Animal Care & Services staff presented their annual report and an audit implementation update to the Neighborhood Services & Education Committee, highlighting operational changes and outcome metrics while receiving extensive public testimony asking for faster audit progress, improved protocols, and more accessible spay/neuter services.

ACS said its FY24–25 outcomes included roughly 4,600 adoptions, nearly 3,000 fosters and 1,141 reunifications; staff reported a live‑release rate of 89% overall (95% for dogs, 86% for cats) and described intentional intake reductions (about an 8% decrease) to manage capacity and improve care: the shelter census measured 822 on 6/27/2024 and 408 on 6/27/2025 in a staff snapshot.

Medical and operations staff described clinic activity (TNR trap‑neuter‑return days, owned‑pet low‑cost pilot days) and facility upgrades (improvements to kennels, HVAC and energy systems). Dr. Elizabeth Cather summarized surgical work and the shelter’s trap‑neuter‑return operations, which operate two days per week and process about 35 community‑cat surgeries on typical TNR days.

The presentation and Q&A repeatedly returned to the city auditor’s review and the audit‑response timeline. Staff explained the auditor will adjudicate whether submitted elements are ‘‘implemented’’ and that a March auditor update to council will show which audit recommendations the auditor has accepted. ACS leadership said they expect to submit a large package of audit response materials by the end of the calendar year, with the auditor completing review cycles in early calendar reporting.

Public comment was extensive and sharply critical in places: fosters and volunteers alleged operational failures, inconsistent volunteer and foster engagement, unmet transparency for donated funds, and requested restoration of low‑cost spay/neuter programs; some commenters alleged misconduct by named staff (these claims were presented as public allegations and not adjudicated at the meeting). ACS leadership responded by describing specific operational steps, new tracking tools (rescue portal, volunteer scheduling), clinic day adjustments (owned‑pet low‑cost surgery pilot), and repeatedly pointed to the auditor’s role in validating implemented changes.

The committee unanimously accepted the ACS report and added a friendly amendment asking staff to include an in‑depth financial breakdown in next year’s annual report; staff committed to provide additional financial detail in future reporting and to continue community engagement while completing audit implementation steps.