San Jose shifts animal shelter back to parks department after years of scrutiny

SAN JOSE IS CHANGING UP which department oversees its animal shelter months after advocates threatened legal action over alleged neglect.

The San Jose Animal Care Center will move from the Public Works Department to operate under Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Aug. 1. City officials said this will improve coordination and build on recent progress, such as reducing shelter overcrowding. The move consolidates oversight of animals citywide under the parks department, which also oversees programs at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo and Emma Prusch Farm Park. The animal shelter was originally under the parks department when it opened in 2004.