Resident at commission meeting accuses San Bernardino Animal Services of inhumane killings and urges accountability

A member of the public used the Animal Services Commission public-comment period to sharply criticize the department's handling of animals and to call for accountability.

The commenter accused the department and its director of treating animals inhumanely and said animals were "killed... fully conscious, trembling, terrified" rather than euthanized humanely. The speakers described the situation as "barbaric" and urged commissioners to hold leadership accountable and not "rubber stamp" department actions.

The commenter also alleged procedural issues, saying the previous meeting had been canceled for improper notice and describing a recent field report of a puppy left in a bag; the speaker said a rescue was found for that puppy and that, otherwise, it would have been recorded as a DOA in shelter paperwork.

No formal complaint or disciplinary motion resulted directly from the public comment recorded in the meeting transcript. Later in the meeting several commissioners publicly commended Director Chris Watson for transparency and leadership; one commissioner told Watson, "You're probably the best director that the animal services department has ever had." Watson announced she would retire at the end of the week and said she will support transition efforts.

The meeting record does not include findings or an official departmental response to the specific cruelty allegations made during public comment. The department's staff update later in the meeting addressed operational issues including a recent distemper outbreak, testing and euthanasia practices for neurologic distemper, staffing shortages and the shelter's use of rescue partners and volunteers.