HomeMy WebLinkAboutBetit, Cecile_Thoughts about the City of San Bernardino Animal Services _RedactedFrom:
To:publicomments@sbcity.org
Cc:Kristine Watson; sbrescue@sbc.org; D-SBCityClerk; Council
Subject:Thoughts about the City of San Bernardino Animal Services
Date:Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:39:08 PM
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Good afternoon Leaders for the City of San Bernardino and its Animal Services:
How can the City of San Bernardino Animal Services see itself and be seen in public service for the
animals and the community? Few decisions seem anchored in a rationale of well-being for the
animals or for the future efforts of the city.
A FEW IDEAS FOR IMPROVING THE STATUS QUO:
Design rules to encourage connection with CSBAS: Presently, rules seem designed to
establish distance from those who seek to help the animals and the shelter, for example,
asking about only one animal per call.
Prompter direct response for those seeking to save dogs within the constraints of the
euthanasia emergencies would be helpful. The shelter has improved in providing information
to rescues and those interested in dogs.
Provide adequate nutrition: Not feeding dogs enough continues to be a serious issue. Anyone
with dog experience would predict that dogs—particularly unneutered ones would fight over
food. In SB, they are then killed for the altercation.
Soothe rather than isolate frightened dogs: They continue to be put in isolation where there is
no effort to comfort and reassure.
Stop the death camp syndrome permeating CSBAS: The turnaround between arrival and
death for some dogs seems established as they walk through the door. With so little time, it
becomes more important for those looking for their dogs to see them. Where can the people
of San Bernardino and the contracting cities see all the euth listed in one place—by date
and time?
Open other avenues for saving dogs: Sadly, in spite of a new locale, dogs continue to be killed.
Give the dogs better PR: Photos and videos are the public relations tools that help dogs leave
the CSBAS shelter alive. For years, staff has been asked for good photos and videos. At one
time, this need was partly met through the play groups videos. With the diseases that seem
to be recycling through the shelter, as a safety precaution, playgroups are not scheduled. Few
staff efforts and provisions have been made for photos and videos to encourage owners to
see their dogs and for rescues and adopters to choose a dog.
Vaccinate for parvo and distemper: Parvo and distemper are rampant. Are vaccines being
given to those entering CSBAS in a way that supports the well-being of the dogs and the
reduction of the illnesses or are the decisions made with budget as the priority. Long-timers
should have been vaccinated at entrance and yet some are killed when exposed to parvo or
distemper. As I write, a CSBAS long-timer who was vaccinated upon entrance and given a
booster, is said to have tested positive for distemper. Where do we look for the miss here?
Will this wonderful dog, be given the opportunity for quarantine or she will be one of the
statistics killed and thrown away? We will know the answer to that soon.
Maintain cleanliness and hygienic standards: The shelter’s efforts must be increased for
sanitation and cleanliness to reduce the recycling of the infections.
CSBAS must make every effort to have a veterinarian:
With five per diem veterinarians on staff, one might logically expect, they would have
already put their heads together for a strategy to alleviate the distemper and parvo
outbreaks. We are not hearing that they have.
Without a vet, dogs are just being recycled to breed and die at CSBAS. The overflow of
puppies that are coming in now, were parented by dogs not spayed or neutered in the
past. As I write, I see 189 puppies listed—11 months or younger; these are 43 % of the
440 dogs. We have no way of knowing that dogs leaving today as adoption pending will
be spayed or neutered before breeding.
The nearly daily killing of healthy dogs is certainly not a sign of skill, good management
or humanitarian high values. The rampant diseases, the fighting for food reflect a
certain lack of care in sanitation, nutrition and overall animal wellbeing. The numbers
of these killings with so many minor indications for them are an offense toward the
whole mission and purpose of sheltering.
Management and administration without a veterinarian can only go so far. The staff
overconfidence in this matter is hard to understand. It is time to activate the high
paying salaried staff to find a veterinarian to serve the City of San Bernardino’s Animal
Services. What we are reading about the per diem vets is a good direction, though very
limited service (with 440 plus dogs in house, 261 spays and neuters in a month may
reduce but will not shift the balance of the problem.) Rabies vaccine is still not
administered through CSBAS. Even within the last few days, a rescue was told that
because there was no veterinarian on board, a dog could not have a rabies vaccine shot
at the shelter. Perhaps having a leadership decision-making position might encourage
a veterinarian to apply. Focus must be on having one and certainly spaying and
neutering every dog that leaves the shelter. Please stop the excuses and let us begin to
see real care for animals.
INVOLVE THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AND ITS CONTRACTING CITIES (and perhaps the
region) to talk through:
What can be done to facilitate the return home of animals lost or stray?
What can be done to follow-up with adopters? How can there be better vetting?
Should photos be taken of adopters and their dogs?
What can be done to facilitate shifts in relationships with rescues in Southern
California? With so many dogs, with so much money on the table, there is an untenable
and unsustainable mix among overwhelm, incompetence and greed.
New bases for follow-up for the care of animals need to be developed. This may be a
timely moment to discuss licensing for set standards to be administered through peer
volunteers, their design and implementation for the well-being of animals.
The well-being of animals in care must be a priority concern. Their lives are important to them, to us
and to the overall wellbeing of the City of San Bernardino community.
Please know that I am happy to answer questions.
Best wishes,
Cecile Betit
Cecile G. Betit PhD
Independent Researcher
Member, SBC Networker Team since 2016