Karen S. Kim
Dogs and cats in Glendale ought to know there's a new sheriff in
town.
The Pasadena Humane Society officially took over animal-control
operations for the city Tuesday, after the City Council approved a
$201,873 interim contract with the organization.
"With a population of 200,000, serving Glendale could impact us
substantially, so we had to step back and ask ourselves, 'What's the
mission of our organization?' " Pasadena Humane Society Executive
Director Steve McNall said. "And our mission is not about statistics,
it's about helping as many animals as we can. So we said, 'Let's take
on the contract with the city of Glendale and offer them our entire
animal program.' "
Keeping that mission in mind, McNall said the Pasadena Humane
Society began its work in Glendale even before the final contract was
even approved.
The organization came out to Glendale early Monday night, hours
before Glendale Humane Society's contract expired, to impound an
injured pit bull that had been involved in a dog fight. The Glendale
Humane Society had closed up shop, so Pasadena extended a helping
hand, McNall said.
"The city of Glendale, we hold in very high esteem," McNall said.
"But we'll help any city in need."
Pasadena Humane Society will now offer full interim services,
including incoming animal medical care, after-hour responses, a
trap-neuter-release program, humane education and full shelter
control and staffing.
The group offered to take over for the Glendale Humane Society,
which rejected an 18-month city contract in June and was then passed
over for an interim contract.
The city has initiated an aggressive educational campaign to
spread the word about the new animal-control provider. Informational
fliers will be available at City Hall and public libraries, a public
service announcement will air on Charter Cable Channel 6 and a link
to the Pasadena Humane Society will be added to the city's Web site.
The city's pet-adoption cable show will resume videotaping at the
Pasadena Humane Society on Oct. 21 with hosts Ginger Bremberg, a
former city mayor and councilwoman, and former City Treasurer Betty
Evans, Public Information Officer Ritch Wells said.
