At 7 p.m. on Monday, May 11, Long Beach Animal Care Services director Staycee Dains will preside over a virtual town hall meeting to discuss shelter practices during and after the bureau’s pandemic-related closure to the public.

“We are hosting this town hall to inform our residents about Animal Care Services’ Compassion Saves program and the great work they have done clearing our shelters during the pandemic,” said Councilman Roberto Uranga, whose office organized the event.

Dains spearheaded the development of the Compassion Saves model soon after she was hired as director in February 2019. The approach to shelter operation directs saving the life of every pet that is either healthy or has a treatable illness through innovative programming that addresses, among other principles, spay/neuter, rescue partnerships and community relations. Innovation was evident when the shelter closed to the public last month and staff joined forces with nonprofit rescues to place pets into temporary foster homes. The shelter continues intake of sick and injured pets, strays, and animals confiscated in abuse and criminal cases.

Two groups have essentially emptied the kennels at Long Beach shelter

Dains expects participants to be particularly interested in the shelter’s response to the pandemic.

“I am sure there will be tons of COVID stuff asked,” she said.

The town hall will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. To join, call 213-306-3065 and enter the access code 961-787-901.