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Santa Cruz County pledges short-term support as Humane Society signals closure, flags long-term funding gap
Summary
Public commenters and staff told the Board of Supervisors that the county faces an immediate loss of local animal-care capacity after the Humane Society announced a planned shutdown; county staff said they can help with adoption clinics and workforce transition but cannot assume long-term operations now without new funding (estimated at about $360,000/year).
Robin Lucky, president of the Calabasas Alliance, told the county board at its June 17 meeting that the local Humane Society is preparing to close and warned the community will lose much of its veterinary and low-cost animal-care capacity. "We are now going to be without substantial veterinarian animal care services. This is serious," Lucky said, urging a transitional plan and asking whether the county could act as trustee for the nonprofit until space or capacity is created.
County staff described immediate, limited support but said long-term operations would exceed current fiscal capacity. Lieutenant Peña told the board the county would help coordinate adoptions and transfers and work with regional rescue partners, but that running a permanent county-operated animal shelter is not affordable under current expenditure limits: "While the county does not have the fiscal capacity right now to assume long-term operations that is currently estimated at about $360,000 per year," Peña said.
Jose, an animal-control staff member, described operational limits: the department has about five kennels available now and can field adoption clinics and calls to its rescue network. "Right now they have about 35 animals left," Jose said, describing how staff are arranging adoption clinics at retailers and with partner groups.
Board members and the public recommended a two-track response: near-term action to place animals and support workers, and a longer-term funding and facilities plan. County staff and community speakers said Arizona@Work and related dislocated-worker programs are already engaging Humane Society employees to provide transition services and training. The county signaled it will pursue grant opportunities, encourage donations (a public donation fund shown in the meeting exceeded $19,000 at one point), and stage adoption and spay/neuter clinics with volunteer groups.
Supervisors discussed whether capital funding to expand county kennel capacity could be pursued through an increase in the county—'s voter-approved expenditure limit. County staff said hearings on an expenditure-limit increase are scheduled for July 1 and July 8 and that animal-control facility projects are on the candidate project list for voters to consider if the board moves the measure forward.
The board emphasized the need for a concrete short-term plan and a five-month and five-year roadmap, with specific steps to avoid ad hoc solutions. Supervisor comments urged outreach to neighboring jurisdictions with joint agreements (for example, regional models discussed with El Paso) and to recruit or partner with mobile veterinary providers while local veterinarians retire or reduce services.
Next steps: the county will coordinate adoption clinics with rescue partners, continue workforce-transition support through Arizona@Work, keep a public donation channel active, and pursue grant and capital options as staff prepare materials for the July public hearings on the expenditure-limit proposal.
