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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 11-12 04/15/19961 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 OR 16 1996 AGENDA ITEM# KEYWORD: Animal Control DATE: April 15,1996 DEPARTMENT: City Manager REQUEST COUNCIL ACTION: Introduce amendment to Section 9.28.130 P.M.C. to require spay/neuter of all adopted cats and dogs from the animal shelter, and approve spay/neuter program as proposed by the Humane Society. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Introduce ordinance amendment. 2. Pass resolution approving spay/neuter program. BACKGROUND: The Humane Society supports the mandatory spay/neutering of all adopted cats and dogs from the Animal Shelter. In our new contract, the Humane Society was required to propose such a program within 90 days. The purpose of the mandatory program is to reduce the unwanted pet population and therefore reduce long-term fiscal impacts of animal services in the future. Such a program would also encourage responsible pet ownership by removing availability of "cheap" pets from our shelter. Dan Knapp, Executive Director, has outlined the proposed program in his letter to me dated March 27, 1996 (attached). Staff concurs with the proposed program and fee schedule. Staff has provided an amendment to our ordinance which removes reference to a spay/neuter deposit and replaces it with the mandatory program and fee authority. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Continue to collect deposits only. 2. Reject mandatory fee and program. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ACTING: No effective program will exist to encourage reduction in unwanted pet population. ACTION FOLLOWING AUTHORIZATION: agenda96/kc The Humane Society of Sonoma County #qR P.O. Box 1296 Santa Rosa, California 95402 ���, f/ (707) 542-0882 Ext. 201 Fax: (707) 542-1317 Fax Memorandum Total Pages: 3 Executive Director's Office To: Gene Beatty, Asst. City Manager From: Dan C. Knapp, Executive Director Date: 3/27/96 Subject: Spay/Neuter Proposal Proposal Core The Humane Society proposes to implement a program, wherein all adoptable sheltered dogs and cats are spayed and neutered prior to placement into new homes. The program will be self -funding, in that the adopter will pay the set fee for the sterilization surgery. Background The contract for Animal Control Services accepted by the City Council on March 18, 1996 calls for the presentation of a proposal outlining the details of a self -funding spay/neuter program within sixty days. Currently, some cats and dogs are sterilized prior to placement into new homes, and trust deposits are secured on the remainder. It is estimated that sixty percent of all adopters who leave a trust deposit, do not complete the sterilization surgery. Sexually intact pets, adopted from the shelter, continue to reproduce, increasing both the number of unwanted pets, and the cost of animal control programs. Adopting dogs and cats that have been sterilized prior to placement: diminishes the pet overpopulation problem and recurrent costs associated with its control; and provides a customer service to the potential new guardian, by providing all initial veterinary services at the point of adoption. Page Two Spay/Neuter Proposal Costs The total cost , charged to the adopter, includes the services listed below. The veterinary work (e.g., vaccines) are necessary and must be provided prior to the surgery. While the total cost may seem high, it is helpful to remember that the charges are in parity with other Shelters in the area, and are within or below the comparable market. Total 1 1 $65.001 $75.00 Detail From prior discussions with City Staff it was agreed that all revenues collected from adopters would be credited to the City treasury on a daily basis. This would include the fees from the spay/neuter program. On a monthly basis the City would remit back to the Society the costs of the program for that month, less the adoption fee. The charge billed to the City would include FELV test , rabies vaccine, and sterilization fees collected for that same period. The Society would arrange surgeries with Veterinarians and handle all invoicing and payment for surgeries. In this way the program would be self -funding. While all adopters will be charged the same flat fee , and the Society reimbursed based on this schedule, the Veterinarian's charges may differ due to complications from surgery or special circumstances. It is anticipated that the differentials in revenue and expense will not be significant, allowing the program to break-even on an annual basis. Program subsidiary ledgers will be available. Reason Cats Dogs Adoption Fee Set by Council. Prepares animal for adoption (includes Vet. Exam, vaccines, deworming, and carrier box) $15.00 $15.00 FELV Tests cats for fatal disease $12.50 0 Rabies Protects Public Health $ 4.00 $ 4.00 Sterilization Spay/neuter fee $33.50 $56.00 Total 1 1 $65.001 $75.00 Detail From prior discussions with City Staff it was agreed that all revenues collected from adopters would be credited to the City treasury on a daily basis. This would include the fees from the spay/neuter program. On a monthly basis the City would remit back to the Society the costs of the program for that month, less the adoption fee. The charge billed to the City would include FELV test , rabies vaccine, and sterilization fees collected for that same period. The Society would arrange surgeries with Veterinarians and handle all invoicing and payment for surgeries. In this way the program would be self -funding. While all adopters will be charged the same flat fee , and the Society reimbursed based on this schedule, the Veterinarian's charges may differ due to complications from surgery or special circumstances. It is anticipated that the differentials in revenue and expense will not be significant, allowing the program to break-even on an annual basis. Program subsidiary ledgers will be available. Page 3 Spay/Neuter Program Summary As soon as the Council approves this program, the Society will begin with implementation. Timing is critical as the cat breeding season has begun, and any delayed surgeries may mean that the Shelter will continue to compound the problem they exist to solve.