Dozens of concerned residents visited Town Hall Tuesday night, where they pleaded with the Town Council not to sell the Apple Valley Animal Shelter to San Bernardino County.
In the end, the council echoed the theme of keeping “local control” and voted 5-0 to reject the sale of its animal shelter, located on the corner of Powhatan and Quinnault roads in Apple Valley.
The Town Council’s vote maintains a leash on the shelter and means rejecting the purchase and sale agreement with the county. It also directs town staff to take action to end the current service agreement with the county.
Rejected options
The council could have voted to approve the purchase and sale agreement with the county, with the town entering into a shelter service agreement with the town.
A third option, which the council rejected, was for the council to provide a different or additional direction to town staff.
Mayor Scott Nassif, who joined the council in praising work done by shelter staff, suggested a possible discussion of a Joint Powers Authority with other agencies to fund and oversee the shelter.
“We’re grateful to our residents for engaging in this process and making their voices heard,” he said. “The Apple Valley Animal Shelter is more than a facility—it’s a community resource, and we’re committed to keeping it that way.”
Mayor Pro Tem Curt Emick said his vote was not influenced by out-of-town voices or activists. He also stated that “local control” by the town is important, using the town’s legal battle for water ownership as an example.
Emick also raised concerns over the county’s possible purchase of the shelter, with the possibility that the town being “kicked to the curb” by the county, which could abandon the shelter building.
Emick said giving up the shelter to the county would go against his belief of “local control.”
Repercussions
Retaining the shelter means the town keeps control of animal services and only accepts animals within town limits. However, without funding from the county, layoffs are a possibility, town staff said.
The rejected agreement to sell the animal shelter included the county paying $15 million, which includes $10 million at the close of escrow and $5 million in service credit under a new 10-year contract.
A county-operated shelter would have meant retaining current shelter employees, accepting animals from Apple Valley and county areas. Additionally, funding would have opened the “possibility” of expanding the facility.
‘A big win’
After the meeting, resident Donovan Barr applauded the decision.
“The Town Council finally made the right decision in voting not to sell the shelter,” he told the Daily Press.
Barr said he believes fewer animals at the Apple Valley Shelter means “no more overcrowding and a lower euthanasia rate.”
“I think this is a big win for the council, our animals, and Apple Valley residents,” he added. “I just hope our residents continue to support the shelter staff.”
‘The $8 million Taj Mahal’
Apple Valley’s original animal shelter was a private home built in 1961 at 13646 Tonikan Road in Apple Valley, which later served as a veterinarian office.
In 2004, the town decided to open its own shelter after the Victor Valley Animal Protective League raised its rates, the Daily Press reported.
The town had contracted with VVAPL for years before the decision to cease service.
After years of animal overcrowding at the old shelter, in May 2010, the town unveiled its new 36,000-square-foot animal shelter on Powhatan Road, which many called “the $8 million Taj Mahal.”
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Apple Valley Council rejects sale of animal shelter to county, keeps leash on facility
Reporting by Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
