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Board renews Sammy’s Friends shelter contract and approves $1.1M FY24–25 allocation
Summary
After presentations from Sammy’s Friends leadership and dozens of volunteers, the Board renewed the county’s animal-shelter contract with Sammy’s Friends for up to $1.1 million for FY 2024–25, citing rising veterinary costs and growing intake pressure; staff also added new contract reporting and audit requirements.
The Board of Supervisors voted June 25 to renew the county’s professional services contract with Sammy’s Friends to operate the Nevada County animal shelter for FY 2024–25 at a not‑to‑exceed amount of $1,100,000.
Paul Cummings of the Office of Emergency Services presented the contract renewal and highlighted operational pressures: increasing veterinary costs, rising local wages, an aging shelter facility and growing stray intake. Sammy’s Friends Executive Director Fran Cole described improvements at the shelter, including stronger volunteer management, a registered veterinary technician on staff, a premises veterinary permit to allow volunteer veterinarians to work at the facility, and expanded community programs such as low‑cost microchipping and voucher programs.
"We had no claims for bites submitted in 2023 and were able to secure insurance," Cole said, thanking the board for the county’s prior support on liability coverage. Deputy Executive Director Shauna Leslie summarized operational numbers: more than 800 adoptions in the prior 12 months; more than 1,300 animals supported; 160 animals in foster care; and volunteer contributions equivalent to roughly 10 full‑time employees.
Board members and public commenters — including many Sammy’s volunteers and partner groups — praised the nonprofit’s work and urged a continued push toward a new shelter facility and expanded spay/neuter capacity. Supervisors noted the county will monitor contract reporting and added an annual financial audit requirement to the new contract.
Outcome: The Board approved the renewal by roll call. Staff said future steps include continuing efforts to reduce veterinary costs, streamlining adoption processes, and collaborating on long‑term shelter facility planning.
Sources: County presentations and public comment at the Board meeting June 25, 2024. Quotes are drawn from meeting remarks and are attributed to named speakers in the transcript.
