Front Street Animal Shelter’s Animal Services team has reduced pending service requests from more than 2,000 to fewer than 200 after filling vacant positions and improving how calls are prioritized, assigned and resolved.
The backlog grew during a period of significant staffing shortages. Over the past several years, the shelter has filled vacant officer positions and hired a chief animal services officer to lead the team. The team is now fully staffed, with newer officers continuing their training and gaining field experience.
“Reducing the backlog means our team is better positioned to respond when animals and residents need help,” said April Stevenson, Front Street Animal Shelter manager. “We’re proud of the progress our officers have made. As newer officers complete their training, we’ll continue improving how we manage calls and respond to community concerns.”
Animal services officers respond to calls throughout Sacramento involving loose pets, injured animals, welfare concerns, bite reports and wildlife in distress.
In 2025, the team handled 21,232 service requests and made nearly 12,000 field responses. Its work included more than 3,300 welfare checks, 1,133 bite reports and 3,625 animal pickups.
Each pending request requires review to determine the appropriate response. For example, a loose dog running through traffic may require immediate field assistance, while a report of a baby bird on the ground may call for guidance to the resident.
Responding to thousands of requests across Sacramento involves prioritizing urgent concerns, coordinating field visits and following up as needed.
Officers also reunite lost pets with their families, enforce animal-related laws and connect pet owners with resources to help keep animals safely in their homes.
The work can be physically demanding and emotionally difficult. In addition to animal handling and enforcement skills, officers need compassion, communication and problem-solving skills to navigate difficult situations involving both people and animals.
The shelter plans to build on the reduction in pending requests as newer officers complete their training and the team continues improving its call management processes.
How residents can help
Community members who find a stray dog can help by temporarily caring for it, if they can safely do so, while trying to locate its owner. Many pets can be reunited with their families within 24 to 48 hours. The shelter offers tips for finding a pet’s owner.
For more information about shelter services and ways to get involved, visit frontstreetshelter.org.