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San Bernardino updates animal-shelter operations; public presses city on euthanasia, staffing and spay/neuter access
Summary
City animal-services staff presented 2024 intake and outcome figures and a plan for expanded clinic and customer-service space. Residents pressed the council for transparency on euthanasia counts, veterinary staffing and access to low-cost spay/neuter services.
Chris Watson, an Animal Services representative, gave San Bernardino City Council a detailed update on the shelterdepartment's 2024 operations and plans to expand facilities and services.
Watson reported the shelter recorded 9,698 live intakes in 2024, including 6,720 dogs and 2,978 cats, an increase of about 33 percent over 2023. He said 3,520 animals were adopted, 846 were returned to owners, 2,051 were transferred to rescue partners, 1,170 dogs and 1,533 cats were euthanized, and some animals died while in care. "La tasa de salvamento de perros fue un ochenta y dos por ciento. La tasa de salvamento de gatitos fue un cincuenta y tres por ciento," Watson told the council and the public.
Watson outlined several near-term changes the city has funded: increasing registered veterinary technicians on staff (from one in 2023 to four); opening a new customer-service building with five service windows to centralize adoption and rescue coordination; and developing a satellite clinic and expanded kennels…
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