Animal control could soon become a multi-agency effort.
San Joaquin County is taking the lead with cities in exploring what would essentially be a one-stop shopping for neutering and spaying by having a centralized location where those adopting pets can work with veterinarians to have dogs and cats that they are adopting fixed.
It could also involve other joint efforts designed at improving service and efficiency while reducing costs.
Part of the process is taking an approach to operate animal shelters with the help of volunteers from groups dedicated to pets.
The potential to find a better way to operate animal services prompted the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Wednesday to hold off on making what have been described as ”deep” cuts to county animal control services.
City Manager Steve Pinkerton confirmed Manteca is weighing possible options that the county is studying.
Manteca already operates its shelter on Wetmore Street jointly with the City of Lathrop.
The working partnership with Lathrop was brought up at Tuesday’s council meeting on the budget when Councilman Steve DeBrum questioned why the city is continuing to allow Lathrop to have stray animals they pick up and take to the Wetmore location fill up 25 percent of the space and staff time if they are only paying for 17 percent of the overall cost.
The issue of Lathrop using more services at the animal shelter than they are paying for was brought up last year.
Lathrop maintains its own animal control services truck and staff for handling stray pet complaints within its city limits.
San Joaquin County is taking the lead with cities in exploring what would essentially be a one-stop shopping for neutering and spaying by having a centralized location where those adopting pets can work with veterinarians to have dogs and cats that they are adopting fixed.
It could also involve other joint efforts designed at improving service and efficiency while reducing costs.
Part of the process is taking an approach to operate animal shelters with the help of volunteers from groups dedicated to pets.
The potential to find a better way to operate animal services prompted the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Wednesday to hold off on making what have been described as ”deep” cuts to county animal control services.
City Manager Steve Pinkerton confirmed Manteca is weighing possible options that the county is studying.
Manteca already operates its shelter on Wetmore Street jointly with the City of Lathrop.
The working partnership with Lathrop was brought up at Tuesday’s council meeting on the budget when Councilman Steve DeBrum questioned why the city is continuing to allow Lathrop to have stray animals they pick up and take to the Wetmore location fill up 25 percent of the space and staff time if they are only paying for 17 percent of the overall cost.
The issue of Lathrop using more services at the animal shelter than they are paying for was brought up last year.
Lathrop maintains its own animal control services truck and staff for handling stray pet complaints within its city limits.
