Petaluma council moves toward ending North Bay Animal Services contract after extensive public outcry

Petaluma’s City Council, responding to weeks of negative coverage and more than two dozen public speakers at its March 2 meeting, directed staff to pursue an expedited transition away from the city’s current animal services contractor, North Bay Animal Services (NBAS), and to arrange interim shelter and field coverage while the city secures records and completes an assessment.

Assistant City Manager Brian Cochran told the council the city’s existing contract with NBAS covers sheltering and field services for $478,000 a year (about $40,000 per month), and staff had prepared three paths: (1) keep NBAS through July 31 and issue an RFP for a successor; (2) terminate NBAS on a date‑certain (an example date offered was March 31), temporarily close intakes while relocating animals and bring in an interim provider for weeks to months; or (3) terminate and permanently outsource sheltering to a different provider outside Petaluma. “Our goal is to provide a stable, humane, and responsive animal services system that the public can count on,” Cochran said.

Regional humane organizations described proposals and cost estimates. Sonoma County Animal Services offered field‑service…