New grand jury report says improvements are still needed at troubled SJ shelter

A civil grand jury report raises concerns about the San Jose Animal Care Center, noting progress on issues from a 2024 audit while emphasizing that critical operational challenges and erosion of public trust persist. The report identifies a “trust gap” driven by insufficient data transparency and credibility. Some metrics have improved, including animal adoptions, but other measures have worsened, including animal deaths and the length of time animals remain in the shelter. Advocates criticize the shelter’s performance relative to its growing budget, and they question the sincerity of official statements about ongoing improvements. The city plans to shift shelter operations from the Public Works Department to the Parks Department later this summer.

"The report says that while the shelter has made progress addressing issues identified in a 2024 audit, "critical challenges remain in operations and in the significant erosion of public trust, both of which continue to undermine the shelter's effectiveness.""

"One of the key issues highlighted in the report is a "trust gap" with the public, driven by what it describes as a lack of data transparency and credibility. The report also notes that while some metrics -- such as animal adoptions -- have improved, others, including animal deaths and the length of time animals remain in the shelter, have also increased."

""The shelter has very clearly been doing a lot less for a lot more money. That trend is very clear," she said. The shelter was unavailable for an interview Wednesday but told ABC7 Eyewitness News in a statement: "As always, we remain committed to the health, safety, and welfare of the animals in our care, as well as the ongoing improvement of shelter conditions and services.""

"DavisMatthews said the statement rings hollow. "It feels like lip service to me because we haven't seen a lot of meaningful change," she said. San Jose plans to move operation of the shelter from the Public Works Department to the city's Parks Department later this summer - a shift"

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