San Jacinto will switch from Riverside County to the Ramona Humane Society for animal services in May, following City Council approval last week.
"They're excited to get into this new adventure," Humane Society Executive Director Jeff Sheppard said Monday of his board of directors.
The city's attorney has sent a letter giving notice to the county. The nonprofit Humane Society will take over service May 18, Interim City Manager Tim Hults wrote in an e-mail.
The Humane Society, based in San Jacinto, also has submitted a bid to the city of Hemet, which currently has a contract with Riverside County.
Ramona has sheltered animals from San Jacinto and Hemet and the unincorporated area for years, but this will be its first venture into providing an animal control officer and vehicle for field services
The council members cited lower costs and an expectation of better service because Ramona is headquartered in the city.
The Humane Society proposed providing field and shelter services for about $194,838 for fiscal 2010-11. The county proposed a $515,264 contract but if the city agreed to a three-year deal, the initial rate would be $313,819, increasing in subsequent years.
The county, which has used the Humane Society for shelter services for years, is opening a new shelter around the corner from the Humane Society shelter in San Jacinto in July. If the city stayed with a county contract, it would have to use the county shelter.
Riverside County Animal Services officials attributed part of the higher cost to operating the new building.
Hults told the council his recommendation to contract with the Humane Society was made to keep costs down. He said he had no complaints about the county service.
The city paid for the services of a full-time county animal services officer. But two council members at the meeting said they didn't see the officer in town that often. "Every once in a while you see them, and then you don't," said Councilman John Mansperger. Of Sheppard, he said, "We know how to contact him" if there are service issues.
"No one has sent us e-mail or correspondence," about any service complaints, said John Welsh, county Animal Services Department spokesman, by phone. If there were specific complaints, the county could follow up, he said. He noted that some county animal services officers live in the city.
A number of Humane Society supporters addressed the council. "We're local people. You know us. If there is a problem, we'll fix it," said Connie Hall, a member of the group's board.
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