Pomona, Calif. – For decades, the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA (IVHS) has provided animal care and control services for local animals in partnership with communities across the region. Effective July 1, 2025, the Cities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario and pockets of San Bernardino County have transitioned their animal care and control services to the newly formed Joint Powers Authority (JPA), the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (ARC). The ARC is currently located at its temporary shelter at 1630 Shearwater Drive, Ontario, CA, until its permanent facilities can be constructed. IVHS has worked in close collaboration with the ARC and its newly contracted cities, to ensure a smooth transition for the animals, pet owners and organization staff.
“Prior to and during the recent transition of services from IVHS to the ARC, there have been inaccurate and misleading statements made about the care, service and operational processes of IVHS,” said Nikole Bresciani, President/CEO of the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA. “It is deeply disappointing to hear false remarks continuing to be made about our organization. To ensure residents have accurate information, we are providing facts about the services and operations of IVHS as well as corrections to publicly broadcasted misinformation about IVHS.”
Services provided by IVHS:
IVHS provides many programs and services to support pets and the community including animal care and sheltering, adoptions, foster and rescue partnerships, pet lost and found services, humane and animal control, wildlife management, low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary services, trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNVR), humane education and community outreach, pet therapy, community support including a Pet Pantry, and volunteer opportunities.
Misinformation corrected:
Timeline of the ARC formation and transition: Discussions and planning surrounding the formation of the ARC have been ongoing privately for over two years among cities interested in joining the JPA. IVHS worked with all interested cities during that time, despite false assertions of short timelines for contract changes or terminations with or by IVHS. The Cities of Chino, Montclair and Ontario completed their transition of animals and service from IVHS to the ARC on June 30, 2025.
IVHS Board Meeting Access: As a private non-profit 501(c)(3), IVHS does not allow public officials to serve as members of the board or participate in board meetings. To do so, IVHS would become a quasi-governmental agency. IVHS has repeatedly invited city council members and management to reach out to the board members and IVHS’s management to discuss any questions or concerns.
Budget Transparency: As a private non-profit 501(c)(3), like any other private organization, the IVHS budget is private and proprietary. However, IVHS provides each city with the basis of its cost formula and use percentages per their contracts. Cities have the right to review their service and billing records in detail. Amid claims that IVHS’ costs for services are too high, and a cause for contract termination, notably the cost of services for each partner city at the ARC is higher than what IVHS was charging, not including ARC construction costs.
Animal Care & Control Service Options: As a private, independent, non-profit organization, IVHS has a philanthropic side and contracts services to local municipalities. City partners have privately and publicly been advised of their options pertaining to animal care and control services, including contracting with IVHS, opting to run their own program, or contracting with another provider. IVHS’ focus regarding animal control services is to provide humane, effective, and affordable services to its city partners.
Mobile Services: The purchase of “The Good Mobile Spay and Neuter Unit,” was approved by the IVHS Board of Directors in May of 2024, and once its custom fabrication was completed it became operational in January of 2025. IVHS started a pilot program with its originally contracted city partners, who IVHS has been serving since 1950, with the intent to expand to other city partners as the program developed.
Collaborative Offers: In addition to the mobile spay and neuter services, IVHS has offered low-cost spay and neuter programs for many years, prior to the opening of the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Medical Center in January of 2023. In the spirit of collaboration, the IVHS Board of Directors approved continuing to offer low-cost spay/neuter services, including TNVR, to any animal owner within ARC’s service area until its new shelter is built and the medical program is functional. IVHS has also offered to provide spay/neuter and vaccination services to ARC through “The Good Mobile”, to help with ensuring animals are spayed/neutered in preparation for timely adoptions, alleviating stress, space, and spread of disease. IVHS is also currently working with the ARC to transport animals on an IVHS donor-funded, long-haul transport to help alleviate space constraints at the ARC shelter.
Service Concerns: Despite claims of poor service as a reason for forming the ARC JPA, IVHS has consistently sought information and examples of service concerns but received none. When repeatedly asked, cities have continuously stated there were no service-related issues, including admitting that allegations IVHS regularly does not pick up deceased animals in a timely manner are not true, despite statements to the contrary in council meetings. IVHS contracts allow for curing alleged breaches, but no breaches have been reported, and IVHS has never been provided with an opportunity to resolve alleged complaints of poor service. IVHS prides itself on quality service, and statements to the contrary are false and defamatory.
Service Fees during ARC Transition: There have been false statements that IVHS is charging cities penalties to care for animals that remain in IVHS’ care. This is not true. IVHS charges a daily rate for the cost of food, care and medical treatment for animals remaining in IVHS’ care. As of July 1, 2025, IVHS kept over 100 neonatal puppies and kittens in its care due to ARC’s lack of available resources for fostering and medical support. The cities refused to pay the daily rate for foster medical services for their animals, therefore IVHS donors are supporting this endeavor. IVHS, like the ARC, cannot care for the remaining animals for free, although it wishes that it could. No penalties are being charged to the cities for these services.
The Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA remains committed to compassionate service, responsible stewardship and building a humane community for both people and animals. Focused on serving its community with the goal of public safety and reducing pet overpopulation, IVHS looks forward to continuing to help pets in the Inland Empire, and to extend these services to more pets in the San Gabriel Valley in the future, with the anticipated acquisition of the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society.
The Inland Valley Humane Society and S.P.C.A. is a private, non-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to providing protection, shelter, and medical care to homeless, abandoned, and injured animals of our community. IVHS serves the cities of Chino Hills, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Glendora, La Habra, La Verne, Pomona, and San Dimas. For more information, visit our website, ivhsspca.org, contact IVHS at [email protected], or by phone at 909-623-9777.
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