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Supervisors hear pleas for more Animal Care & Control staff; city analyst backs targeted hires
Summary
The committee heard Animal Care & Control (ACC) director Rebecca Katz and City Administrator budget analyst Adam Nguyen outline operational strains — more complex investigations, longer custody stays, and more dogs requiring heavier care. The city analyst recommended adding three field officers and other clinical and shelter positions at an estimated $900,000 in FY2014–15 (rising to about $1.2M annualized). Community groups and partners urged approval; the committee filed the hearing for the record.
Rebecca Katz, Director of San Francisco Animal Care & Control (ACC), and Adam Nguyen from the City Administrator’s Office told the Budget & Finance Committee that ACC is an open‑door shelter and public safety agency providing a wide array of services that have increased in complexity. Katz described an uptick in investigations, longer custody stays, and a shift toward more dogs (which require more space, veterinary care and behavior work) as reasons the agency needs additional staff.
"We are a public protection agency and we're also a health and human service agency," Katz said, describing duties that include investigating animal cruelty, managing bite reports and conducting rabies quarantines.
Budget request and analyst recommendation: the city administrator’s office recommended a package focused on personnel: three additional animal control officers to improve field safety and coverage, a 0.5 FTE to secure additional veterinary coverage, one veterinary technician, three animal care attendants, two shelter‑care dispatch representatives, a full‑time behaviorist, and a three‑year limited term public relations/communications position to increase licensing and donor revenue. Nguyen said the FY2014–15 cost of the package is about $900,000 and annualizes to roughly $1.2M.
Community support: numerous speakers representing Friends of ACC, Mission Hiring Hall, rescue partners and businesses supported the additions and noted ACC’s strong outcomes (the city’s live‑release rate reached 91 percent the prior year). Volunteers and partner organizations described collaboration on spay/neuter programs, adoption centers and placement for vulnerable populations.
Outcome: after public testimony and discussion, Supervisor Scott Wiener moved to file the hearing. The committee accepted the action without objection; the mayor’s budget office and City Administrator were urged to consider the added positions in upcoming recommended budgets and to report back as needed.
