DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Heber Lefgren
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Low-Cost Vaccination & Wellness Clinic agreements with Pet Shotz, Inc. and Low Cost Pet Vax.
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing two memorandum of agreements for low-cost vaccination and wellness clinics with Pet Shotz, Inc. and Low Cost Pet Vax, each for a one-year term with the option to renew two additional one-year terms at no cost to the City.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In September of 2011, Animal Care Services (ACS) revised its Strategic Plan by focusing on three key departmental strategies: (1) Enhanced Enforcement of existing laws and codes; (2) Controlling the stray animal population; and (3) Increasing the City’s Live Release rate. In FY 2015, a fourth Strategic Priority of Engage and Educate the Community was added. Resulting from the implementation of the revised ACS Strategic Plan, the Department was able to increase its Live Release rate from 31% in FY 2011, to a record high 92% in FY 2020.
Since FY 2017, ACS has partnered with local community partners to hold low cost wellness and vaccination clinics, both on-site at the ACS campus and at various locations around the city. These clinics offer pet owners low cost veterinarian and pet wellness services, such as vaccinations, microchips, heartworm prevention, deworming, flea and tick treatment, and nail clipping. Providing these services to pet owners assists in keeping pets healthy and properly vaccinated and microchipped in accordance with local and state laws.
Staff is recommending entering into two new memorandum of agreements (MOAs) for FY 2021 with returning partner Pet Shotz, Inc., and new partner Low Cost Pet Vax. Each partner will be responsible for providing all services and staff at the clinic events, as well as registering all microchips issued at the clinics. The partners will also maintain the fee schedule as approved by ACS and will retain all revenue earned at the events. ACS will assist with scheduling the clinic locations and times and will help to advertise the events. ACS may also provide microchips and rabies vaccinations which will be provided to pet owners free of charge.
ISSUE:
This Ordinance authorizes the City Manager or designee to enter into two separate agreements for low-cost vaccination and wellness clinics with Pet Shotz, Inc. and Low Cost Pet Vax for a one-year term with the option to renew two additional one-year terms at no cost to the City. Approval of this ordinance would continue a service that has been provided since FY 2017.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should these agreements not be approved, ACS would have many fewer opportunities to offer low-cost vaccination & wellness clinics to the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to these agreements. In lieu of payment to the vendor, ACS will assist with scheduling locations and marketing for the events. The vendor retains any revenue generated from the clinics.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing two memorandum of agreements for low-cost vaccination & wellness clinics with Pet Shotz, Inc. and Low Cost Pet Vax.