Clearlake >> City staff are in the process of purchasing property and constructing a new animal control facility.
“We are planning for the new facility to include a large indoor kennel area, adoption room, office, vet services and surgical area, quarantine section and outdoor play areas and kennels in order to provide outstanding service to the animals and to the community,” said Greg Folsom, Clearlake’s city manager.
After the SPCA of Clear Lake prematurely ended its contract with Clearlake to provide animal control service, city council directed staff to take back the duty. In July 2013, the city of Clearlake began contracting with the SPCA of Clear Lake for all services, such as receiving strays, sick or injured and impounded animals, all boarding and redemptions of animals, adoptions, licensing and veterinary services. Meanwhile the city still continued to provide a field services officer, who worked out of the Clearlake Police Department. The contract with the SPCA was to be in effect thru June 30, but in July 2015, the nonprofit notified the city of Clearlake that it could no longer operate under the agreed upon conditions and was terminating the contract for services effective Oct. 1, 2015.
Until the new facility is constructed, Clearlake is temporarily operating its animal control services out of its prior location off of Old Highway 53. While the temporary facility is not ideal for a long-term solution, the city of Clearlake has invested funds for improvements to ensure the health and well-being of the impounded animals, Folsom said.
Twelve new commercial kennels have been installed and a new sanitation system has been constructed. In addition, there are six outdoor kennels to use. The facility is staffed seven days a week in order to care for the animals, but only open to the public during limited hours and by appointment.
Because the temporary facility is relatively small in size, the city of Clearlake is limited on the number of animals it can hold onto once the legal hold time has been reached. This presents a problem when it comes to adopting out and / or placing animals in other shelters or with other agencies, Folsom said. While the city offers private adoptions and fosters out locally, there is a constant struggle not to exceed available kennel space and to avoid overcrowding. The city is currently looking into working with outside rescue agencies and shelters for placement of impounded and adoptable animals.
“Several agencies have recently offered their support and are understanding of our current situation,” Folsom said.
Even while, on a daily basis, the kennels are at or near 100 percent capacity, the city maintains a relatively low euthanasia rate due to the support of local fosters and adoptions.
Since taking back Animal Control services last October, Clearlake has had a euthanasia rate of approximately 15 percent (October 2015 — December 2015). Primarily this number is driven by the fact that there are a high number of pit bulls impounded by animal control and most of them tend to be unadoptable for various reasons, Folsom said. Historically, the number of impounded animals typically increases over the winter months, which will increase the need for support from outside agencies, rescues and volunteers in order to keep the euthanasia rate low. “
Unfortunately, it’s a challenge to try and find good homes for all the needy animals so we would love to have more people let us know they are interested in adopting a pet,” said Folsom.
While holding capacity is limited with our current, temporary facility, the future is bright for the City of Clearlake Animal Control, he added.
In addition to Animal Control services, the City of Clearlake Animal Control is hoping to offer low-cost spay/neuter, vaccine clinics, over the counter sales, licensing and micro chipping.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, adopting or fostering an animal, or helping in any way, contact the City of Clearlake Animal Control at (707) 994-8251 ext. 118.
