Dublin's share of the cost of running the East County Animal Shelter, which also serves Pleasanton, is climbing now that Livermore has left the group that splits the bill, and the Dublin City Council is being asked to approve a shorter replacement contract.
The proposed agreement is among Alameda County, Dublin and Pleasanton. It would keep the Alameda County Sheriff's Office in charge of the shelter for one year, with the option to extend twice, a year at a time. Earlier agreements ran for five years.
What changed
Livermore pulled out of the cost-sharing deal in July 2025 and now contracts with the East Bay SPCA, which it said would give its animals specialized shelter, veterinary and placement services. Livermore's animals now go to the SPCA's Dublin site at 4651 Gleason Drive.
That exit leaves Dublin covering a larger slice of the shelter's budget. Its share was $332,733, or 14.72%, in the 2025-26 fiscal year. For 2026-27 the city expects to pay $471,347, or 18.99%, and Dublin faces a $175,592 shortfall in its shelter budget as a result, according to Patch.
Under the proposal, the sheriff's office would keep supplying the shelter's staff, equipment and supplies and would continue caring for the animals.
