It has been my experience that animal agencies placed within law enforcement are generally better equipped and staffed than those that are not. In my role as chair of an animal services advisory committee in North Carolina, this was one of the improvements we sought. In tough budget times it’s better to be the lowest priority in a high-priority agency than to be going it alone.

I agree that Yolo County needs to improve how we care for our animals, including changes at the shelter. Let’s build on the skill and experience of the current Animal Services staff rather than discard that expertise for an unproven new model.