Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission

The Coachella Valley Animal Campus, located in Thousand Palms at 72-050 Petland Place, opened in 2005. The facility is a partnership with Riverside County Department of Animal Services, Animal Samaritans and the Coachella Valley cities of Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage. The Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission is comprised of one representative from each member city and county staff.

Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission Handbook

Meeting Schedule

The Animal Commission meets bi-monthly (every two months) on the first Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

Location: Meetings are now being held at alternating locations until further notice. Posted agenda and location will be provided 72 hours in advance on District 4 website, Animal Service's website and at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.

If you have any questions regarding the agenda, please contact Kasey Saldarelli at the Department of Animal Services, 951-358-7442 or via email at [email protected].

Click here for the 2025 Meeting Schedule

Commission Membership

The members of the Animal Commission are appointed by cities. A current list of Commission members may be found below.

Council Membership

Voting Members

Cathedral City

Mayor Nancy Ross (Chair)
Councilmember Ernesto Gutierrez (Alternate)

City of Coachella

Councilmember Frank Figueroa
Councilmember Yadira Perez (Alternate)

City of Desert Hot Springs

Councilmember Daniel Pitts
Councilmember Dirk Voss (Alternate)

City of Indian Wells

Councilmember Greg Sanders
Mayor Bruce Whitman (Alternate)

City of Indio

Mayor Glenn Miller
Community Member Kim Hardee (Alternate)

City of La Quinta

Councilmember Steve Sanchez (Vice-Chair)
Councilmember Kathleen Fitzpatrick (Alternate)

City of Palm Desert

Mayor Pro Tem Evan Trubee
Councilmember Karina Quintanilla (Alternate)

City of Rancho Mirage

Councilmember Michael O'Keefe
Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Malloto (Alternate)

County of Riverside District 4

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez
Esmeralda Perez (Alternate)

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Non-Voting Members

Animal Samaritans (Ex-Officio)

Tom Snyder, CEO
Aurora Wilson (Alternate)

Loving All Animals (Ex-Officio)

Michael Phipps Russell
Shelley Daily (Alternate)

Palm Springs Animal Shelter (Ex-Officio)

Dan Rossi, Executive Director
Tamara Hedges, President

County of Riverside

Assistant County Executive Officer- Charissa Leach
Director- Mary Martin
Assistant Director – Dr. Kimberly Youngberg
Public Information Officer- Veronica Perez
Executive Asst. – Kasey Saldarelli

Outcomes for Pets- Consultant

Kristen Hassen and Team