Rising Costs of Animal Control Forces Search for New Solutions in Monrovia

A pair of stray kittens. – Courtesy photo / U.S. Air Force, Airman 1st Class Thomas Spangler

By Susan Motander

Recently the City of Arcadia faced a huge increase in cost from the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS) for its animal control services. Their costs jumped from $90,000 to $525,000 per year, a 578 % increase. While Monrovia has not yet been impacted by these rising costs, the city, along with several others in the San Gabriel Valley (SGV), is looking for solutions.

Arcadia officials had two separate meeting with PHS to determine why such a huge cost increase was required. According to Monrovia City Manager Oliver Chi “jurisdictions, like Arcadia, reported that the PHS has been employing a negotiating approach that is short on details regarding why costs are increasing so dramatically.”

Monrovia’s current contract locks the cost at $120,000 through 2021; however, the only other alternative currently available is LA County. Also according to Chi, one option available is to from a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to create a regional animal control agency. Chi wrote in his City Manager’s Update last week that Monrovia’s staff is planning to start conversations with other communities including Arcadia, La Cañada, Bradbury, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino and Pasadena.

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