It’s really important we get the story about local animal adoptions right. The recent Santa Maria Sun article regarding Santa Maria animal services (“Potential Santa Maria animal services contract sparks controversy,” Oct. 20) missed the mark.
Due to challenges, turnover, and a rising number of animals at Santa Barbara County Animal Services, a request for proposal (RFP) was issued by the city of Santa Maria to look for the best possible operation to take over the contract for animal services.
The best option for Santa Maria is Santa Barbara Humane, which responded to the RFP. However, a few misinformed individuals were given space in the Santa Maria Sun story to assert unsubstantiated and unmerited claims against this long-standing and essential pillar in animal welfare.
Live-release data is publicly available for anyone choosing to speak at a hearing or pen a news article. But since that due diligence was not reflected in the efforts of those who spoke against Santa Barbara Humane, let’s do that here.
Santa Barbara Humane’s live-release rate is 96 percent—one of the highest in the nation, where the average is 89 percent. The “no kill” designated threshold is 90 percent.
Santa Barbara Humane’s fully equipped veterinary clinics, staffed by four full-time veterinarians and a team of qualified professionals, manage and assist a variety of serious medical cases for shelter animals, public animals, and cases referred and transferred to us by Santa Barbara County Animal Services.
Santa Barbara Humane was just named “Best Place to Adopt a Pet,” by the Santa Barbara Independent.
Just in the last month, Santa Barbara Humane performed 1,297 vaccinations and wellness appointments and 503 spays/neuters for the community at reduced costs or free.
I understand and empathize with the passion people have for animals in need. But passion that is uninformed creates distraction and damage to the creatures we are looking to protect.
John Soboslai
Santa Barbara
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 3, 2022.