BAKERSFIELD, CA-- Kern County Supervisors dropped a bombshell of their own Tuesday firing Animal Control Director Jen Woodard less than one year after she took the job.
The supervisors also voted to lease a 2.75 acre industrial property near Fruitvale Avenue and Rosedale for Kern County Animal Control.
Officials say they already have ordered kennels and are getting ready to open by October first. Last month, The City of Bakersfield decided to evict the County from the City owned-shelter because they could not reach an agreement, and blamed the county for dragging its feet.
Supervisors wouldn't say if the eviction led to Woodard's firing as the decision was reached in closed session Tuesday afternoon. "A change in leadership over Animal Control Division was called for,” said Mike Maggard, Chairman of The Kern County Board of Supervisors. “So we voted unanimously to reliever our animal control director of her duties effective immediately."
Woodard had a specific vision about how Kern County Animal Control should be run. She favored targeting low economic areas for low-cost spray and neuter programs. It was a policy that went against conventional wisdom and upset some members of the board.
"We try to have low income services for people that maybe are really challenged just with surviving so they are not going to be able to pay $500 for a dog spay,” said Woodard in October, 2012.
Woodard is the second Animal Control Director in two and a half years to be terminated.
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Supervisors fire animal control director
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