DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Davis
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
ACS grant with Best Friends
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance ratifying the submission of and authorizing acceptance and appropriation of the Feral Cats Spay/Neuter Grant of $10,000 from Best Friends for a period of one year from the date of acceptance
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
ACS will continue to build on its success through the implementation of innovative solutions. ACS will focus its efforts and resources in FY 2014 on (1) enhancing field enforcement; (2) increasing community spay/neuter services; (3) maximizing kennel capacity, and (4) maintaining its successful Live Release program.
Over the course of the last few months, ACS has actively searched for grants and community programs that coincide with the mission of ACS. ACS has been awarded two grants; the Pets for Life Grant for $50,000 and the Feral Cats Spay/Neuter Grant for $10,000. The following provides background for the grants and the strategy for their usage:
In September 2013, Best Friends awarded ACS a $10,000 grant. The funds will provide spay and neuter services to the 78212 zip code area (Brackenridge Park location).
ACS is requesting that the City accept these funds and partner with PetShotz, a local spay/neuter business, to provide these services. PetShotz was identified due to its close proximity to Brackenridge Park. Under this arrangement, any feral cat from the 78212 zip code could be brought into PetShotz, to receive a free spay/neuter surgery.
If accepted, this grant would allow the City to help control the stray cat population by spaying/neutering nearly 200 feral cats. It is estimated that these surgeries could prevent the birth of over 660 additional stray cats annually. These surgeries will be in addition to the $500,000 already allocated in the department's budget for community spay/neuter services.
ISSUE:
An Ordinance ratifying the submission of and authorizing acceptance and appropriation of the Feral Cats Spay/Neuter Grant of $10,000 from Best Friends for a period of one year from the date of acceptance. The Best Friends' Feral Cat Spay/Neuter grant of $10,000 would allow ACS to pay for the spay/neutering of 200 feral cats located in the 78212 zip code (Brackenridge Park location). ACS would also enter into a contractual relationship with PetShotz to provide these services.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the ordinance is not approved Animal Care Services would not be able to provide spay/neuter surgeries for 200 feral cats located in the 78212 zip code (Brackenridge Park location). In addition, ACS would not be able to enter into a contractual relationship with PetShotz to provide these services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The acceptance of this grant in the amount of $10,000 for a period of one year from the date of acceptance does not require a City cash match contribution, nor does it authorize an increase in personnel count.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends ratifying the submission of, accepting and appropriating the $10,000 Feral Cats Spay/Neuter Grant from Best Friends for a period of one year.