SUBJECT
Title
RATIFY ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION TO DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES FROM ANONYMOUS DONOR (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
County of San Diego Administrative Code Article III, Section 66 Acceptance of Gifts and Board of Supervisors Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, governs the acceptance of gifts and donations by the administrative head of each department in the County, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.
The County of San Diego’s Department of Animal Services (DAS) received a donation in April 2024 in the amount of $100,000 from an anonymous donor to support and promote the department’s mission to protect the health, safety and welfare of people and animals throughout the region. The donation was received by DAS from the Trust Estate Administrator of the donor, who prefers to remain anonymous. Funds will be deposited in the Medical Expense “Spirit” Trust Fund to help injured and sick animals regain their health through surgery, medicine, and follow-up care.
Today’s request is to ratify the acceptance of a $100,000 donation for the Department of Animal Services and waive the requirement of a letter of appreciation since the donor has asked to remain anonymous. DAS has already sent a letter of appreciation to the donor on department letterhead via the Trust Estate Administrator.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. In accordance with County of San Diego Administrative Code Article III, Section 66 Acceptance of Gifts and Board of Supervisors Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, accept a donation from the anonymous donor in the amount of $100,000 for the Department of Animal Services.
2. Waive Board Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, which requires a letter of appreciation to an individual providing a gift or donation.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services periodically receives monetary gifts and in-kind donations to benefit animal and public health and safety, including care for orphaned pets in County animal shelters. In Fiscal Year 2023-24, Animal Services served 6,809 animals, the majority of which enter our shelters as strays in need of veterinary care.
Gifts and donations received by DAS help advance equity since they are used to provide access to services for those in historically underserved communities, which are frequently without veterinary care access for beloved family pets. By expanding access to critical veterinary services for those historically underserved, the County can help keep pets in homes with their families and out of shelters.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions to ratify acceptance of a $100,000 donation from the anonymous donor, contribute to the County of San Diego Sustainability Goals to maintain adequate resources and fiscal stability to be able to provide critically needed veterinary care services. The Department of Animal Services is committed to the 2004 San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition Asilomar Accords (recently updated in November 2020) goal of saving all healthy and treatable dogs and cats in our care and meeting the standard of care typically provided in the community. These generous donations to the Spirit fund allow DAS to afford necessary but expensive medical care for animals that are treatable.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved, donations will be deposited into Medical Expense Fund to help injured and sick animals regain their health through surgery, medicine, and follow-up care. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Department of Animal Services (DAS) accepts tangible and monetary donations to help support animal cruelty investigations and other community services that promote animal and public health and safety, including care for orphaned pets in County animal shelters. In July 2008, the Department established the Medical Expense “Spirit” Trust Fund after a 10-week-old puppy was savagely beaten and donations began pouring in from around the country to pay for the expensive treatment needed to save the puppy’s life. Today, donations to the Spirit fund are used to cover the high cost of veterinary procedures for animals in DAS’s care and custody that have serious medical needs that would otherwise not be affordable to treat.
The County of San Diego’s Department of Animal Services received a donation in April 2024 in the amount of $100,000 from the trustee of an anonymous donor to support and promote the department’s mission to protect the health, safety and welfare of people and animals throughout the region. Funds will be deposited in the Medical Expense “Spirit” Trust Fund to help injured and sick animals regain their health through surgery, medicine, and follow-up care.
This request is to ratify the acceptance of a $100,000 donation for the Department of Animal Services and waive the requirement of a letter of appreciation since the donor has asked to remain anonymous.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action supports the Community and Empower Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2024 - 2029 Strategic Plan by accepting a donation that will provide resources to protect the welfare and safety of animals and residents throughout San Diego County.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
N/A