Following Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter audit, woman shares her own story
SACRAMENTO — A new independent audit is uncovering some serious issues at Sacramento's Front Street Animal Shelter.
CBS13 first reported last week about some of the problems that have been identified, like posting incomplete public data and not tracking rabies prevention measures. Since then, viewers have been contacting our newsroom with their own stories about troubles at Front Street.
It was love at first sight when Ravin Espino first saw Ghost inside Front Street.
"He was just an absolute fluffball, just so adorable," she said.
But Espino said it was a nightmare trying to adopt him last November.
After paying adoption fees, she said the shelter lost track of him.
"They couldn't find him and they actually gave me almost a different puppy," Espino said.
Then, Ghost needed to be held for treatment of an intestinal disease, and when she finally brought him home, he was still sick.
"He was unfortunately having diarrhea everywhere," Espino said.
Espino reached out to CBS13 after seeing our report last week about a new independent audit finding serious problems at the shelter.
She's not surprised that poor management is one of the issues that was identified.
"It definitely starts at the top because you can't have a well-run ship if the captain is not following orders or rules," she said.
Animal control director Phillip Zimmerman said that he welcomes the audit and added that the shelter is too small with no room to expand.
"When you're over capacity, you're short-staffed, you're just trying to get through the day, the managers and supervisors are putting out fires," Zimmerman said.
The city auditor has released a list of 31 recommendations to improve shelter operations.
"They actually have already started implementing some of them," said city auditor Farishta Ahrary. "I expect that they will be working towards implementing these as time and resources allow."
Espino said that additional funding and staff could help improve conditions for dogs like Ghost.
"I definitely think the city council should be giving more money to those animals in need," she said.
Ghost is now seven months old and has fully recovered. The audit results will be presented to a city council committee on Tuesday at city hall.
