Interim manager reports March intake and staffing gains, seeks support for SOPs and outreach funding

Interim Animal Services Manager Ryan Hinderman presented March statistics and operational updates to the Sacramento Animal Well‑Being Commission on April 15.

Hinderman reported March intakes of 236 cats and 535 dogs, outcomes of 129 cat outcomes and 513 dog outcomes, and an overall live release rate of about 83 percent (cats ~76 percent; dogs ~86 percent). He said the shelter is actively recruiting for multiple positions, including a dog foster and rescue coordinator, animal care technicians and animal control officers, and had an applicant accept an offer for a registered veterinary technician.

On policy work, Hinderman said staff are negotiating a contract to develop standard operating procedures and that the budget for that work is approximately $75,000; the firm will help prioritize SOPs tied to audit recommendations (euthanasia decisions, rescue and intake procedures and field enforcement). He said those SOPs will be coordinated with commission priorities.

Hinderman also said he applied for Petco Love grant support to help the shelter build outreach, advertising capacity and multilingual engagement, noting a local opportunity to reach Spanish‑speaking residents. He and commissioners discussed longer‑term priorities including new shelter planning, targeted spay/neuter clinics and expanding foster capacity for bottle‑baby kittens.

Asked about cat intake, Hinderman said the city is currently facing litigation that constrains what staff can say publicly about some intake procedures. He urged commissioners that policy discussion continue through staff‑prepared reports while litigation issues are resolved.

Commissioners and staff identified follow‑up items including a request for a rescue‑partner list, a breakdown of return‑to‑owner outcomes, plans for targeted outreach and the timeline for bringing the staff report to Personnel & Public Employees committee on the pilot program.