Politics & Government

Animal Control Costs Unfairly Distributed, City Officials Argue

The more animals a city has coming into the shelter, the bigger the payout for that city.

The way in which southwest Riverside County cities divvy up costs for animal control services administered out of Wildomar was a top discussion item Wednesday during the annual meeting of the Southwest Communities Finance Authority at

The cities of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar want to see animal control costs shared more equally; Murrieta and Temecula are content with the ways things are.

Southwest Communities Animal Shelter/Animal Friends of the Valleys in Wildomar is a shared facility among cities that include Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Temecula, Murrieta, Canyon Lake and Menifee. The facility opened in 2010 as a result of a $15 million bond measure and is overseen by the Southwest Communities Finance Authority, which in turn is led by officials from the cities.

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Per the current contract agreement among the cities, the cost sharing of annual operating expenses and paying off the bond for the shelter is based on animal counts: The more animals a city has coming into the shelter, the bigger the payout for that city.

Lake Elsinore and Wildomar are the top contributors to the shelter's animal counts, according to Kristine Anderson, president of Animal Friends of the Valleys' board of directors. ( to read more about that story.)

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Lake Elsinore Mayor Brian Tisdale sits on the Southwest Communities Finance Authority board. Wednesday he said Lake Elsinore’s proximity to the shelter is a factor in the unwanted pet population from his city, and he urged reconsideration of the current agreement.

“When the shelter was in Lake Elsinore, the (animal) counts were higher,” he argued, noting that prior to the Wildomar facility opening on Mission Trail, Animal Friends of the Valleys operated a shelter in Lake Elsinore.

Wildomar City Councilwoman Bridgette Moore also sits on the board. During Wednesday’s meeting her voice was hoarse, so she asked Wildomar Assistant City Manager Gary Nordquist to speak on her behalf.

Nordquist argued that because the cities share equal interests in the shelter, they should share the costs equally.

Murrieta Mayor Doug McAllister, who serves as vice chair on the Authority, was sympathetic Wednesday, but said he could not get buy-off from his city on a contract renegotiation without a persuasive case.

“I will not be able to get support from my council,” he said. “I’m going to have to have an awfully good argument.”

Both Murrieta and Temecula have fewer animals coming into the shelter, according to Anderson.

In total, 2,105 dogs and 2,569 cats from all six Southwest Riverside cities were euthanized at the shelter during the 2010-11 fiscal year, according to numbers provided by Anderson. The stats include both adoptable pets and those that couldn't be placed due to aggression, illness, etc.

Temecula City Councilwoman MaryAnn Edwards chairs the Authority. Wednesday she too was sympathetic to the plight of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, but said her city would not be in favor of contract changes. She argued that her city’s “vigilant animal control” has kept pets out of the shelter.

Rather than decide the issue Wednesday, the board directed its executive committee to work together and come back with ideas for consideration. A tentative meeting date of June 13 at Temecula City Hall was agreed upon. At that time, the board will hear committee ideas and decide what, if anything, to bring back to the respective cities.


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