New Beginnings, But the Work Continues

At the San Francisco Zoo, the lions (and the others) are awaiting news of the audit recently supported unanimously by the SF Board of Supervisors. photo: AdoboeStock

Ever since I was a child, the arrival of a new year has always been a special time for me. When I was younger, it meant being allowed to stay up way past my bedtime and, at midnight, banging pots and pans to celebrate. In the morning, we’d watch the Rose Parade on TV. Sometimes, we’d even drive over to Pasadena to watch it in person.

Obviously, I celebrate New Year’s Eve differently as an adult, but the beginning of the year remains a magical time for me. It’s a time to let go of the hurts and embarrassments of the past, but it’s also a time to use those lessons learned to guide us toward a better future. 

As the Animal Commission welcomes the new year, we’ll see a combination of new and old business items on the agenda, I hope with a bit more organization on my part (that’s one lesson learned!).  

Our biggest issue continues to be the San Francisco Zoo Recommendations, a report created by the animal welfare advisors on the Joint Zoo Committee (JZC), which the commission unanimously voted to support at its October meeting. As Commissioner Tobin wrote in her excellent column last month, the Board of Supervisors’ Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted to forward the resolution requesting an audit of the zoo - one of the report’s chief recommendations - to the full board for a vote. And at its December 10 meeting, the full board unanimously voted to support an audit. 

This means that a government audit of the San Francisco Zoo will begin either this fiscal year or the next one depending on the auditor’s schedule (that office is  already currently conducting several other audits). The Animal Commission members are pleased by the board’s action in support of an audit, especially since the zoo’s senior management showed up en masse to demand the board not conduct one. We look forward to viewing the report when the audit is completed. 

On a related note, I’d like to acknowledge the hard work of Commissioner Tobin in her role as one of the two animal welfare advisors on the Joint Zoo Committee, a position she has served in for roughly a decade. As an animal welfare advisor, she is a non-voting member of the JZC and, unlike the other committee members, she does not receive a stipend or reimbursement for parking or travel. She is also  typically only recognized to speak during the public comment period.

Although they are supposed to advise on animal welfare matters, the animal welfare advisors are not allowed access to accreditation reports and other essential documents that one would need to truly provide informed advice. They are not always allowed to ask questions regarding matters during meetings and, when a question is allowed, they are not guaranteed to receive an answer. But even with these challenges, Commissioner Tobin has consistently approached her work with compassion, integrity, and a deep sense of caring for the animals who must make their homes at the zoo.

In the months ahead, this column will continue to cover issues related to the zoo, including ways that zoo administrators have tried to discredit the hard work of those voicing concerns instead of looking into the issues raised. But there are also a number of other matters that will be on the commission’s agenda in the months ahead.

At our January meeting, we plan to have a presentation on animal-related disease tracking, an especially timely topic given a recently reported incident at the San Francisco Zoo, as well as Governor Newsom’s recent state of emergency declaration over bird flu. Attending will be one of the zoonosis veterinarians from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health as well as representatives from our own city. 

The commission’s February meeting will host a presentation from the nonprofit organization Animal Outlook regarding live animal markets in the city. As you may recall, Animal Outlook shared a highly informative presentation last year about its investigation into the conditions in live markets and provided guidance on what actions can be taken to help the animals who are suffering in them. Since then, commission members have been working with the deputy city attorney on ways to address this problem. 

In the coming year, the commission also hopes to continue its discussions on glue traps, San Francisco Animal Care & Control’s intake policies, and horseback riding in Golden Gate Park, among other important issues. As always, we welcome your thoughts and encourage you to comment at our meetings, or to submit a written public comment. We always look forward to hearing your concerns. 

See you at City Hall!

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The next meeting of the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, January 9, in Room 408 at City Hall (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102). Information about remote access to meetings is available at sf.gov/animalcommission. . Meeting agendas are published 72 hours in advance.

Please be aware that the views and opinions expressed in this column are those of Commissioner Torres and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare.