Sacramento Municipal Code Ch. 2.86 City of Sacramento Animal Wellbeing Commission

The City of Sacramento Animal Wellbeing Commission is hereby established. (Ord. 2024-0036 § 1)

The commission is established for the purpose of providing advice and recommendations to the city council on strategies, policies, and programs designed to ensure and enhance animal care services provided by the city. (Ord. 2024-0036 § 1)

The powers and duties of the commission are as follows:

A. Provide recommendations to the city council on strategies, policies, and programs designed to:

1. Assist keeping people and their pets together through such things as reuniting lost pets with their owners, return-to-home and return-to-owner programs, and owner-surrender prevention programs;

2. Provide quality care for the animals housed at the city's animal care services center;

3. Encourage low-cost spay and neuter services, and identify methods for funding those services; and

4. Ensure the city's animal care services center meets or exceeds standards recommended in the Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Care.

B. Promote awareness of:

• 1. Programs at the city's animal care services center;
• 2. Animals available for adoption at the city's animal care services center;
• 3. The importance of spaying and neutering to avoid animal over-population;
• 4. The importance of ensuring pets have appropriate medical care, including vaccines; and
• 5. The animal care services center's volunteer program.

C. Serve as a liaison with the community and provide a forum for public discussion on animal wellbeing and policies relating to animal wellbeing in the city.

D. Advise the city council on city ordinances and state legislation related to animal wellbeing in the city.

E. Annually, report and make recommendations to the city council regarding the status of animal wellbeing strategies, programs, and services in the city and the activities of the commission. (Ord. 2024-0036 § 1)

A. Number of members. The commission has 13 members.

• 1. Each councilmember shall recommend one member for appointment (eight members total);
• 2. The mayor shall recommend two members for appointment; and
• 3. The Personnel and Public Employees Committee shall recommend three members for appointment:

a. One must be currently employed in the operation of an animal shelter, humane society, or academic shelter-medicine program.

b. One must have demonstrated interest and shall be currently serving in a volunteer role at an animal shelter or humane society.

c. One must be at least 16 years old and not older than 22 years old at the time of appointment.

B. Qualifications. In addition to any requirements or restrictions in chapter 2.40:

1. Members must have an expressed interest or demonstrated history of community involvement in animal welfare, operation of an animal welfare center, or animal rescue. (Ord. 2024-0036 § 1)

Unless specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, the provisions of chapter 2.40 apply to the commission and its members. (Ord. 2024-0036 § 1)