Orange County Animal Care ("OC Animal Care") recently began collecting, or attempting to collect, "kennel" fees from non-profit 501(c)3 organizations. Animal rescue organizations with adoptable animals residing inside Petsmart Adoption Centers within the jurisdictions of OC Animal Care were recently made aware of a newly discovered law, which claims that Adoption Centers are now "kennels". With this claim comes an annual fee of $350.00 to $400.00 to house animals (cats) in Petsmart Adoption Centers while they await adoption, and OC Animal Care officers have begun serving notices of violation to rescue organizations.
While the County may consider these Adoption Centers to be "kennels", the non-profit organizations agree that they are not responsible for these fees. Non-profit organizations do not make any profits and 100% of donations and adoption fees go directly toward saving animals. In addition, these organizations are completely volunteer run, and no salaries are paid. Not only is it an extreme hardship for a non-profit organization to hand over $350.00 to $400.00 to the County, but it is heartbreaking to think about the animals that could be rescued with this amount of money. This is not the only fact that is astonishing in the County's attempt to collect these fees. While OC Animal Care is dictating the size and other requirements for these "kennel" areas, the non-profit organizations have absolutely no input on any of the requirements. Petsmart is in charge of how the "kennels" are built and maintained, including whether or not there is access to electricity or running water within the Adoption Centers.
Several rescue organizations under the jurisdiction of OC Animal Care have come together to make the Orange County Board of Supervisors aware of this recent development. Letters have already been sent to each Board member individually, and while we await a response, we hope you will join us in protest by signing this petition. Your signature will help us send a message that trying to collect fees from non-profit organizations is unacceptable.
Thank you.
Orange County Animal Rescue Coalition
Caring Friends Cat Rescue
Cats in Need of Human Care (Fullerton)
Cats in Need (Yorba Linda)
Second Chance Pet Adoptions
