San Jose to audit its animal shelter after criticism over death rate and care conditions

In the wake of growing community concerns and a about the dire situation at San Jose’s animal shelter, the city formally launched an audit on Wednesday of the facility’s operations and conditions. The audit, which was unanimously approved by the Rules and Open Government Committee, the number of animals leaving the shelter alive versus being euthanized, staff protocols for medical care and training, and whether the facility’s nearly two-decade-old building is serving its animals adequately. The nature of the shelter’s relationship with volunteers and rescue groups also will be scrutinized.

Mayor Matt Mahan, along with Councilmembers Rosemary Kamei, Omar Torres, Peter Ortiz and Bien Doan, are urging the City Auditor Joe Rois to focus on starting an audit “in the coming months. ” “We recognize that the auditor does have a full platter already,” said Councilmember Kamei. “This is a high priority.

” In September, eight veterinarians, rescue partners and volunteers said in interviews with The Mercury News that the shelter’s cats were not receiving adequate medical care. According to data provided by the shelter, the number of cats leaving the shelter alive — known as the live-release rate — has dropped from 90% in 2020 to 75% this year. The figures place the facility below the generally agreed-upon 90% “no-kill” threshold.

In one instance this year, a cat was found on the verge of death in its kennel before a rescue group intervened, medical records and photographs show. In another case, a cat was put up for adoption with a broken hip, though no x-rays were ever taken. “So many people have been meeting with shelter management and city personnel for over a year and a half now,” said Jennifer Flick, who leads a local cat rescue and has been urging the city to improve its animal shelter operations.

“Getting someone else’s eyes on this has value because the data keeps showing that things are going in a negative direction. ” The shelter’s director Jay Terrado maintains that sufficient medical care is being provided, but acknowledged the facility is facing challenges. The live-release rate has dropped, he says, because the population of animals entering the facility are coming in with more challenging health issues.

He also said the pandemic has exacerbated staffing issues and hampered spay and neuter services, which has caused an explosion of animals in the region. In May, the shelter reached a record high of 900 animals inside its doors. The facility was meant to hold about 500.

In a statement, Terrado said he is in “full agreement” with the launch of the audit. “The primary objective of Animal Care and Services is to provide a welcoming and humane place for animals and those who care for them,” he wrote. The last time the city ran an internal audit on the animal shelter was in 2009.

Rebekah Davis-Matthews, a former staff member at the shelter, said she has been calling for an audit since December 2022, when the shelter’s leadership presented an update on its operations to councilmembers. About a year ago, she helped form a group called “Sustain Our Shelters,” which helps provide support to South Bay animal shelters. “It’s a crisis situation,” said Davis-Matthews about San Jose’s shelter.

“It’s an emergency. It feels like they’re dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s, but not doing anything further. They’re not changing things.

” She said she favors the audit but hopes the shelter follows through when recommendations are offered. “I fear it’s going to be a lot of work and then they’re not going to do anything,” she said. As part of its yearly budget proposal, the City Council in June passed an extra $1.

3 million for San Jose’s shelter, raising the budget to $12. 1 million. The staff has added additional veterinarians and will be using the increased funding for night shift staffing and infrastructure improvements, according to budget documents.

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