BY\u00a0Diego Abeloos
\nLos Altos Town Crier
\nApril 25, 2012
\nRead original article at\u00a0www.losaltosonline.com<\/a>\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n

When a pet hits hard times in Los Altos, officers from the Animal Services Center in Palo Alto serve as a safety net. They respond to animal calls, operate a spay and neuter clinic and put up orphaned pooches for adoption. But the Palo Alto City Council faces a tough budget call \u2013 after Mountain View gave one year\u2019s notice in November that it will leave the jointly funded center, only Los Altos and Los Altos Hills remain to help foot the $1.8 million annual bill.<\/p>\n

To save money, Palo Alto officials are considering closing the shelter and outsourcing its work elsewhere on the Peninsula. According to Los Altos Police Chief Tuck Younis, Los Altos would need to contract with another facility if the center, located at 3281 E. Bayshore Road in Palo Alto, closes due to a budget shortfall.<\/p>\n

Mountain View City Council members cited Palo Alto\u2019s aging facility, among other considerations, when they voted to switch to Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA) beginning in November. The city contributed approximately $450,000 annually to Palo Alto Animal Services, which has served Los Altos and Los Altos Hills for 19 years.<\/p>\n

According to Palo Alto Superintendent of Animal Services Sandi Stadler, Palo Alto faces a considerable increase to its current $700,000 annual payment to the center once Mountain View withdraws.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Local impact<\/p>\n

Younis, who noted that Los Altos pays an annual fee of $180,000 to the center, said Los Altos\u2019 staff have explored available outside agencies should Palo Alto\u2019s center close, including SVACA, located in Santa Clara.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the worst-case scenario, we have options,\u201d Younis said.<\/p>\n

He added that the cost of outsourcing services to SVACA is comparable to that of continuing with Palo Alto Animal Services but noted he\u2019s pleased with the center\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bottom line is that the service that is provided to our community is a good service and that it\u2019s convenient for our residents,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Los Altos Hills pays approximately $59,000 annually to the center, according to Stadler. Los Altos Hills City Manager Carl Cahill said it\u2019s too early to speculate on the center\u2019s future. He said Palo Alto, like Mountain View, must provide one year\u2019s notice before it closes the center.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s more than money<\/p>\n

Stadler said many Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents have strong ties to the center and appreciate that it\u2019s relatively near the communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get calls almost daily from people actually making sure what they\u2019re hearing is correct,\u201d she said. \u201cIs this truly a possibility that the shelter may close or that the city (of Palo Alto) may outsource to another agency? When they find out that it is a possible option, they\u2019re quite concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Younis agreed with Stadler and said he\u2019s confident Palo Alto officials will consider the center\u2019s history with local residents when determining its fate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very passionate issue anytime you\u2019re dealing with people\u2019s pets,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are going to be strong feelings about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stadler added that Palo Alto officials are reviewing alternatives to closure such as potential partnerships, added services and relocating the center to another facility in Palo Alto.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be unfortunate, but it can also be an opportunity,\u201d she said. \u201cThe (Palo Alto) city council is being very brave at looking at all of the options. Let\u2019s look at everything \u2026 the ideas that are being talked about now are creative.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stadler, meanwhile, said Palo Alto should have a clearer budget picture once Mountain View terminates its contract.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in the question-asking phase,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s very scary for the staff. It\u2019s just the unknown. We don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going to be a year from now or two years from now.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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