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DATE: |
October 11, 2022 |
02 |
SUBJECT
Title
ANIMAL SERVICES - RATIFY ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES (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, permit the acceptance of gifts and donations by the administrative head of each department in the County, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.
In June 2022, the County of San Diego’s Department of Animal Services received a donation in the amount $167,197.93 from the Daniel P. Abeloff Trust to support and promote the mission of the Department to protect the health, safety and welfare of people and animals throughout the region. Funds will be deposited in the Animal Control Spay Neuter Public Education Trust Fund to fund the Spay Neuter Voucher Program.
Today’s request is to ratify the acceptance of a $167,197.93 donation from the Daniel P. Abeloff Trust to the Department of Animal Services.
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, ratify the acceptance of donation from the Daniel P. Abeloff Trust in the amount of $167,197.93 for the Department of Animal Services.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter of appreciation on behalf of the Board of Supervisors to the Daniel P. Abeloff Trust.
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 2021-22, Animal Services served 6,147 animals, the majority of which enter our shelters as unaltered strays in need of veterinary care.
Gifts and in-kind donations benefit residents of San Diego County to include subgroups such as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Native Spanish speakers, and LGBTQ constituents. Expenditures from gifts and donations received, advance equity by providing 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, Animal Services can help keep pets in homes with their families and out of our shelters, and prevent the birth and subsequent shelter surrender of unplanned litters of puppies and kittens.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions to accept the donation of $167,197.93 from the Daniel P. Abeloff Trust and authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter of appreciation, contribute to the County of San Diego Sustainability Goals to provide just and equitable access to critically needed basic veterinary care services that are in increasingly short supply countywide, particularly in underserved areas also historically impacted by other sustainability challenges. The Department of Animal Services understands that pets belong in homes with their families, not in shelter kennels, and work facilitated by this bequest will enable pets to live happier, healthier lives in the households where they are already beloved members of the family, keeping them out of County shelters. Furthermore, by facilitating access to affordable spay and neuter services for pet owners experiencing financial hardship, this generous donation will make it possible to prevent the birth of thousands of unplanned puppies and kittens that may otherwise be surrendered to our shelters in the next few years, eliminating the expense of care for those animals that would otherwise be borne by the County.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved, donation will be deposited into Animal Control Spay Neuter Public Education Trust Fund to fund the Spay Neuter Voucher Program. 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 (Department) 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 October 2002, the Department established the Animal Control Public Education Trust Fund account to fund spay and neuter surgeries of unaltered animals in the community, with the goal of reducing the number of unwanted litters. In June 2021, the Department established the Spay and Neuter Voucher Program to reduce unplanned litters and prevent related shelter intake while supporting pet owners experiencing financial hardship. Demand for affordable accessible spay/neuter services in the community by far outpaces existing service availability community wide.
In June 2022, the County of San Diego’s Department of Animal Services received a donation in the amount $167,197.93 from the Daniel P. Abeloff Trust to support and promote the mission of the Department to protect the health, safety and welfare of people and animals throughout the region.
This request is to ratify the acceptance of a $167,197.93 cash donation and approve the deposit in the Animal Control Spay Neuter Public Education Trust Fund to fund the Spay Neuter Voucher Program. Funds will be deposited in the Animal Control Spay Neuter Public Education Trust Fund to fund the Spay Neuter Voucher Program.
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 2022-2027 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,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - Letter of Appreciation.