Clearlake city manager explains animal control plans; city seeks volunteers, foster homes

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake has plans to offer improved and expanded animal control services to the community, and as it works to achieve those goals it's seeking community volunteers and those willing to foster animals.

The update on the animal control situation from Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom comes a week after the SPCA of Clear Lake – located in Kelseyville – announced it was closing its shelter Jan. 30 and was immediately ceasing intake of animals.

The SPCA had formerly provided animal control services for the city of Clearlake, as Lake County News has reported.

In July 2013, the city of Clearlake began contracting with the SPCA of Clear Lake for animal control services, Folsom said. This included all services, such as receiving strays, sick or injured and impounded animals, all boarding and redemptions of animals, adoptions, licensing, and veterinary services.

The city of Clearlake still continued to provide a field services officer, who worked out of the Clearlake Police Department, Folsom explained.

The contract with the SPCA of Clear Lake was to be in effect through June 30, 2016. However, in July 2015, the SPCA of Clear Lake 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, as Lake County News has reported.

After receiving the SPCA's notice, Folsom said city staff immediately began looking into options for animal control services.

After weighing all viable options, the Clearlake City Council directed staff to take back the duty to provide all animal control services to the residents of the city of Clearlake with a plan of, in the near future, purchasing property and constructing a new animal control facility. Folsom said the city is currently in the process of implementing that plan.

Until the new facility is constructed, the city of Clearlake is temporarily operating its animal control services out of its prior location off of Old Highway 53.

Animals available for adoption at the facility are listed on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Clearlake-Animal-Control-957600030949601/?fref=ts or at www.adoptapet.com by searching for “Clearlake Animal Control.”

While Folsom acknowledged the temporary facility is not ideal for a long-term solution, he said the city of Clearlake has invested funds for improvement of this facility to ensure the health and well-being of the impounded animals.

Twelve new commercial kennels have been installed and a new sanitation system has been constructed, he said.

In addition to the 12 indoor kennels, there are six outdoor kennels to utilize. Folsom said 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, Folsom said.

He said the facility's size presents a problem when it comes to adopting out and placing animals in other shelters or with other agencies.

While the city offers private adoptions and fosters out locally, Folsom said there is a constant struggle not to exceed available kennel space and to avoid overcrowding.

The city of Clearlake 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 the current situation, he added.

While the kennels are at or near 100-percent capacity on a daily basis, Folsom said the city is maintaining a relatively low euthanasia rate due to the support of local fosters and adoptions.

Since taking back animal control services last October, the city of Clearlake has had a euthanasia rate of approximately 15 percent through the end of December, Folsom said.

This number primarily is driven by the high number of pit bulls impounded by the city's animal control and most of them tend to be unadoptable for various reasons, he said.

Historically, the number of impounded animals typically rises over the winter months, which Folsom said 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 the current, temporary facility, Folsom said the future is bright for the city of Clearlake's animal control operations.

“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,” he said.

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 microchipping, and more, he said.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer, adopting or fostering an animal, or helping in any way, is asked to contact the city of Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8251, Extension 118.