SB Police takes over animal services

The City of Seal Beach ended its nearly 20-year contract with Long Beach Animal Care Services earlier this month. On July 1, the city implemented an inhouse animal control program led by the Seal Beach Police Department.

The City of Seal Beach has contracted with the City of Long Beach to provide animal control services to Seal Beach for the past 19 years, from 2004 to 2023.

City officials began seriously considering the transition after operating cost increases prompted a review of the Long Beach animal control contract.

City staff conducted a comprehensive assessment of animal control services in general, as well as an exploration of alternative options for the City of Seal Beach.

In May of this year, several options were presented to the city council, and it was by the council’s direction that animal control services were brought back within the city’s oversight.

As of July 1, the Seal Beach Police Department has begun handling all animal control services for the community.

“It is extremely gratifying to see Seal Beach take a leadership role in its city by deciding to operate its own animal services program,” said Long Beach Animal Care Services Acting Bureau Manager Melanie Wagner. “No doubt this will bring greater connectedness between the community and their newly established Animal Welfare Department.”

The essential role of Animal Control is to enforce state and local laws pertaining to animals and animal ownership. Animal Control Officers issue citations, investigation violations of animal care and welfare, and investigate violations of the municipal code.

They also provide education on the humane and required treatment of animals, as well as share information on how best to follow animal-related laws. Lastly, officers will respond to calls for service and provide care or impound for healthy, injured, sick, dangerous or deceased animals.

All SBPD Senior Community Services officers and police aids assigned to field duties have attended a course designed to provide animal control officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to animalrelated incidents.

Following a request for proposals, the nonprofit Westminster Adoption Group and Services (WAGS) was selected as the designated animal shelter for the City of Seal Beach.

For more information about WAGS, visit 6621 Westminster Blvd., call 714-887-6156, or visit https://wagspetadoption. org. They cannot take in wildlife; people who have concerns related to wildlife can contact the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center at 714-374-5587.

Dog licenses that were previously tracked by the City of Long Beach will expire at the end of the year. The City of Seal Beach will provide more information on re-licensing animals in the coming months.

To report an animal controlrelated incident, contact the SBPD non-emergency line at 562-594-7232. For life-or-death emergenices, call 911. For more information about the Animal Control program, email animalcontrol@ sealbeachca.gov.