28 animal care workers to be laid off in October.

According to this article, It all depends on a trash fee hike, which could stave off some of the layoffs.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

All city departments were ordered to submit possible cuts as a result of the budget crisis. The Department of Animal Services suggested either delaying the public opening of the new Mission shelter or reducing public hours at all the shelters. The city told the agency to do both and cut positions.

According to the article, the fate of the workers may ultimately be tied to trash bin fees. Councilman Richard Alarcon discovered that the City had not collected all fees from residents with extra are extra-large trash bins. The amount is estimated to be about $8.5 million. Hopefully residents will pay the extra fee so that these desperately needed jobs can be saved. The animals need it!