COSTA MESA The city is getting an animal shelter to temporarily house stray dogs and cats collected by its animal control officers. But critics objected to plans for Costa Mesa to partner with the Orange County Humane Society to operate the facility.

On Monday, Oct. 23, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the proposal for a 3,700-square-foot facility to house dogs, cats and possibly smaller animals, for up to seven days before they are available for adoption, in an industrial zone at 642 Baker St. No animals would be euthanized at the Costa Mesa location, city officials said.

An outdoor area for walking and exercise area would be located on the site and veterinary services would be provided to stray animals brought to the facility, officials said.

Several residents, however, expressed concerns about allegations of unsanitary conditions and the poor treatment of animals at the Humane Society’s private shelter in Huntington Beach.

Aside from criticisms lobbed at the Humane Society, some residents and business owners took issue with putting a shelter in an industrial area, citing noise and health impacts to the animals.

The commission was not deterred.

“I’m perfectly comfortable with the operator at this point in time,” said Commission Vice Chair Byron de Arakal.

In 2015, the city entered into a three-year, $231,817 contract with the Humane Society — which expires in January — to shelter its stray cats and dogs.

The proposal for the shelter comes after the Humane Society contracted with Garden Grove, which has caused an overflow of animals at the Huntington Beach facility, said Costa Mesa police Lt. Victor Bakkila

To provide oversight, an animal control officer would be at the facility during operating hours. Some animals could be given to rescue groups or transferred to “low-kill” shelters should the facility experience an overflow, he said.

“This is going to be more than enough a facility for our animals,” Bakkila said. “We roughly do six to 10 dogs a week and about 10 cats. I anticipate a little spillage coming over from the Orange County Humane Society over here.”

Sharon Logan, who runs the Paws Protectors Rescue and sued OC Animal Care over its practices, criticized the Humane Society and its owner Samir Botros, saying the group lacked transparency, such as banning video and photography in its facility.

“They (the public) also have the right to videotape and take photos of poor shelter conditions, share them publicly, and demand that the shelter correct those conditions,” Logan said Tuesday. “They can build a new shelter in Costa Mesa but if he has the same staff, and employees that are pro kill, a new shelter isn’t going to change the shelter conditions that exist.”

Botros, who was called “Dr. Death” by a member of the public, said he would work with the city to provide suitable care for the animals.

“If your animal control department trusts in us and sees some mistake down the road and we correct it together… this is how we work,” Botros told the commission. “There’s nothing to hide.”

In past years, Costa Mesa police, which heads the animal control unit, were aware of concerns at the Humane Society shelter but have not seen the type of negligence alleged by its critics, officials have said.

Logan was later kicked out of the City Council chambers after interrupting Botros several times during the public comment portion of the meeting.

In 2015, Newport Beach parted ways with the Humane Society over allegations of problems with animal care and sanitation.

Complaints involved high drug prices, cat cages not being cleaned regularly and hosing down kennels with the animals still inside. City officials voiced concerns that the Humane Society took no steps to fix the problems.

The county’s shelter, OC Animal Care, reached a settlement with Logan in 2015 after it was accused of routinely killing cats and dogs and not allowing enough time for the animals to be adopted.