Derry Touts Board of Supervisors Ok of Advisory Board for Animal Services

The county supervisor for Redlands and Loma Linda on Tuesday touted the approval of an ordinance to establish an Animal Services Commission.

Third District Supervisor Neil Derry proposed the ordinance and the Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance on a 4-1 vote, with Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales opposing, according to Derry's staff.

The Animal Services Commission will serve as an advisory body for San Bernardino County's animal care facilities.

Derry presented the issue on March 13 to address public complaints about management of county animal care facilities, according to Derry's staff.

"By incorporating a citizen oversight component we will be able to clearly shed light on any issues that may exist, evaluate areas that could be improved upon, and work to implement life affirming alternatives to the euthanization of healthy pets," Derry said in a statement.

The commission is intended to "act as the eyes and ears to the Board and provide a medium to engage the public in a transparent process to remove some of the dangers and nuisances of irresponsible pet ownership while humanely reducing the number of abandoned and euthanized pets," according to Derry's staff.

The seven-member panel will include a citizen representative from each Supervisorial District, an independent veterinarian representative, and a representative from the Department of Public Health's Animal Care & Control Division, according to Derry's staff.

Commissioners will be unpaid volunteers. The county anticipates staff costs will total $12,000 annually.

"Although there is a small cost to establish this commission, encouraging public interaction and making sure the public is informed about county services and events is worth so much more," Derry said. "The citizenry will now have a forum where they can begin a dialogue to discuss issues, present new ideas and, perhaps, even partner with animal activist groups to write grants that could open up new opportunities for the county that would otherwise not exist."

The ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors includes a sunset clause that will terminate the agency in two years unless it is reauthorized by the Board, according to Derry's staff.