DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Davis
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
ACS Grant Best Friends
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing the continuation of the Partner for Cats Project initiative with Best Friends Grant through April 15, 2013
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 January 2012, Animal Care Services accepted a three year, $700,000 grant from Best Friends Animal Society to expand the City's Trap-Neuter-and Return (TNR) efforts in selected areas of the City. This grant, which provided both in-kind and cash contributions to the City, enhanced the City's TNR efforts by ensuring that over 6,500 feral cats were spayed/neutered thus far. The resources provided by Best Friends is a major contributor to the City's live release rate increase for cats (24% in FY 2011 to over 81% in FY 2103).
Because of the success of the program during the first year, Best Friends and ACS are seeking to continue the project through April 15, 2015. By continuing this Project, it is anticipated that the City will be able to: maintain its high Live Release rate for cats; TNR an additional 6,500 feral cats, and decrease the reproduction of feral cats in the selected areas of San Antonio.
ISSUE:
An Ordinance authorizing the continuation of the Partner for Cats Project initiative with Best Friends Grant through April 15, 2013. Authorization of this continuation will allow ACS to maintain its TNR efforts and reduce the number of feral cats in the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the ordinance is not approved Animal Care Services would be required to absorb the work currently provided by Best Friends. This amounts to the equivalent of 1.5 FTE in staffing levels and the spaying/neutering of 6,500 feral cats.
Another alternative would be for ACS to not approve the renewal of the contract and discontinue the TNR program with Best Friends. By discontinuing the TNR program, ACS could see a decrease in its Live Release rate as well as an increase the number of feral cats roaming the streets.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact and acceptance does not require a City cash match contribution, nor does it authorize an increase personnel count.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the renewal of the Partner for Cats Project Initiative with Best Friends through April 15, 2015.