The clock is ticking on the impending closure of the Santa Cruz Humane Society, and the cavalry won’t be riding to the rescue.
Sue Rogers, the Humane Society’s executive director, said she and the shelter’s staff have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support and contributions since the closure was announced earlier this month, but she accepts the hard truth that the annual expenses of about $384,000 to run the nonprofit’s no-kill shelter make it impossible to continue operations.
“I would love to see it happen, but with today’s economy, the cost of everything, it isn’t sustainable,” Rogers said.
“We’re very grateful to the people who have sent in donations, helped us, brought in supplies, dog food. There’s been a tremendous amount of people willing to help. I’m just heartbroken.”
Rogers said the priority as operations wind down over the next few months will be rehoming the remaining animals at the shelter and liquidating the society’s assets. She said six animals have been adopted since the closure was announced, with 31 still on site — 11 dogs and 20 cats.
“It’s just one continuous thing (preparing for the closure),” she said. “We want to keep the employees there as long as we can. God bless them, because they’re the best. They give their hearts, their souls, their love to those animals every single day.”
Rogers said county manager Jesus Valdez and other officials took a tour of the shelter, located at 232 East Patagonia Highway in Nogales, shortly after the closing was announced. Santa Cruz County Animal Control also operates a shelter for dogs and cats at 1368 N Hohokam Drive, but it has just 24 kennels and is typically at or near capacity. Reasoning that an imperfect solution is better than no solution at all, Rogers had hoped that the County would maintain the society’s operations on a temporary basis until it was able to expand its capacity.
“I was offering them an opportunity to take a building that can handle animals temporarily and use that facility until they can build a new one,” Rogers said. “The opportunity is just sitting there. It’s up to them to figure out if the animals in the vicinity are worth protecting. I’d work with the County and help them in any way I can.”
The county maintains that the Humane Society facility needs too many upgrades to be brought up to code.
The closure was a topic of discussion at the June 17 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, but Lt. Jose Pena of Animal Control said the county does not have the fiscal capacity to take over shelter operations.
“Our priority is to assure the safe and orderly transition of animals currently housed at the Humane Society,” Pena said.
Board Chairman and District 3 Supervisor John Fanning said the “incredible amount of emails” prior to and after the meeting spoke “loud and clear” of the community’s concerns over the shelter’s closing.
“I want a five-month plan, a five-year plan and a 10-year plan making sure the animals in our community are taken care of,” he said.
Fanning said short-term tactics include working with the shelter on adoption events, working with rescue organizations to assist with transition for the remaining animals and providing support for the shelter’s displaced employees.
In the intermediate term, Fanning suggested applying for grants to expand capacity at the county shelter and partnering with the University of Arizona for assistance with veterinary needs. Fanning and fellow supervisors Rudy Molera and Luis Carlos Davis all lamented the limited access to veterinary care in the county with the retirement of Dr. Roberto Rojas.
Pena said the long-term goal of a modern, multipurpose animal control facility is contingent on expanding the county expenditure limits.
The supervisors will hold public hearings on July 1 and July 8 to discuss and consider approval of placing an expenditure limit increase on the November ballot.
“There’s a lot of information that people really need to hear about,” Fanning said. “It would allow us to put our ducks in a row and really, really do a lot of great things for the county if it passed.”
For the Humane Society’s Rogers, that’s all well and good for the future but of little consolation for the here and now.
“I wish them all the luck, I know they need a new building, but it’s not going to happen in the next two to three years, and that’s the dilemma,” she said.
To make a donation to support the Santa Cruz Humane Society, go here: gofundme.com