DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Heber Lefgren
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
This item would authorize Animal Care Services (ACS) to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Lost Dogs of Texas (LDOT) to assist ACS in reuniting roaming animals with their owners after being impounded at the ACS facility. This agreement will be for a one year term with the option to renew two consecutive one year terms. With this agreement, LDOT will help reunite approximately 250 roaming animals with their owners annually.
SUMMARY:
This item would authorize Animal Care Services (ACS) to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Lost Dogs of Texas (LDOT) to assist ACS in reuniting roaming animals with their owners after being impounded at the ACS facility. This agreement will be for a one year term with the option to renew two consecutive one year terms. With this agreement, LDOT will help reunite approximately 250 roaming animals with their owners 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 roaming 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. City Council approved the continuation of the strategic plan in October 2017.
Animal Care Services is seeking to expand its ability to reunite roaming animals with their owners by partnering with Lost Dogs of Texas (LDOT) to provide additional outreach to pet owners impounded at the ACS facility. LDOT is a non-profit organization engaged in a wide range of activities oriented around reuniting pet owners with their lost pets.
ISSUE:
Through the authorization of this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), Lost Dogs of Texas (LDOT) will be permitted to receive owner contact information from ACS to assist in reuniting impounded animals at ACS with their owners.
LDOT will utilize owner contact information to search public databases, social media sites, and various online resources to assist with the returning the pet to their owner.
ACS is anticipating that the LDOT will reunite 250 pets with their pet owners. This effort is intended to help increase the overall capacity at ACS.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this MOA not be approved, ACS will continue to pursue other innovative partnerships and programs in an effort to reduce the community’s roaming animal population while maintain shelter capacity.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this MOA.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Memorandum of Agreement with the Lost Dogs of Texas to assist ACS in reuniting pets with their owners by contacting owners of pets impounded at ACS.