Animals

Animal Services Gets Go-ahead for Managed Competition

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County Animal Services got approval Tuesday to compete in providing services to the unincorporated area of San Diego County.

Currently, Animal Services offers animal welfare, public protection, code enforcement, adoptions and sheltering for the unincorporated area and six contract cities. The County notified the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego, Santee and Solana Beach in May 2017 that those contracts won’t be renewed when they expire on June 30, 2018.

The County took initial steps to outsource animal services for the unincorporated area based on Board of Supervisors’ approval in March 2017. But the department and SEIU Local 221 subsequently decided to pursue the managed competition process. The Board’s authorization Tuesday will allow both Animal Services and the San Diego Humane Society and S.P.C.A. to compete for the work.

The entity that offers the most economical and efficient proposal while still providing the best animal care will ultimately provide animal services in the unincorporated area. A final decision is expected in August.

Tracy DeFore is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact