Animal Control Services
Total Expenses
$2,356,381
6%
1Total Revenues
$0
0%
2General Fund Contribution
$1,356,381
10%
3
District Sales Tax Contribution
$1,000,000
0%
4
Other Fund Contributions
0
0%
5
Funded Staffing
0.00
0.00
6Website
Overview
Mission Statement
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) rescues and assures temporary shelter, veterinary and humane care for approximately 5,000 stray, unwanted, abandoned, mistreated, neglected and injured animals every year. Core services include shelter operations, field services, adoptions, and programs to prevent animal overpopulation and protect against animal and zoonotic disease.Department Overview
This budget provides the funding of the County’s share of costs for the SCCAS. SCCAS was formed in June 2002 and is a Joint Powers Authority serving the County of Santa Cruz, City of Santa Cruz, City of Scotts Valley, City of Watsonville, and City of Capitola. SCCAS provides 24-hour animal rescue and is Santa Cruz County’s only full service, open-admission animal shelter. SCCAS has two locations where people can find and recover lost pets and adopt new animal companions. The primary facility is located on the corner of 7th Avenue and Rodriguez Street in the Live Oak area of the County. The second facility is in the City of Watsonville, on airport property along Airport Boulevard.The two SCCAS locations provide comprehensive care for Santa Cruz County animals in need. Services include adoptions, with online search tools and off-site events, basic and emergency veterinary care, and on-site spay and neuter for adoptable animals, with low-cost services available to qualifying residents. The shelters offer lost and found services, microchipping, feral cat support, dog licensing, and humane education programs. Volunteers assist with adoptions and animal care, while foster programs support animals needing special attention. When necessary, humane euthanasia is provided, as well as protective custody and safekeeping for animals in urgent situations.
SCCAS also provides animal rescue and protection services, which include the emergency rescue of domestic animals in distress, pickup of stray or mistreated animals, and response to injured, sick, or dangerous animals. Field staff also address public safety concerns through rabies control, animal bite response, and cruelty investigations. Officers respond to nuisance complaints such as barking dogs and issue dog licenses in the field. These services ensure community safety while supporting the health and welfare of animals through compassionate, timely, and professional intervention.
Budget Summary
Department Budget Overview
Overall Budget Summary
The Proposed Budget includes total appropriations of $2,356,381, funded by a General Fund Contribution of $1,356,381 and a District Sales Tax Contribution of $1,000,000.The Proposed Budget is a status quo contribution to SCCAS. Should the County’s contribution change following approval of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 budget by the SCCAS Board of Directors, the change will be included in the June 24, 2026, last day or subsequent concluding budget actions.
Emerging Issues
Emerging Issues
Inspection and Licensing: In 2023, inspection and licensing of animal facilities in the unincorporated county area was transferred to Animal Services from Environmental Heath without additional funding. While a program remains to be developed for these services, filling critical vacant administrative positions and a vacant Animal Control Officer (ACO) position will allow staff to focus on development of the inspection and licensing program, including a male game bird licensing program, which will lead to some increase in revenues.
End of Grant Funding: A $200,000 grant from UC Davis Koret School of Shelter Medicine that increased access to spay/neuter in the community over the last two years will end in FY 2026-27. The grant has been used to provide an array of prevention programs, including vaccination and spaying/neutering services by both the shelter and community partners such as Project Purr and Heading Home Rescue. Although the mandatory spay/neuter and feral cat colony ordinances are often credited with preventing burdensome outdoor cat populations, it is the trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) work done by these organizations that has been scientifically proven to have the biggest impact on reducing shelter intake, euthanasia, and negative environmental impacts.
Project Purr Closing: As the grant funding from UC Davis ends, community partner Project Purr will be closing in the near future. Project Purr has provided free TNVR for unsocialized outdoor cats for over 30 years and was primarily funded by a benefit store in Downtown Santa Cruz that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 2026, there is no additional funding after the grant ends and when Project Purr ceases operations. At this time, there is no successor to provide these services after Project Purr closes due to the lack of funding and the controversy surrounding TNVR and the complex questions it raises about animal welfare. This transition poses an opportunity for stakeholders to collaboratively evaluate appropriate care for unsocialized outdoor cats.
End of Grant Funding: A $200,000 grant from UC Davis Koret School of Shelter Medicine that increased access to spay/neuter in the community over the last two years will end in FY 2026-27. The grant has been used to provide an array of prevention programs, including vaccination and spaying/neutering services by both the shelter and community partners such as Project Purr and Heading Home Rescue. Although the mandatory spay/neuter and feral cat colony ordinances are often credited with preventing burdensome outdoor cat populations, it is the trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) work done by these organizations that has been scientifically proven to have the biggest impact on reducing shelter intake, euthanasia, and negative environmental impacts.
Project Purr Closing: As the grant funding from UC Davis ends, community partner Project Purr will be closing in the near future. Project Purr has provided free TNVR for unsocialized outdoor cats for over 30 years and was primarily funded by a benefit store in Downtown Santa Cruz that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 2026, there is no additional funding after the grant ends and when Project Purr ceases operations. At this time, there is no successor to provide these services after Project Purr closes due to the lack of funding and the controversy surrounding TNVR and the complex questions it raises about animal welfare. This transition poses an opportunity for stakeholders to collaboratively evaluate appropriate care for unsocialized outdoor cats.
Department Operations and Performance
Divisions
Services
Animal Control Services
Expenses
$2,356,381
Operational Plan Objectives and Accomplishments
This division supports various department objectives
Completed/Accomplishment
Proposed/In-Progress/Amended
Close
Services
Close
Objective
Major Budget Changes
Divison: Division Name
Sort By Division:
| Major Changes | Net FTE Changes |
2026-27 Ongoing Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
2026-27 One-time Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
Option |
|---|
Budget Details
The charts below show department expenditures and revenues by division and service. Click on the pie charts to drill down for more detail. Complete detail can be found on the County's Transparency Portal.
Expenses by Expense Type
Expenses and Revenues over time
Loading