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.
Location: Meetings are now being held at DRD Metro 8 Desert Recreation; 81-725 Highway 111. Indio, CA 92201 until further notice. Posted agenda 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].
Upcoming Meeting:
Thursday August 6, 2026 | DRD Metro 8 Desert Recreation; 81-725 Highway 111. Indio, CA 92201
Agendas and Proceedings
Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission Meetings
2026
August 6, 2026
June 4, 2026
April 2, 2026
Meeting Agenda
Meeting Video
Meeting Minutes
Presented Documents:
February 5, 2026
2025
2024
Commission Membership
The members of the Animal Commission are appointed by cities. A current list of Commission members may be found below.
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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
Councilmember Kathleen Fitzpatrick (Alternate)
City of Palm Desert
Councilmember Karina Quintanilla
Mayor Pro Tem Evan Trubee (Alternate)
City of Rancho Mirage
Councilmember Michael O'Keefe (Vice-chair)
Eve F. Edelstein (Alternate)
County of Riverside District 4
Supervisor V. Manuel Perez
Ty Peabody (Alternate)
Non-Voting Members
Animal Samaritans (Ex-Officio)
Tom Snyder, CEO
Aurora Wilson (Alternate)
Loving All Animals (Ex-Officio)
Michael Phipps Russell
Jessica Castillo (Alternate)
Palm Springs Animal Shelter (Ex-Officio)
Dan Rossi, Executive Director
Tamara Hedges, President
County of Riverside
Director- Mary Martin
Assistant Director – Dr. Kimberly Youngberg
Interim Commander of Field Services- Lt. Leseley Huennekens
Chief Veterinarian- Itzel Vizcarra, DVM
Public Information Officer- Veronica Perez
Executive Asst. – Kasey Saldarelli
Outcomes for Pets- Consultants