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 fre...
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