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Animal Resource Center executive director outlines surge in intakes, plans permanent facility
Summary
Clint Facker, ARC executive director, told the Montclair City Council that ARC began operations July 1, 2025, has handled large intake and call volumes (he cited 610 animals in the first 30 days and year-to-date figures), is designing a 40,000 sq ft permanent facility, and is recruiting volunteers while maintaining an 18+ volunteer policy and a licensing amnesty period.
Clint Facker, executive director of the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire, told the Montclair City Council that the agency has seen heavy demand since launching operations and is moving quickly to build capacity and community outreach.
Facker said ARC began services on 07/01/2025 and initially operated from a temporary facility in Ontario. "It was a baptism by fire for us," he said, noting that ARC received what he described as 610 animals in the first 30 days and was responding to an average of about 29 calls per day early in its operations. He told the council that year-to-date intake totaled in the thousands and that Montclair-origin intake represented a meaningful subset of that total.
The presentation outlined ARC's plan for a permanent, 40,000-square-foot facility now in the design phase and expected to be further defined by November. Facker said the build schedule is tight because the agency expects Chino Hills to join the JPA in 2027 and the facility team is targeting an early-2028 completion.
Facker described ARC's strategic objective as a 90% live-release rate, explaining that "no-kill" for ARC is a 90 percent live-release target while acknowledging exceptions for severely injured, aggressive, or public-safety cases that require euthanasia. He said ARC works with rescue partners for transfers and that return-to-owner and adoption remain priorities.
The director described ARC's volunteer and foster programs in detail, including long- and short-term fostering options and remote volunteer roles (fundraising, making toys, social media support). On volunteer eligibility, Facker said insurance constraints currently require volunteers to be at least 18 years old until ARC builds more operational history: "Unfortunately, because of our no history, our insurance person makes us so we can't have volunteers that are younger than 18." He said ARC will supply pamphlets and FAQs for council distribution to recruit volunteers and partners.
The presentation included an on-the-ground census of animals in care: Facker gave a snapshot of 126 dogs, 57 cats and 3 other animals (186 total) in the shelter at the time of the meeting. He also said ARC retained the prior licensing service used by the previous provider and ran an amnesty period to smooth the transition for residents.
Council members praised ARC's visibility and responsiveness. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Martinez said he had seen ARC's responsiveness firsthand and commended staff for transparency on social media, while another council member suggested distributing flyers to pet-oriented businesses and senior centers to recruit volunteers.
The council and staff agreed to hold a follow-up meeting with ARC and the city of Ontario next month to discuss service costs and further coordination. Facker left the meeting after the Q&A.
What happens next: staff will meet with ARC and Ontario to review costs and return to council with more detailed financial implications; ARC expects to finalize facility design in November and proceed toward construction planning for the permanent site.
