Yucca Valley Animal Shelter Committee receives public scrutiny ahead of Thursday’s second meeting

This is a continuation of Part 1 of the Yucca Valley Town Council recap, which you can read here.

At Tuesday night’s (9/16) Yucca Valley Town Council meeting, Councilmember Jim Schooler gave an update on the first Yucca Valley Animal Shelter Committee meeting that was held on August 21. Schooler is the chair of the committee and attended the first meeting with Mayor Jeff Drozd, along with Deputy Town Manager Shane Stueckle and Town Manager Curtis Yakimow. Three shelter staff also attended the meeting.

Schooler said around 45 residents showed up to the first meeting, which was held in the full Yucca Room at the Yucca Valley Community Center. 

Schooler went over the general housekeeping taken care of at the meeting like choosing a name and settling on the committee’s meeting time. He also went over a few wins like the well-received social media and advertising efforts from Brooke Dudra along with some new rescue group partnerships.

He also mentioned the open position and job search for the new Shelter Manager, which has an application deadline of October 2nd. Schooler says they have received 17 applicants so far.

The meeting is in a workshop format which allows more open discussion between the town and residents – which was reflected in the first meeting’s vocal reaction to the Town’s veterinarian search. 

“There was a spirited discussion about vet services to contract with. Good public comments and we’ve kind of changed direction on that and are pursuing other options,” Schooler said.

While the update and the general spirit of the first meeting felt like it left things in a more optimistic place for the Town and the highly-scrutinized Animal Shelter, public comments at Tuesday evening’s meeting painted a slightly different picture.

Public Comments

First up was resident Cheryl Contopulos, who said she was looking forward to the volunteer program and thanked the community for their actions with the shelter.

“Thank you to the community for supporting the shelter and the very necessary needed changes. I don’t know where we would be if we didn’t have all these people online and in the room,” she said.

Cheryl also mentioned the Tiny Pony Tavern and Mas O’ Menos who both held pet adoption and spay & neuter events in the last two weeks.

Skinny dogs continue to raise concerns

Susan Herring from Pioneertown came up to the podium with photos and a short preamble:

She began with “I’m not going to be as nice as Cheryl. I’m going to be blunt.”

Herring then addressed Curtis Yakimow directly saying she trusted what he said about the shelter’s processes, specifically regarding the dog named Howdy that was forefront in complains about neglect and current conditions at the shelter.

Susan motioned at the photos which show dramatic before and after pictures of the three dogs mentioned. She went on to say that the temporary manager Shane Stueckle should have more direct oversight at the facility and to make sure that shelter staff have either the training they need or the additional staff required to make sure dogs are being properly fed.

She ended her public comment saying “something better happen here soon because I’m sure these are not the only three dogs that we are aware of.”

50-year Yucca Valley resident Christine Bostrom also didn’t hold back, saying that the first Yucca Valley Animal Shelter Committee meeting didn’t provide meaningful progress.

“You made a subcommittee that lied and lied and lied. Such a waste of time for all of us and such a crushing disappointment to witness. I had high hopes with that committee. No one took any notes. Shane Stueckle again explained misleading numbers. The new young staff was like a deer in the headlights looking towards Shane for answers to our questions. All the while the dogs were sick and slowly dying from unqualified staff and uncaring supervisors,” Christine said as she addressed Councilmembers.

James Porter has lived in Yucca Valley for 40 years and has been at the forefront of the citizen group that has been actively pursuing changes for the animal shelter at the Yucca Valley Town Council meetings. He attended the first meeting of the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter Committee and says he’s concerned that it felt like “a meeting for the sake of a meeting.”

Porter reminded Town Manager Curtis Yakimow of five recommendations that he mentioned at the July 15th Town Council meeting where they went over the Animal Shelter’s 90-day operational review. One of those recommendations was to thoroughly evaluate and review any claims against the shelter or shelter staff.

Porter also brought up concerns passed onto him from residents about cleanliness at the shelter, citing kennels that appeared to only be cleaned once a day and were already filthy by the afternoon.

He wrapped up his comments with cautious optimism about the upcoming Yucca Valley Animal Committee meeting along with what could be characterized as a warning to the councilmembers..

“We we are going to work to get rid of you guys if you don’t respond and work on this. That’s our job as community members. Merl, Rick and Jim, you’re first next year. Jeff and Robert, 2028. This will be your legacy if you let it be and we will remind the community that this is your responsibility and your failure if it doesn’t move forward in the right way. Thank you.”

Joshua Tree resident Susan Walls also mentioned dogs that she thought were too thin at the shelter, and pushed for a volunteer program to be implemented before the new shelter manager is hired. She also mentioned how she did notice that on several of the days she was visiting the shelter, staff were taking dogs out and brushing them.

“Which I thought was very good but it was only for you know 10 to 15 minutes. But that’s all dogs need! I mean if we could get each dog out at least once a week… I mean it’s a terrible terrible prison for them to be in.”

Second meeting of the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter Committee

The second meeting of the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter Committee is Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

There has been a room change to the Yucca Valley Senior Center temporary site – aka the old library. This meeting will also have a PA system, according to town staff.

You can find the agenda here: https://yuccavalleyca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1072/files/agenda/100

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