DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Davis
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Animal Care Services Update
SUMMARY:
Staff will provide a briefing on the following initiatives to be implemented in FY 2014:
A. Propose Amendment to Chapter 5 of the City Code by reducing the required holding period for those pets that have a live outcome;
B. Renew the Brooks Facility Lease with Brooks Development Authority for a period of 10 months
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In FY 2012, ACS began implementing its newly revised strategic plan by incorporating the three (3) strategic priorities of: enhanced enforcement, controlling the stray animal population, and increasing the Live Release rate. As evident in the drastic increase in the Live Release rate from 30% in FY 2011 to 77% in FY 2013, or in the increase in number of spay/neuter surgeries performed by ACS from 11,000 in FY 2012 to 17,500 in FY 2013, ACS continues to improve the services it provides to the community.
It is the anticipation of ACS to continue its success in FY 2014 through the implementation of innovative solutions. In particular, ACS anticipates focusing its efforts and resources in FY 2014 by: (1) enhancing field enforcement; (2) increasing community spay/neuter services; (3) maximizing kennel capacity, and (4) maintaining its successful Live Release program. The following two initiatives were presented to the City's Quality of Life Committee on the 15th of October and to the Animal Care Services Advisory Board on October 16th.
A. Chapter 5 of the City Code requires ACS to hold all healthy pets for a period of three (3) days, not including the day of impoundment, before the pet can be adopted, rescued, fostered, or humanely euthanized. On average, ACS is currently holding pets for a period of 6 days.
While the stray hold period allows time for the pet to be reunited with its owner or to find an individual to adopt/rescue, ACS frequently is required to hold the pet for additional time. For instance, as required by law, spay/neuter surgeries cannot be performed until after the end of the stray hold period. Therefore, even if a live outcome (adoption or rescue) for a pet is identified on the first day of impoundment, ACS cannot start the adoption/rescue process (which can take a full day to complete) until after the third full day of impoundment.
By reducing the hold period from three (3) full days (not including the day of impoundment) to (2) full days (not including the day of impoundment), ACS would be able to outcome pets with a live release 1 day sooner thereby freeing up additional kennel capacity. ACS would not reduce the hold time for any pet that does not have a live outcome. ACS anticipates that with this change, the City will be able to maximize its kennel capacity by bringing in up to an additional 770 stray/roaming pets annually.
B. In FY 2010, ACS partnered with the Brooks Development Authority (BDA) to address the high stray/roaming pet population. As part of that partnership, BDA leased an existing kennel space to ACS for 2 years at no cost to the city. This facility currently acts as an overflow kennel for ACS; giving the shelter the ability to increase the number of pets it is responsible for picking up by approximately 6,000. In January 2012, ACS and BDA renewed the lease at Brooks for an additional 2 years. This lease will expire in January 2014.
Over the course of the last few years, ACS has established strategies to help increase its capacity in order to offset the capacity gained through the Brooks Facility. In October 2013, ACS opened up its new adoption center located at Brackenridge Park. This facility, operated and managed by San Antonio Pets Alive!, ensures that an additional 3,000 pets annually receive a live outcome. This facility is the culmination of work that began prior to FY 2011.
In FY 2012, ACS worked with the community to ensure funding was provided in the 2012 bond to increase ACS holding capacity. In FY 2013, ACS partnered with Animal Defense League (ADL) for the building of additional kennels located at ADL's facility. These kennels are scheduled to be completed in November 2014 and will allow ACS to increase its capacity by 3,184 pets annually.
For the past year, ACS has been working on a plan to convert the Brooks Shelter to a state approved quarantine facility where ACS will house pets who must be held for rabies observation or who are associated with a cruelty investigation. These pets are not available for adoption or rescue, thus ensuring that all adoptable pets are housed only at facilities accessible to the public. The transition took place in mid-November 2013 and is now fully implemented.
Through these and other ACS initiatives (such as the Proposed Chapter 5 amendment and slight modifications to the 151 facility), the Department has been able to find ways to redirect the capacity at Brooks.
However, in order to ensure that all strategies are in place, ACS is requesting that the City enter into a 10 month lease with BDA for the continued use of this facility to house pets who must be held for rabies observation or who are associated with a cruelty investigation. The termination of this lease will coincide with the completion of the kennels at ADL and will ensure that the city does not lose the capacity it previously gained.
Staff worked with BDA to draft a lease that was approved by the BDA Planning and Development Subcommittee on November 22nd. The lease will be presented to the BDA Board for their final approval on December 17th and then brought to City Council for consideration on December 19th.
ISSUE:
A. This amendment to the Chapter 5 Code will allow ACS to take ownership of all strays after the second day of impoundment, not including the day of impoundment resulting in a reduction of one day. The Code will not be changed with respect to euthanizing any healthy stray pets until after the third day not including the day of impoundment. By reducing the hold period one day for those adopted/rescued pets, ACS would be able to maximize its kennel capacity by bringing in up to an additional 770 stray/roaming pets annually.
B. The proposed 10 month lease will allow the City to continue to use Brooks facilities to house pets who must be held for rabies observation or who are associated with a cruelty investigation. By entering into this lease, ACS will be able to maintain current impound capacity while ensuring that all adoptable pets are available to the public. It is anticipated that this lease would continue until additional kennels are built at the Animal Defense League (ADL). The construction of kennels, which will house 3,184 additional dogs and ensure a 90% Live Release rate of any pets selected, are anticipated to be finished in November 2014.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a briefing item from Animal Care Services for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A. ACS anticipates no fiscal impact associated with this change to Chapter 5 Code of the City Code.
B. The city will lease these facilities at a rate of $12,685 or an in-kind contribution equal to the amount.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that these items go before the full City Council for approval on December 19.