Simi Keeps Animal Control Services in Ventura County

Hoping to get better service at a lower cost locally, the city of Simi Valley will stick with Ventura County for its animal regulation needs.

In an about-face, the Simi Valley City Council voted unanimously Monday night to drop contract negotiations with Los Angeles County’s Department of Animal Care and Control. It had turned to Los Angeles County earlier this summer, expecting to save thousands of dollars from Ventura County’s $265,000 annual price tag.

But the savings never materialized. And city staffers were concerned about the facilities, veterinary care and response times that Los Angeles animal regulation officials could offer.

“What you see isn’t what you get as far as [Los Angeles County’s] contract services went,” said City Councilwoman Barbara Williamson before the meeting. “So we’ll go back to square one, and stay with [Ventura] County and see if we can’t work something out with them to improve service for the residents of Simi and to lower costs.”

Monday’s vote caps months of negotiations, in which Simi Valley angled for the best animal regulation deal for the 1997-98 fiscal year. After Thousand Oaks signed a contract with Los Angeles County, Simi Valley officials considered breaking away as well.

During those months, Ventura County’s Animal Regulation Department continued to take care of Simi Valley’s strays, dead animals and wild animals.

In a state of limbo, Animal Control Officer Kathy Jenks held off on filling staff vacancies until she knew whether her budget would be slashed.

“As far as we were concerned, they hadn’t ever left,” Jenks said. “But I think [the] staff is relieved that this is over, and we can move on. Now we can get on about our business.”

The switch to Los Angeles County was scheduled to happen Sept 7. But a final contract between Los Angeles County and Simi Valley--one that would have allowed residents to have a permanent or temporary shelter within the city boundaries--was never hammered out.

With the local animal regulation agency, Simi Valley residents are able to use a temporary shelter at 670 W. Los Angeles Ave., which has limited hours. Typically, local strays are held at the Simi facility for 24 hours before being transported to Ventura County’s main shelter in Camarillo.

“Our ultimate goal is to have a facility here that’s permanent,” said Councilman Bill Davis before Monday’s vote. “That’s what we really want to see. Somehow Ventura County has to make that happen.”