AUDIT COMMITTEE SUMMARY
September 20, 2016
Audit of Animal Care Services Metrics
Report Issued June 17, 2016
Background
Animal Care Services (ACS) mission is to encourage responsible pet ownership by promoting and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and pets of San Antonio through education, enforcement and community partnership.
One of ACS’s four strategic priorities is to increase its Live Release rate to 90%. The Live Release rate is calculated on a monthly report called the Asilomar Report that divides the total number of live animal outcomes by the total number of animal outcomes. Common animal outcomes are adoptions, return-to-owners, or rescues by a third party. The Asilomar Report is based on the Asilomar Accords which was a national conference held in 2004 by nationally recognized industry leaders. The Asilomar Accords established the standards for reporting a uniform method of collecting and reporting animal shelter data.
ACS also produces a quarterly performance report, which provides an overview of ACS operations for the time period indicated including the outcomes listed above, the Live Release rate, surgeries (spay/neuter) by ACS and its partners, dead animal pickup, and registered microchips. These are distributed to City Council on a quarterly basis and are posted on ACS’s website.
Audit Objective
Determine if Animal Care Services Metrics are accurate and properly supported.
Audit Scope and Methodology
The audit scope included reviewing the City’s Live Release Rate for the 1st quarter of FY 2016. In addition, we reviewed rescue partners monthly reporting outcomes from FY 2015.
Audit Conclusions
ACS Metrics are accurate and properly supported. ACS has a process in place that accurately reports the Live Release rate and the associated monthly outcomes. Additionally, rescue partners are reporting their rescued animal outcomes correctly to ACS.
We made no recommendations.