Animal Shelter Tie With Pet Store OKd

In an effort to increase the number of pet adoptions in the West Valley Animal Shelter, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee gave initial approval Monday to a partnership with a retail store to help in the adoption of dogs and cats.

PetSmart, a nationwide pet supply store, does not carry animals bred for sale in any of its 300 stores, but most have animals from shelters and rescue groups available for adoption through its Luv-A-Pet program.

Councilwoman Laura Chick, chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, said she learned of the store’s program on a tour of the new facility in Reseda and has worked to coordinate the public/private program.

“We’ve all been trying to find a way to get our arms around this very big and growing problem of unwanted pets in the city,” Chick said.

The program, if approved, would pay for two shelter staff members to be on hand daily to finalize adoptions and to provide education on neutering and licensing the animals.

Currently, before allowing an animal in their care to leave with a new owner, PetSmart employees must contact the sponsoring organization to approve the adoption, which holds up the process, said Linda Isenegger, store director in Reseda.

The issue will now go to the council budget and finance committee to determine whether the initial $29,275 start-up costs should come from the city’s general fund or the L.A. Animal Service’s own budget.

The program is expected to increase the number of adoptions per day of shelter animals from an average of 12 dogs and cats to about 18. It also may generate as much as $77,000 in additional revenue per year from pet license and adoption fees, city officials said.