Fresno County Announces Temporary Solution for Animal Control

September 28, 2012 Updated Sep 28, 2012 at 6:49 PM PDT

Both the city and county are moving ahead with temporary solutions, but a long-term answer could be up to voters.

The City of Fresno announced Thursday it's intentions to continue working with the SPCA for the time-being, extending its contract beyond October 1st.

The SPCA says details of the extension are still being worked out.

But the city began moving towards that extension last week, and supervisors say it left Fresno county feeling a little high and dry.

The city and county are on different paths here, but it might not be for long.

Henry Perea, Fresno County Vice Chair: "I think at some point, they will merge back with the county to have a discussion of how to provide animal control services, in a more cost-effective, no-kill way in Fresno County."

Tuesday, the county approved an agreement with liberty animal control services for one year, effective October 1st, with the old coroner's office serving as a shelter.

This new agreement will cost the county about $750,000 a year.

It was $1 million a year to work with the SPCA.

Officials there agree a long term solution is needed, but that the answer lies in prevention.

Beth Caffrey, SPCA Spokesperson: "The preventative for all the issues we face with animal control, animal sheltering of any kind is the fact that we need to have a higher volume of spaying and neutering."

While the city continues to hammer out its own long-term answer, the county is proposing a ballot initiative, but it would be for 2014.

The SPCA has its own ideas for an initiative.

Caffrey: "If a measure is put forward, that measure really needs to be for spay and neuter funding."

The proposal Fresno County Vice Chair Henry Perea is talking about would have voters decide on funding for a new, state of the art, no-kill facility, which would be built at Herndon and Highway 99.

It's at least three years away, but the end result is a common goal among city and county leaders.

Perea: "Rescuing animals, placing them in good homes, which in turn, minimizes the need to euthanize animals."

With the city and county going their separate ways on animal control services, at least temporarily, the concern now is service in areas with county islands.

The SPCA will still be there as a resource for the community, but says calls from county residents will be referred to county officials.

Supervisor Perea's son, Assembly Member Henry T. Perea, is working on animal control at the state level.

He's set to propose legislation in January that calls for an Animal Control Authority, which would run independently of the city and county.