Cloverdale adopts temporary animal‑services model; Humane Society to provide sheltering
March 30, 2026 | Cloverdale City, Sonoma County, California
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The Cloverdale City Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing a transitional animal services model intended to maintain field response and sheltering after North Bay Animal Services’ Petaluma building contract problems left regional services in flux.
The chief (speaker 9) told council staff scrambled to issue an RFP after receiving short notice that North Bay’s contract was being canceled and described a recommended stopgap approach: a month‑to‑month agreement with North Bay Animal Services for field services (estimated at about $3,300 per month in the interim) while contracting sheltering, veterinary care and longer‑term assessment with the Humane Society of Sonoma County (annual estimate presented to council: $115,000). He characterized the arrangement as a short‑term fix while staff explores long‑term options.
Cynthia King, executive director of the Humane Society of Sonoma County (speaker 19), thanked Cloverdale for considering the society, said the shelter could provide care from campuses in Healdsburg and Santa Rosa, and urged the county and cities to pursue a joint powers authority (JPA) for a coordinated regional solution. Carrie Stewart (speaker 3), HSSC senior director of operations, described poor conditions she observed where North Bay operated and argued veterinary oversight and medical protocols are fundamental to humane sheltering.
Council adopted a resolution (title only) approving a temporary model with a month‑to‑month field‑services contract and a transitional sheltering arrangement; the motion passed 5–0. Council members and staff emphasized this is an interim step and invited Humane Society staff to continue coordinating with the city as a longer‑term, multi‑agency solution is explored.
What’s next: staff will implement the temporary contracts and return with budget details, long‑term staffing options (including cross‑training a CSO for animal control), and potential JPA paths at future meetings.
The chief (speaker 9) told council staff scrambled to issue an RFP after receiving short notice that North Bay’s contract was being canceled and described a recommended stopgap approach: a month‑to‑month agreement with North Bay Animal Services for field services (estimated at about $3,300 per month in the interim) while contracting sheltering, veterinary care and longer‑term assessment with the Humane Society of Sonoma County (annual estimate presented to council: $115,000). He characterized the arrangement as a short‑term fix while staff explores long‑term options.
Cynthia King, executive director of the Humane Society of Sonoma County (speaker 19), thanked Cloverdale for considering the society, said the shelter could provide care from campuses in Healdsburg and Santa Rosa, and urged the county and cities to pursue a joint powers authority (JPA) for a coordinated regional solution. Carrie Stewart (speaker 3), HSSC senior director of operations, described poor conditions she observed where North Bay operated and argued veterinary oversight and medical protocols are fundamental to humane sheltering.
Council adopted a resolution (title only) approving a temporary model with a month‑to‑month field‑services contract and a transitional sheltering arrangement; the motion passed 5–0. Council members and staff emphasized this is an interim step and invited Humane Society staff to continue coordinating with the city as a longer‑term, multi‑agency solution is explored.
What’s next: staff will implement the temporary contracts and return with budget details, long‑term staffing options (including cross‑training a CSO for animal control), and potential JPA paths at future meetings.
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