By Jennifer Sawhney

Petaluma's animal control and shelter services, which have been in turmoil for years and criticized in two Sonoma County Grand Jury reports, are in the process of moving to a new model of operation. Under the proposal, Sonoma County would operate animal control and licensing, while the Humane Society of Sonoma County would operate the city's animal shelter.

In the meantime, the local shelter and most services will be closed for the first half of September as the city transitions to the new providers. Animal control services will still be available by phone.

For the past five months, Marin Humane has operated animal control, licensing, and the animal shelter on an interim basis. City leaders appointed the Marin organization to oversee these services following mounting reports of alleged neglect by the former operator, the nonprofit Petaluma-based North Bay Animal Services.

A troubled history

North Bay, which started operating the shelter and providing animal control services in 2018, was ousted by Petaluma, and several other Sonoma County cities, after the city of Clearlake in Lake County cancelled its own contract with the organization. Clearlake cited conditions of neglect, including severe shelter overcrowding and poor management, in its termination.

The removal of North Bay Animal Services in Petaluma came as local critics cited long-running complaints. In the aftermath, Petaluma city officials said in late July that North Bay sent at least 46 animals to Miranda’s Rescue, a Humboldt County facility where mass dog graves were found. The city has opened investigations into ties to the Humboldt County case.

A new model emerges

A new model for operating the facility is now being tested. Starting this month, Sonoma County Animal Services will operate animal control response and licensing services for Petaluma. Meanwhile, the Humane Society of Sonoma County is expected to take over operations of the Petaluma Animal Shelter, according to city officials.

A milestone for the transition came on Tuesday, Sept. 1, when the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted to allow its animal services department to provide animal control and licensing services for Petaluma. This agreement is expected to return to the Petaluma City Council for ratification at an upcoming meeting.

The city will join a host of other municipalities under the county’s purview for animal services, including unincorporated Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and Windsor. 

Meanwhile, the Humane Society of Sonoma County, a nonprofit that operates campuses in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg, is the only contender in the running to operate Petaluma’s shelter. The Petaluma City Council will vote Sept. 14 on that decision. Should it pass, the Humane Society of Sonoma County will begin operating the city’s Hopper Street shelter the following day, on Sept. 15.

Marin Humane has already begun the transition out of its temporary operation, which included both animal control and shelter services in April.

After the city issued a request for proposals to operate the shelter, Marin Humane opted against submitting one. Nancy McKenney, president and chief operating officer of Marin Humane, said the organization didn’t want to interfere with momentum toward the development of a regional model in Sonoma County for service and sheltering.

“From the start we have been encouraging the county to consider consolidating and centralizing among all the various cities and towns,” McKenney said. Marin Humane also has several projects and needs at its main Novato campus requiring attention.

“We have a lot of confidence in the Humane Society of Sonoma County and Sonoma County Animal Services,” she said. “We have reason to believe they will continue making progress with the program in Petaluma and work hard to build back the trust of the community."

If needed, Marin Humane is close by and just a call away, she added.

Animals transferred during transition

The animals at the Petaluma shelter on Monday, Aug. 31, were transferred to other facilities. The animals will stay, either permanently or temporarily, at their new shelters, according to their needs, a city news release stated.

The city’s agreement with Sonoma County Animal Services, which operates under the county’s Department of Health Services, is slated to cost $505,375 for a period from Sept. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, according to the Board of Supervisor’s agenda. The contract may be renewed for a maximum of two one-year terms through 2029.

The previous North Bay Animal Services contract cost the city approximately $478,200 per year, according to city documents.

During the two-week closure, the city and animal services partners will complete the transition to a new shelter operator. This will include records transfer, documentation of city-owned assets, and care coordination, according to the press release.

Pending the final operating agreement approval, shelter services are expected to resume on Sept. 15. Business services – phone and email support, animal redemptions, volunteer training, and more – will be available Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adoption services will be available Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

The city will share updated information as details are finalized. For the latest information about Petaluma animal and shelter services and the transition between providers, visit cityofpetaluma.org/animalservices.

Jennifer Sawhney is a reporter and co-founder of Petaluma Voice. She can be reached at jsawhney@petalumavoice.org.