first quarterly billings began in July and that partner invoicing will reflect actual intake data going forward. Council voted 6–1 to approve the requested spending increase for supplies and operations; the transcript shows one councilmember recorded in opposition.

A frequent public speaker who tracks intake numbers said shelter intake rose from roughly 7,028 animals in 2023 to about 8,000 in 2024, and estimated that roughly half of incoming animals either arrived dead or were euthanized. City staff and other speakers said community non‑profits play a major role in adoptions and spay/neuter services.

Council directed staff to provide the requested accounting on partner payments and the use of funds. Staff also said they would continue to inventory operating and supply needs as the regional partnership expands.