Information on Animal Control you never really cared to know about.

Okay, I have to admit, being staked out by Animal Control makes me wonder all kinds of things, like shouldn't they be rescuing a wounded animal somewhere versus staking out homeowners who just want to socialize and throw their dog a ball? How much does it cost the taxpayers each time an Animal Control Officer investigates a single complaint? And, how often does Animal Control come out to our quiet gated community? So I went on-line and found out that all information is available to the public and if they don't have to mail it to you.. it's free information. So I sent in a request and this is what I found out. Based on fiscal year 2008-09 and figuring in overall cost associated with each individual visit by a Animal Control Officer (Salary, benefits, supplies, services, transportation, equipment, etc) the overall cost per visit is $87.42. Currently 60% of OC Animal Care's annual budget is funded by fee's such as licensing revenue, permits, and various fines. 40% is funded by contracts with the cities in their jurisdiction.

Now an interesting fact is that in 2009 OC Animal Control visited Dove Canyon on calls only for stray and roaming dogs (which includes off-leash dogs)only 11 times the entire year and 5 of those calls were generated from the same street within a 5 day period. From the months of January through the end of March of 2010, Animal Control responded to calls, again for roaming dogs for a total of 12 times, 3 of those calls came from the Gate. 10 of the calls were in March. So, if the 2009-10 budget did not increase and the cost per visit stayed the same, it cost Animal control over $1,000.00 to visit Dove Canyon in two months vs. the entire 2009 year.
It also takes an average of 58 minutes for Animal Control to respond to a call. Quickest time it took 11 minutes.

So although I'm glad that Animal Control doesn't have to respond to too many wounded dogs, only 3 calls for RSM/Trabuco Canyon/Coto area last year, I am now wondering how Dove Canyon will effect their budgets for this fiscal year. Make sure you license your dogs, as long as calls keep getting generated from our community, OC Animal Control is going to need the revenue.