What’s the public benefit of eliminating Saturday hours at the
shelter?
There is no benefit to the public in eliminating Saturday hours
at the Hollister Animal Shelter, while it creates a burden for a
majority of working adults in Hollister who might want to use the
services.
Hollister council members this week voted 3-2 in reverting back
to the Monday through Friday shelter schedule. Council members
Victor Gomez, Eugenia Sanchez and Ray Friend voted in favor of
eliminating Saturday hours. Council members Doug Emerson and
Pauline Valdivia wanted to continue with the same schedule.
What’s the public benefit of eliminating Saturday hours at the shelter?
There is no benefit to the public in eliminating Saturday hours at the Hollister Animal Shelter, while it creates a burden for a majority of working adults in Hollister who might want to use the services.
Hollister council members this week voted 3-2 in reverting back to the Monday through Friday shelter schedule. Council members Victor Gomez, Eugenia Sanchez and Ray Friend voted in favor of eliminating Saturday hours. Council members Doug Emerson and Pauline Valdivia wanted to continue with the same schedule.
It was less than two years ago when the city switched to a Tuesday through Saturday slate, but shelter and police officials contended about two months ago that a decline in adoptions and an increase in the number of animals put down were attributed to the change.
There should be more data than one anecdotal point to make a conclusion either way on finding the best hours of operation.
Other factors clearly played into the recent trends at the shelter.
For one, there has been a severe recession since the shelter switched days. People tend to adopt fewer pets because they have less money. That also means there will be more instances involving irresponsible pet owners and breeders who dump their dogs and cats when they no longer can afford them – or nobody wants to buy them.
Plus, the city did almost nothing to promote the Tuesday through Saturday schedule. It was posted on the animal shelter’s website, and that’s about it.
Proponents of a Monday through Friday schedule, though, also noted that shelter employees often get overwhelmed on Tuesdays by the number of animals left at the facility while it is closed.
There are two days when the shelter is closed and people have to leave strays in a drop-off area. It seems the same problem will exist when they arrive at work on Monday after a two-day weekend break.
It doesn’t add up. But usually what doesn’t get discussed in the open council chambers matters most in these situations. The city is asking its employees to take yet another pay cut this year in pushing to reduce departmental budgets by 12.5 percent.
Lower pay and layoffs – the shelter recently lost a full-time position – have been common around City Hall, and within public entities throughout the state and country.
In Hollister’s case, the well is especially dried up. Employees are being asked time and time again to sacrifice. Times are frustrating. Jobs are insecure.
Three council members Monday essentially agreed to a concession with the shelter employees. The message: We’re sorry you’re job can be frustrating and difficult, so you no longer have to work weekends.
The mayor, Gomez, openly acknowledged his reasoning: He supported Saturday hours, but said it was unfair to continually cut back at the shelter and ask employees to work Saturdays and have extra work waiting for them after their days off.
Those three council members, however, should be reminded that these tough times aren’t limited to the public sector. Jobs aren’t entitlements. And in certain professions, the employees tend to know going in that working weekends is part of the gig. There are endless examples, and working at an animal shelter is on the list.
Unless it’s the shelter in Hollister.
