PRESS RELEASE

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine’s Animal Care Services Bureau (ACS) attained a downward trend in euthanasia and impounds in 2018. The Bureau is positioned to achieve even more positive results in 2019 through its progressive programs to support shelter animals and continued improvements in performance measures over the last ten years. Rescue groups including spcaLA, Friends of Long Beach Animals, Stray Cat Alliance, Little Lion Foundation, Helen Sanders Cat PAWS, Fix Long Beach, Pet Food Express, Adopt and Shop and dozens more also helped to support ACS and contribute to these statistics.

“We are proud of Animal Care Services staff, the numerous rescue and animal advocacy organizations, and our volunteers for their hard work and commitment to improving outcomes for shelter animals," said Mayor Robert Garcia. “Several initiatives will support even stronger results in 2019, including the development of a strategic plan for the organization, recommendations from the new Animal Care Visioning Task Force, implementing audit recommendations and increased staffing.”

ACS continues its 10-year trend of increasingly positive results for shelter animals:

• From 2017 to 2018, ACS decreased the number of animal impounds by 13.2%.
• Total euthanasia was reduced by 6.7% in 2018 from the year before.
• Adoption numbers were strong. In addition to the over 2,200 animals taken by the spcaLA and local rescue groups, an additional 686 were adopted directly from the ACS operated shelter.

New ACS Manager Announcement

Staycee R. Dains will be the new Manager of the City’s Animal Care Services Bureau. Ms. Dains comes to Long Beach from the City of San Jose where she has been the Shelter Operations Supervisor for the past ten years and oversaw a staff of 100. During her time with the City of San Jose, a few of Ms. Dains accomplishments include:

• Abolishing breed discriminatory practices.
• Handling 2,500 shelter neuter returns annually (capture, neuter and return to outdoor home); rescued intake by 1,000 cats/kittens over four years.
• Establishing kinder dog evaluation process which eliminated euthanasia for 400 fearful dogs.
• Providing free spay and neuter for Chihuahuas from highest intake areas resulting in a five percent decline in Chihuahua intakes per year, between 2013 and 2018.
• Establishing a foster care program for kittens resulting in an increase in lives saved from less than 100 kittens per year to nearly 600 as of July 2018.

"I was very impressed with the level of experience Ms. Dains will bring to Long Beach,” said Gerardo Mouet, Director of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine. “As the top candidate in the nationwide recruitment for the City's Animal Care Services Manager position, she will help us take the next steps toward further progress in this important public service."

Ms. Dains will be responsible for all operational aspects of the Animal Care Services Bureau as well as working with the Mayor's Animal Care Visioning Task Force and the new Long Beach Animal Care Services Strategic Plan to move the Bureau forward in implementing the recommendations of a recent City Auditor Services Review. “I am excited to start working with the City of Long Beach and to get to know the staff and community,” said Staycee. “I look forward to working collaboratively to develop programs that will protect the public and save the lives of animals.”

New Full-Time Vet and Full-Time Adoption/Volunteer Coordinator

Medical services for shelter animals will be improved through the addition of a full-time veterinarian position. The addition of another full-time Adoption/Volunteer Coordinator will help to increase the animal adoption and volunteer programs as a further investment to improve the live release rate for 2019.

Launch of ACS Strategic Plan

JVR Shelter Strategies, LLD (JVR) has been selected to guide the creation of the Long Beach Animal Care Services Strategic Plan to provide a clear vision and direction for the organization and to develop procedures to guide the operations and management of the shelter. JVR is a leading shelter consulting firm with expertise in developing operating processes for animal welfare organizations and helping them to achieve goals. Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson, DVM, a Principal Consultant for JVR will lead the effort in close partnership with the City’s Parks, Recreation and Marine director, the Animal Care Services Bureau manager, and members of the Animal Care Services Bureau leadership team. The group will move forward with input from the Mayor’s Animal Care Visioning Task Force. Dr. Robertson’s expertise as a veterinarian and shelter medicine specialist has led to her current focus on the creation of efficient processes, improving organizational structure, and enriched facility design to minimize animal stress and improve animal health.

Animal Care Visioning Task Force Co-Chairs Named

The Mayor’s Animal Care Visioning Task Force began meeting in September 2018 to provide input on Animal Care Services operations and goals. Two co-chairs will lead the work of the 20-member task force. Herlinda Chico has 20 years of legislative and public affairs experience working in local government. She is a Field Deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and serves the cities of Avalon, Catalina Island, Long Beach and Signal Hill. Carina Cristiano is an Account Executive with American Home Shield home warranty company. She has been an animal advocate for over 30 years, and has organized fundraisers for the ACS shelter and Friends of Long Beach Animals, and used her extensive marketing skills to raise funds for pet adoption programs.

About the City of Long Beach

Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine

Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) is recognized for excellence in management practices and programs, having received the National Parks and Recreation Association Gold Medal Award four times. PRM provides leisure programs and services to residents and visitors, which improve the quality of life in Long Beach. PRM maintains 171 parks with 26 community centers, 320 acres of open space, and 6.1 miles of beaches; implements the City's Open Space Plan, provides recreational opportunities to meet diverse community needs, maintains public marinas, and provides for public safety and the humane treatment of animals.

For more information about the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine, visit http://www.longbeach.gov/park. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Long Beach Animal Care Services

The goal of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) is to make Long Beach the safest large city in California for people and animals through the promotion of responsible pet ownership and recreation. ACS serves 600,000 residents and pets in the Cities of Long Beach, Cerritos, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, and Signal Hill.

Visit Animal Care Services at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village (Village) to adopt, volunteer, donate, license your pet or obtain resources regarding low-cost vaccination and spay/neuter clinics throughout the City. ACS is located at 7700 East Spring Street in Long Beach. The Village is open Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays. For more information, please visit www.LongBeachAnimalCare.com.