Animal shelters for our county to emulate

Helen Woodward

Last year, an official in the county Sheriff’s Office called to ask me about private animal shelters that I’d recommend, since he know I was a dog lover who had lived throughout the state.

The county was considering privatizing the animal shelter — something I’d advocated — so I’m glad the process is continuing.

In California, I recommended the Marin Humane Society, a joint public-private venture and the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego, a private, nonprofit, as models.

This week we boarded our dog at Helen Woodward’s facility. Located on 12 acres in Rancho Santa Fe, the nationally regarded center has been around for more than 30 years.

It is a no-kill facility that receives no government funding. Instead, it relies on tax-deductible contributions from private donors to continue its mission.

The late Helen Woodward is the center’s founder. She and her friends envisioned a facility that would include comprehensive animal care and public education programs.

The Marin Humane Society was praised in a recent county grand jury report.

I hope we can come up with a plan to privatize our county animal shelter.

We have some dedicated and donation-minded animal lovers in our community and can set an example for the Sierra Foothills.