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Inland Valley Humane Society outlines services, cites rising calls and high live-release rates
Summary
Nicole Brani, president and CEO of Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA, told the La Verne City Council the shelter has boosted community clinics, mobile veterinary services and foster networks and reported a 92% live-release rate for cats in La Verne in 2024; she asked the city to continue partnership and volunteer support.
Nicole Brani, president and CEO of the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA, told the La Verne City Council on Feb. 18 that her organization is expanding services to keep people with pets, reduce shelter intake and increase live outcomes.
Brani said the nonprofit, which serves several San Gabriel Valley partners, runs managed intake rather than a closed-admissions policy and provides a Pet Pantry, low-cost spay/neuter programs, behavior scholarships and a variety of rehoming tools. "We want to advocate for animals. We want to provide accessibility for pet owners — access to care, access to the ability to adopt," she said.
The presentation included shelter metrics and recent operational changes. Brani said La Verne-specific service calls were lower than regional totals in 2019 but have since risen; in 2024 the organization reported handling roughly 380 animals for La Verne and an organization-wide 14,430 total animals handled. She said La Verne achieved a 92% live-release rate for cats in 2024 and an 86% overall live-release rate for the agency, describing those figures as indicators of community support and successful transfers to adoption partners.
Brani described the shelter's mobile veterinary and spay/neuter programs, including a new mobile sterilization unit planned to enter full operation July 1, and a foster network that handles neonates and other animals requiring intensive care. She also highlighted partnerships with national trainers and foundations for enrichment and behavior work, and said the shelter operates a trap-neuter-vaccinate-release program for community cats with a $70 fee for some services to curb abuse of the program.
Council members asked about event participation, veteran adoption waivers and in-kind donations. Brani said veterans continue to be eligible for waived adoption fees and that the shelter accepts a range of in-kind donations (blankets, leashes, cleaned kennels) and monetary contributions, including vehicle donations and bequests.
The presentation concluded with Brani asking for continued quarterly city-leadership meetings to coordinate services and for volunteers and foster homes ahead of kitten season. The council opened public comment and then moved to the next agenda item.
