2020-05-14 City Council Item No. 4.2 Public Comment - Medina Special MEETING - Additional Meeting Materials1
Emily Grisenti
From:Matt Liesemeyer
Sent:Thursday, May 14, 2020 3:57 PM
To:Sarah Manwaring; Armando G. Villa
Subject:FW: Animal Control and Sheltering
Please see attached email from a resident regarding the AFV item on the agenda.
In light of the not being at this dias can you read this into record??
Respectfully,
Matt Liesemeyer
Mayor Pro-Tem
‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Nina Medina <ninamdn02@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 3:52 PM
To: mliesemeyer
Subject: Animal Control & Sheltering
Good evening. My name is Nina Medina, I am a Menifee resident and President of Menifee Valley Humane Society. A
local Non Profit rescue. In addition to my rescue I have run a community lost and found page since 2006 that reconnects
families with their pets.
It is my understanding that the contract for the City of Menifee Animal control and sheltering is up for renewal.
Currently Animal Friends of the Valleys is our Animal Control and Riverside County Animal Services San Jacinto Campus is
our sheltering facility. In 2019 1539 dogs and cats from Menifee were picked up by animal control and taken to the
county shelter. Out of those 1539 pets only 314 were returned to their owner. 299 dogs and only 15 cats. That left 1225
animals from our community that never made it home. Since January 2020 to present, 359 Menifee animals have been
picked by animal control and taken to the county shelter. 214 dogs and 145 cats. As of today 54 have been returned to
owner, 53 dogs and 1 cat. We as a city are failing our animals.
I have worked closely with the community for years and believe they would stand with me when I say we need to make
a change. Geographically making AFV both our animal control and our sheltering would provide a better outcome for
our animals.The distance to the county shelter from Menifee is 19 miles and not well known. AFV is 8.5 miles and has
been part of our community for many many years. AFV is more accessible and their fees more reasonable. They offer
great benefits for our animals to find their way home or to be adopted. They have a Foster coordinator, rescue
coordinator, volunteer coordinator, social media manager and most of all compassion for the animals.
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We as a city pay Riverside County Animal Services to shelter and care for our animals. During this COVID 19 lockdown
they failed us. They turned people away with strays from Menifee or wanting to relinquish their animals. Who took
leadership? Who never reduced their services? Who took in our strays and owner relinquished animals and cared for
them?
Animal Friends of the Valleys did!!! "Saving Lives and Building Relationships."
I ask the City Council to do what is right for community and make Animal Friends of the Valleys both our Animal Control
and our Sheltering.
And to ask yourself where would you want your animal to go?
Sincerely,
Nina A Medina