HomeMy WebLinkAboutSmith, Ocean_Public Comment – Request for Independent Review of San Bernardino Animal ServicesFrom:Ocean Smith
To:PublicComments; Eric Levitt; D-SBCityClerk; MayorsEvents; Council
Subject:Public Comment – Request for Independent Review of San Bernardino Animal Services
Date:Monday, September 14, 2026 6:53:51 PM
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Mayor Tran and Members of the San Bernardino City Council:
I am submitting this public comment to request an independent review of the management and
practices of the City of San Bernardino Department of Animal Services under Director
Jasmine Glover-McNamara.
I am concerned by reports from animal-welfare advocates and rescue participants regarding
the euthanasia of animals that may have had rescue interest, short medical and behavioral
placement deadlines, limitations on public access to animals reportedly available for adoption,
rescue-access restrictions, veterinary capacity, and the Department’s overall euthanasia
practices.
I want to emphasize that I am not asking the Council to accept social-media allegations as
established fact. I am asking the City to independently determine whether they are true.
I have submitted a California Public Records Act request seeking animal-level euthanasia
data, rescue-placement records, medical and behavioral policies, veterinary staffing
information, capacity information, management communications, complaints, and related
records dating from August 1, 2025 to the present. That request is currently being processed
by the City.
The seriousness of the issues being raised warrants oversight independent of the Department
whose conduct is at issue.
I respectfully request that the City:
1. Initiate an independent review or audit of Animal Services’ euthanasia, rescue-transfer,
medical, behavioral-assessment and population-management practices;
2. Examine allegations that animals available for adoption are being housed in areas
inaccessible to ordinary members of the adopting public;
3. Review cases in which animals were euthanized despite documented rescue, foster or
adoption interest;
4. Review whether medical and behavioral euthanasia decisions are supported by
appropriate veterinary or behavioral assessments;
5. Examine whether rescue organizations, volunteers or advocates have been restricted
from accessing the shelter and the reasons for those restrictions;
6. Require publication of meaningful monthly statistics showing intake, adoption, return-
to-owner, rescue transfer, euthanasia and the reasons for euthanasia;
7. Ensure that relevant records are preserved while these matters and my pending Public
Records Act request are reviewed; and
8. Direct the City Manager to evaluate the performance and continued leadership of the
Animal Services Director based upon the findings of that independent review and to
take appropriate personnel or corrective action if substantial management failures or
legal noncompliance are established.
This should not be treated as a dispute between shelter management and animal advocates.
The central question is whether animals entrusted to the City are receiving the protections,
opportunities for placement, medical attention and humane treatment required by California
law and City policy.
If the allegations are unfounded, an independent review can establish that. If they are
substantiated, the City should identify what went wrong, protect animals currently in its
custody, and hold the appropriate decision-makers accountable.
I respectfully ask that this matter be referred for independent review and appropriate Council
oversight.
Thank you for your consideration.
Ocean Smith