Fight budget cuts. Justify every dollar. Stretch resources further than you think they can possibly go. Does this feel like your job description? If you’re ready for a conversation that celebrates shelter teams’ resourcefulness and get-it-done dedication and offers concrete strategies for financial sustainability, this All Call is for you.
Whether rural or urban, big or small, shelters face the constant challenge of balancing budgets, while maintaining humane care and meeting expectations for positive outcomes and services. Early in the summer, we explored the HASS budget calculator as one tool for addressing the persistent underfunding of animal services. We closed out August with this panel on municipal shelter budgets moderated by California Outreach Specialist Ivy Ruiz, RVT, who managed Visalia Animal Services prior to joining the KSMP team. She was joined by Alma Torres (Director, Fresno Animal Center), Christine McClintock (Animal Care Center Manager, Tehama County Animal Care Center), and Kris Watson (Director, City of San Bernardino Animal Services), all colleagues with expertise in finessing finances at municipal shelters.
Here are just a few of the many insights out of Fresno, Tehama County, and San Bernardino:
- Data is your compass: Understanding your shelter’s specific needs and costs through data analysis is crucial for effective case-making to city officials and planning for unanticipated intake spikes.
- Tell a strong story: Whether talking to community members or electeds, communicating the impact of underfunding on animal care and operations can help secure support and allies. For city leaders, center the opportunity cost of a potential cut and make clear the impact on efficiency, staff safety, and community. For community members, stay grounded in relatable examples—like how rising veterinary costs are affecting shelters and pet owners alike.
- Get creative and team up: Each shelter leader detailed how they supplement their budget, from grants, donations, and contracts with neighboring cities and counties, to cultivating community partnerships that maximize veterinary care capacity and reduce costs or assist pet owners with redemption fees. They also emphasized that we can be one another’s best resources, whether it’s by swapping contract samples and advice or getting together to tackle a repair in-house. “You forget how creative shelter staff are!” Kris said.
- Contract design matters: Christine shared why she’d never consider a per animal contract again, and how she landed on a model that works for her shelter. For more on weighing contractual models, from flat rate to per animal or per capita, check out the Maddie’s Community Conversation Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation.
