As a San José resident, taxpayer, and deeply concerned constituent, I am writing to urge immediate action to restore public access to affordable spay/neuter services in our city. The current lack of investment in this critical public health service is not only unacceptable–it is directly fueling a worsening crisis of animal overpopulation, public health risks, and strain on our already overburdened shelter system.

According to your own budget records, San José spent only $2,400 on public spay/neuter services in the last fiscal year–a city of over 1 million residents. This figure is staggering in light of the city’s $5 billion annual budget, and stands in sharp contrast to pre-COVID operations, when the city collaborated with local clinics and operated a robust network of low-cost sterilization services for owned, stray, and feral animals.

The entire public-facing spay/neuter system in San José was dismantled during the pandemic–the in-house clinic shut down, partnerships with local veterinarians were terminated, and county-assisted voucher programs were allowed to lapse. The result is a dramatic and visible increase in the homeless animal population, with San José Animal Care Services now turning away many animals, citing lack of space and capacity. Yet we continue to see no plan or clear funding commitment to reverse this dangerous trend.

Even with the recent passage of Resolution No. RES2024-230, which defines low-cost fees for public spay/neuter, the city has not announced any investment, capacity targets, or implementation strategy. Nor has it responded to analyses submitted by local advocates outlining the investment levels needed to meet community demand.

Meanwhile, shelters across California reported 450,000 intakes in 2024, with euthanasia at a three-year high. San José cannot continue to treat animal services as a footnote in the budget. This is not just about pets–it is a matter of community health, equity, and responsible governance.

I respectfully call on the City Council to:
– Immediately reinstate and fund public spay-neuter/TNR assistance, at minimum to pre-COVID levels.
– Rebuild partnerships with local veterinary clinics, providing financial support through vouchers or collaborative funding.
– Work jointly with Santa Clara County officials to establish a reliable, well-funded network of spay-neuter/TNR providers, ensuring regional coordination and consistent access.
– Establish a transparent application system for residents to access assistance and services.
– Commit to regular public reporting on funding, progress, and service capacity.
– Pursue state-level funding assistance and explore partnerships to scale operations to the needs of our diverse community.

San José has both the resources and the responsibility to lead on this issue. Animals are not a luxury–they are part of our neighborhoods, our families, and our public health ecosystem.
It’s time their welfare was treated as a priority, not an afterthought.