DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Heber Lefgren
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
This item would authorize Animal Care Services (ACS) to enter into an agreement with San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) for an alternative animal housing program for stray animals. Animal Care Services has partnered with the SAHS since February, 2012 for the alternative placement of 7,588 stray animals. This program allows for the housing of stray animals during their stray hold period at SAHS in an effort to increase ACS’ stray animal intake capabilities. This agreement will be for a one year term with the option to renew for two consecutive one year terms. With this agreement, SAHS will provide alternative housing to approximately 600 stray animals annually.
SUMMARY:
This item would authorize Animal Care Services (ACS) to enter into an agreement with San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) for an alternative animal housing program for stray animals. Animal Care Services has partnered with the SAHS since February, 2012 for the alternative placement of 7,588 stray animals. This program allows for the housing of stray animals during their stray hold period at SAHS in an effort to increase ACS’ stray animal intake capabilities. This agreement will be for a one year term with the option to renew for two consecutive one year terms. With this agreement, SAHS will provide alternative housing to approximately 600 stray animals annually.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In September 2011, the Animal Care Service Department (ACS) updated its Strategic Plan by focusing on three key Departmental Priorities: (1) Enhanced enforcement; (2) Controlling the stray animal population; and (3) Increasing the City’s Live Release rate. In FY 2015, ACS added a fourth Strategic Priority to engage and educate the community.
The San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) is a local charitable animal protection organizations that focus on improving the lives of animals in the community by providing shelter, care, adoption, rescue options, spay/neuter, and community education. Initially approved by City Council in June 2012, this agreement allowed SAHS to select from stray animals initially impounded at ACS and house them at a safe and accessible holding facility for the appropriate stray hold period.
As outlined in the Chapter 5 Ordinance, the stray hold period is when a stray animal is found without identified microchips and is required to be held by the City. The stray animal is required to be held for a mandatory 3 day hold period and those with an identified microchip will be housed for a mandatory 5 day hold period (not to include the initial date of entry). In addition, SAHS will assist in contacting possible owners, finalizing return-to-owner (RTO) arrangements, and adopting any animals not reclaimed.
All stray animals initially impounded at the ACS facility and selected by SAHS will continue to be listed as “available” on the Animal Care Services website thus ensuring the animal photo and information is available for public viewing. In the event that an owner comes forward to reclaim an animal housed at one of these off-site locations, the owner will contact ACS and make arrangements to pay any outstanding citation fees. All boarding, vaccination, as well as any miscellaneous fees will be paid to SAHS by the owner or adopter upon pickup of the animal(s).
Given the citywide issue of animal overpopulation, ACS continues to look for innovative partnerships and programs to further enhance the department’s strategic goals and the department’s stray animal intake capacity - and this program allows ACS to free up kennel space and increase our capacity.
ISSUE:
Through the authorization of this agreement and in accordance with Chapter 5 of the City’s Ordinance, SAHS will be permitted to select and house animals during their stray hold period at an alternative location. ACS is anticipating that the SAHS will select and house 600 pets annually from ACS during their stay hold period. This effort is intended to help increase the overall capacity of ACS.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this agreement not be approved, ACS will continue to pursue other innovative partnerships and programs in an effort to reduce the community’s stray animal population while maintaining shelter capacity.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agreement.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of this agreement with the San Antonio Humane Society to house stray animals at an alternative location for the designated stray hold period as outlined in Chapter 5 of the City Ordinance.