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In the FY 2020-21 budget, Governor Newsom proposed $50 million in one-time General Fund dollars for the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program to develop a program that provides expertise, support, and local assistance grants over a five-year period to help local communities achieve the state’s policy goal that no adoptable or treatable dog or cat should be euthanized.
Because of the enormous changes forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor scaled back his plan while showing his continued commitment to the goal with a $5 million allotment for a two-year pilot project funded in April, 2021. Governor Newsom’s proposed augmentation of $45M in May was signed into law on July 27, 2021. For more information on the trailer bill language and history of this proposal, see Governor Newsom Proposes $50M Investment to Help California’s Homeless Animals, posted January 10, 2020.
In 1998, SB 1785 (Hayden’s Law) established a state policy that no adoptable or treatable dog or cat be euthanized at an animal shelter. At the time of signage, California shelters euthanized an estimated 531,000 dogs and cats.
While progress has been made, in 2018 California still euthanized ~ 180,000 animals, almost 500 dogs and cats each day. While some of those may be owner-requested or to relieve irremediable suffering, we know we can do better.
The UCD-KSMP team of veterinary shelter medicine experts is trained to approach shelter assessments holistically, taking into account community capacity, partnerships, local ordinances, and the overall culture of an organization and its board (when applicable), while simultaneously pinpointing specific bottlenecks presented in a shelter’s practices that, if relieved, immediately improve both efficiency and lifesaving results.
The recommendations made by KSMP will be focused on high-impact, limited-term investments that result in sustainable gains by
This program is only one step in reaching the state’s goal. The KSMP is committed to examining ways to leverage this initiative to attract other support. The KSMP also commits to working with stakeholders across the state to develop programming, procedures, and accountability measures.
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Keep up-to-date on everything going on in the California for All Animals program, including new grants and courses.
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