Sangamon County Animal Control Peer Comparisons
Sangamon County Animal Control Peer Comparisons
1
Project Charter
The consultant staff has worked with animal control operations across the
country. Some citizens have advocated for changes in Sangamon County.
As part of considering this, the County sought input on how its approach
compares to other Central Illinois counties.
Sangamon The County’s budget for services is $63,500. Outside vets charge $60/hour to
provide pre-adoption wellness checks, rabies vaccinations, and exams after bite
observation period. This is equivalent to 20 hours per week.
Champaign One part-time vet at 3.25 hours per day provides vaccinations, bites and quarantine
releases, provides medication. Use University of Illinois emergency clinic as needed.
Macon One full-time vet at $70,000 per year, plus vet assistant, provide all medical services
including orthopedics. Vet assistant funded through Foundation. No nearby
emergency clinic.
Peoria No vets on staff. Vet services provide via contract with Peoria County Medical
Association. Dept pays $7,500 per quarter for “vet of the day” coverage from M-F
during the lunch hour. Vet can see 15-20 animals per day. Performs spays/ neuters at
$35/$55 each plus shots/diagnostics/ears/eyes. Emergencies seen at local
emergency center.
Champaign Director euthanizes for health/behavior reasons. Performs modified SAFER test. Humane Society
also tests for adoptability and takes adoptable animals. Policy is to keep identified animals 7 days,
non-identified animals 5 days, feral cats, 3 days.
Macon Euthanize based on unanimous decision by committee of 3-4 admin staff who confer with kennel
attendants. Try to get rescue groups to take them if possible.
Peoria Euthanize for public walk-ins upon request, as well as in-house sheltered animals following
behavioral assessments. If animals pass assessment, they’re transferred to other organizations. If
they fail and can’t be transferred or adopted, they’re euthanized.
Sangamon County’s services are similar to the services other counties provide.
Average
Without
Champaign Macon Peoria Average Macon Sangamon
Population (2019) 210,000 104,000 180,000 164,667 195,000 198,000
Shelter Staff (Est) 9 23 14 15 12 15
Staff Per 10,000 Population 0.43 2.21 0.78 0.93 0.60 0.76
Peoria • Volunteers coordinated by Peoria Humane Society (PHS). Help with training and walking dogs and
public education.
• PHS voices their opinions, but all policy decisions are made by Shelter Director, County Admin, and
Board.
Sangamon Walking/bathing dogs, • Citizens Advisory Committee – Yes. Friends of Sangamon County Animal
transporting animals, hasn’t met since pre-COVID Control is a volunteer group whose involvement
adoption events, • Friends of Sangamon County began with providing enrichment support for
guided tours for those animals, primarily walking and other interaction
wishing to adopt. Non- with animals. Their assistance was initially well
routine medical care received, and their involvement has evolved
arrangements and over time. It has now reached the point that
payments the group has demanded an active oversight
role in day-to-day staff operations of the shelter
as well as all major policy decisions.
Champaign No volunteers No volunteers No volunteers
Sangamon Built 1999-2000. Kennel Trough drain surface, front & back systems, 8 84 dogs, 100 cats
replacement essentially rooms, all connected, goes to city sewer.
complete.
Champaign 40 years old. Retrofitted in 2005. Cages individually drained, flow into giant floor 45 dogs, 45 cats
drain. No grates.
Macon Renovated in 2006 Each kennel has own drain, each room has two. 135 dogs, 156 cats
Decatur Public Building Commission maintains
facility including drains.
Peoria Built in 1986. Some remodeling Floor drains. Dog drains deep cleaned daily. Cat 65 dogs, 100 cats.
since then. drains spot cleaned daily.
Sangamon County capacity is comparable to the peers. If Macon County were excluded, the average for Champaign and Macon would be 6.54 per 10,000. Sangamon
County does operate below capacity.
Annual Intakes 2020: 2,006 2020: 1,843 2020: 1,933 2020: 3,372
2019: 2,679 2019: 2,931
Sangamon County appears to be less likely than the peers to spay or neuter.
Reporting • Sangamon County publishes an annual report, consistent with statutory requirements
• Peers publish monthly statistical reports posted on website
Community Education • Sangamon County holds meetings upon request by schools and neighborhood groups
• Peers:
• 1 peer does not provide
• 1 peer provides upon request to schools
• 1 peer has a full-time education coordinator and works with volunteers to provide programs.
Agreements with • Sangamon County has agreements with private shelters and rescue groups for transporting pets
Community Groups • Peers:
• 1 peer has no formal agreements
• 1 peer has no agreements but separate foundation transports animals
• 1 peer has agreement with humane society
• Non-routine medical care and payments are a volunteer effort
Stakeholder Meetings • Sangamon County:
• Citizens Advisory Committee had been meeting quarterly pre-Covid
• Friends of Sangamon County meet on ad hoc basis
• Peers:
• 2 peers do not convene stakeholder meetings, but stakeholders may attend County Board
meetings
• 1 peer's Board committee meets monthly; separate Foundation meets monthly and invites
animal control director for opening only of its meetings
Macon County staff paid less than peers. If wages Barn cat program Spays/neuters put on hold during
were commensurate, turnover would be pandemic. Currently adoptions
less. have increased due to $25 special.
Peoria Peoria & Sangamon shelter directors sit on Community cat models. Intakes/calls for service
two boards together. decreased. Fosters/adoptions
increased.