Neighbor News
OC Cities are Badly Served by OC Animal Services. Is Reform Possible?
Yes, reform is possible. There are other entities (such as nonprofits) who can manage better than bureaucrats and the inept director.
I invite you to view my latest Community Opinion in the Voice of OC. It concerns the OC Animal Care (OCAC) charges billed to cities in FY 2024. And why the cities owe it to their citizens to put an end to the shelter’s mismanagement. These contracts expire on May 30, 2026. What are the cities going to do afterwards? They need to consider multiple options. If the cities do nothing, they’ll be at the mercy of the county. The county is exploiting the cities, running a mediocre shelter and feeding its bureaucracy with the cities’ dollars.
Please as a resident of Orange County, send a message to your city officials:
- Ask them to ask the county to put the shelter operations out to bid. Non-profits can then bid to offer superior services at a lower price.
- If the county refuses, the cities should look for local non-profits that can provide these services to the city.
Jackie Lamirande is an Orange County resident. For over 30 years she has served multiple animal welfare organizations (municipal shelters and non-profits) across the country, including staff Director of Volunteer Services, volunteer foster care administrator, and a member of the Board of Directors. She is a former volunteer at Orange County Animal Care (OCAC).
