LAKEPORT >> A status report on the Lake County Animal Shelter was presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
In the fall, public hours were reduced to 8 a.m. To 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. To 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
“This was done to allow shelter staff uninterrupted time to feed, clean, and care for the animals in our facility … until such time as adequate funding could be establish to add additional 900 hour employees.,” Lake County Animal Care and Control Director William Davidson said.
The change in hours has “significantly improved” the situation, allow for an increase in the animal shelter’s staff.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown asked Davidson about using inmate laborers at the facility.
Davidson said he met with Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Greg Hosman to discuss the shelter’s eligibility.
“We are not eligible for inmate labor,” Davidson said. “Due to prop 47, the classification of inmates that are being release for work duty are a higher class.”
Additionally, the introduction of the medical clinic at the Animal Shelter limits the department’s eligibility.
“We have needles and syringes in every room, we have an assortment of drugs that are available,” Davidson said. Drugs used at the shelter include morphine and diazepam.
Finally, the lack of direct supervision required is not available.
“We can’t watch these inmates every second of the day and there is going to be opportunities for them to be alone,” Davidson said.
Brown said being ineligible for inmate labor “is unfortunate … we spend millions and millions of dollars to relocate it out there, was largely because of the availability of inmate workers.”
Sheriff Brian Martin said the biggest issue is the storage of the medical supplies. Martin added he would be happy to revisit the issue, as long the drugs are not available to inmates.
Another option can be the use of inmates on probation.
Jim Steele asked if an evaluation to remedy the situation was held. Davidson said he and Hosman had not discussed it.
“It’s something we have to do, that’s the whole reason that shelter is there,” District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said.
The issue will be brought back to the board at its March 3 meeting, to allow time for Davidson and Hosman to evaluate how the facility can become eligible for inmate labor as well as discuss additional options. One option mentioned during the report involved using people on probation to staff the facility.
Prior to building the medical clinic, the shelter quit using inmates labor, so it was not a concern before, according to Davidson.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
