Lack of animal control officers is leading to more strays in Monterey County
Monterey County has just two current animal control officers to respond to the entire county. The counties animal services department says about 10 years ago they had 10 animal control officers.
Only having two officers means not every call to pick up a stray or a response to animal bites that need a rabies quarantine can be answered.
“How do we physically get there? Monterey is a very big county. If we get a call in north county and then a similar one in south county it really becomes how do we get there,” Monterey County animal services administrator Cindy Burnham said.
Rural parts of Monterey County are the main source of stray animals. In just the last few weeks Prunedale residents have taken to Facebook posting several pictures of animals they’ve seen roaming the streets.
Budget cuts in the county has diminished part of the funding in the animal services department, but there are still two positions that have funding that have yet to be filled.
“We’ve been working to fill that but it takes time,” Burnham said.
Animal advocates worry since these positions haven’t been filled for nearly nine months they never will be.
“Why would we believe the health departments going to fill the positions this year when they’re expecting a multi million dollar budget deficit when they didn’t fill them this year,” animal advocate Rhonda Somerton said.
About a decade ago the county had 10 animal
“We have an authorized four do i think we could staff double that yes,” Burnham said. “It means we’re very limited in the services we can provide to the public it’s not a situation we want to be in.”
The lack of officers means animal services is asking residents to help bring animals in when they can’t respond, which Somerton says is unacceptable.
“Every animal lover should today pick up the phone and write a letter and make calls to the board of supervisors. What happened last year when we were led to believe these positions were all funded,” Somerton said.
Burnham says they plan on filling the two positions in the next couple months. Animal services does fall under the health departments budget, but ultimately more funding for the department comes from a decision by the board of supervisors.
