DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Heber Lefgren
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: High Volume Pet Partner contracts with San Antonio Pets Alive! (SAPA!) and San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS)
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing High Volume Pet Partner contracts with San Antonio Pets Alive!, in an amount up to $305,000.00 and the San Antonio Humane Society in an amount up to $61,000.00 for the rescue of animals from the City’s Animal Care Services facility, for a one-year term with the option to renew three additional one-year terms.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio implemented a High Volume Pet Partnership (HVPP) program in FY 2012. The purpose of the HVVP program is to create partnerships with animal rescue groups for the rescue, and eventual placement of additional pets impounded at the City’s Animal Care Services facility (ACS). This initiative has been key for the City to achieve an 88% Live Release rate for FY 2016 (Compared to 31% in FY 2011). Today, the City has nine HVPP contract partnerships that rescue over 6,000 animals annually. The two largest contract partnerships are with San Antonio Pets Alive! and the San Antonio Humane Society; both contracts expire on October 2016.
The current HVPP contract provides a flat rate of $50 for every pet rescued regardless of the health condition or behavioral issues of the pet. This rate has not been changed since the inception of the program in 2012. Through discussions with the Animal Care Services Advisory Board, as well as City Council discussion at the ACS Budget Worksession on August 31 presentation by ACS, the department developed an alternate methodology that provides for a more equitable level of assistance based on the condition of the animal. The recommended HVPP contracts for FY 2017 proposes a new rate structure that ranges from $40 for healthy pets up to $165 for those pets that have medical or behavioral issues that make pets difficult to place. The purpose of the new structure is to assist rescue groups to pull the harder-to-place pets that need additional time and care prior to being ready for adoption. This recommended fee structure is consistent with the FY 2017 Adopted Budget.
ISSUE:
An Ordinance authorizing the High Volume Pet Partner contract with San Antonio Pets Alive!, in an amount up to $305,000.00 and the San Antonio Humane Society in an amount up to $61,000.00 for the rescue of animals from Animal Care Services, for a one-year term with the option to renew three additional one-year terms. These contracts will allow for the rescue of approximately 3,100 and 800 pets from ACS by SAPA! and SAHS, respectively.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should these contracts not be approved, ACS will be required to find alternative rescue options for up to 3,900 animals; which represent approximately 12% of the City’s Live Release rate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance authorizes the High Volume Pet Partner contract with San Antonio Pets Alive! in an amount up to $305,000.00 and the San Antonio Humane Society in an amount up to $61,000.00. Funding for these contracts is included in the FY 2017 General Fund Adopted Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing the High Volume Pet Partner contract with SAPA! in an amount up to $305,000 and SAHS in an amount up to $61,000 for the rescue of animals from ACS.