Pasadena Humane Society Contract Renewal Heads to Public Safety Committee for $10.5 Million Five-Year Animal Care Deal

The Pasadena Public Safety Committee is scheduled to review a proposed five-year contract renewal with The Pasadena Humane Society to continue providing animal care and control services to the city, with a total not-to-exceed value of $10,473,183, when it meets in special session on Thursday, May 28.

The committee will consider whether to recommend that the full City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into the agreement, which would extend a partnership between the city and Pasadena Humane that dates to 1904. Because the Public Safety Committee is strictly advisory, its vote would constitute a recommendation only, with the City Council retaining final authority to approve, modify or reject the proposed contract.

According to the staff report prepared by the Department of Public Health, the current five-year agreement with Pasadena Humane expires June 30. The proposed new agreement would run from July 1 through June 30, 2031, and would continue Pasadena Humane’s role as City Poundmaster, fulfilling state requirements under California Health and Safety Code Section 121690 that each city maintain a pound system and rabies control program.

If approved by the City Council, the contract would maintain core services including animal control and field services, support for animal control hearings, shelter operations, veterinary care, and state-mandated reporting. Pasadena Humane also currently provides contracted services to nine other foothill communities, including Arcadia, Bradbury, La Cañada Flintridge, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and unincorporated Los Angeles County areas of Altadena, La Crescenta and San Pasqual.

The proposed agreement would incorporate three changes to the scope of work. Pasadena Humane would shift from an after-hours answering service to two officers working overnight, transition Humane Officers to Certified Animal Control Officers in a move staff says would reduce costs without affecting local service, and modify response times for dead animal pickup. Under the proposed change, immediate pickup would continue when requested by the Pasadena Police Department or designated city officials, but routine calls would shift from a within-two-hours response (between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) to within 24 hours.

The first-year cost of $1,987,968 would represent a 10 percent increase over the current Fiscal Year 2026 cost of $1,807,242. According to the staff report, direct costs for Pasadena Humane have increased an average of 14 percent annually, with insurance up 18 percent, utilities up 11 percent, and supplies up 21 percent over the last five years. Over the same period, live intakes in Pasadena increased 47 percent and field service calls rose 24 percent. After the first year, the contract would include annual increases of 2.6136 percent through the end of the term.

Staff is also recommending that the City Council find the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and grant an exemption from competitive bidding under Pasadena Municipal Code 4.08.049(B) and City Charter Section 1002(F). The staff report notes that under the city’s Urban Wildlife Management Plan, coyote abatement would continue to be conducted by representatives of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or a state-licensed animal trapping agent under contract with the city, with Pasadena Humane handling coyotes or other wild animals only when they are injured or ill and no longer mobile.

The Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, in the Pasadena City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249, 100 North Garfield Avenue, in Pasadena. For more information call (626) 744-7311 or visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas/.