SUBJECT
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RATIFY ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS FROM R&G PETERSON FAMILY TRUST, HEART OF CHULA VISTA ANIMAL CARE FACILITY, YIN C. AND GARY D. FAUNCE AND MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH (DISTRICTS: ALL)
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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 Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the County of San Diego’s Department of Animal Services (DAS) received three separate cash donations from R&G Peterson Family Trust ($134,362), Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility ($15,000), Yin and Gary Faunce ($10,000), and one in-kind donation of vaccines worth $6,815 from Merck Animal Health. Of the $159,362 received in cash donations, $148,8362 will be deposited into the department’s Public Education Trust Fund to fund outreach services with the Pet Health Express to offer free vaccines, licensing and microchips ($133,8362), stock medical supplies for the Pet Health Express ($10,000) and support ongoing spay/neuter efforts ($5,000). The remaining, $10,500 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 with $500 allocated per the trust for supporting the care and maintenance of cats. Additionally, the in-kind donation of vaccines from Merck Animal Health will be utilized within DAS shelters and for mobile clinic outreach events.
Today’s request is to ratify the acceptance of donations from R&G Peterson Family Trust, Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, Yin and Gary Faunce, and Merck Animal Health for 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 a donation from R&G Peterson Family Trust in the amount of $134,362, a donation from Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility in the amount of $15,000, a donation from the Yin and Gary Faunce in the amount of $10,000 for deposit into the Department of Animal Services’ Animal Control Public Education and Medical Expense “Spirit” Trust Fund and a donation of vaccines from Merck Animal Health valued at $6,815.
2. Authorize the Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign letters of appreciation on behalf of the Board of Supervisors to R&G Peterson Family Trust, Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, Yin and Gary Faunce, and Merck Animal Health.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (DAS) 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 2024-25, Animal Services is projected to serve 5,778 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 to 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 donations from the R&G Peterson Family Trust, the Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, Yin and Gary Faunce, and Merck Animal Health 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 (DAS) 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. Donations to the Public Education Trust Fund and Medical Expense “Spirit” Trust Fund allow DAS to afford outreach services with the Pet Health Express, bringing free animal services such as microchipping, licensing, spay/neuter procedures, supplies, disaster preparedness and pet wellness education to underserved areas of the County and allow DAS to afford necessary but expensive medical care for animals that are treatable.
FISCAL IMPACT
Between August 2024 and May 2025, the Department of Animal Services received three cash donations totaling $159,362. If today’s requested actions are approved, these cash donations will be deposited into the Department of Animal Services’ Animal Control Public Education Trust Fund to help offer free vaccines, licensing, microchips and supplies to the undeserved areas of the County and to the Medical Expense “Spirit” Trust Fund to help injured and sick animals regain their health through surgery, medicine and follow-up care. Additionally, an in-kind donation of vaccines valued at $6,815, will be utilized at DAS shelters and for mobile clinic outreach events. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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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 October 2002, DAS established the Animal Control Public Education Trust Fund to cover costs for spay and neuter surgeries of unaltered animals in the community, with the goal of 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. In July 2008, the DAS established the Medical Expense “Spirit” Trust Fund after a 10-week-old puppy was beaten and in a critical state near the US-Mexico border. Donations began to pour 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 the department would otherwise not have funds to treat.
DAS received a $134,362 donation in August 2024 from R&G Peterson Family Trust, two donations in December 2024 in the amounts of $15,000 from Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, $10,000 from Yin and Gary Faunce, and a $6,815 in-kind vaccine donation from Merck Animal Health which will 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 into the department’s Public Education Trust Fund to supply and fund outreach services with the Pet Health Express to offer free vaccines, licensing, microchips and supplies and to 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 $134,362 donation from R&G Peterson Family Trust, a $15,000 donation from Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, $10,000 donation from Yin and Gary Faunce, and a $6,815 in-kind vaccine donation from Merck Animal Health for the Department of Animal Services.
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 2025-2030 Strategic Plan by accepting donations 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)
Attachment A-Letter of Appreciation to R&G Peterson Family Trust
Attachment B- Letter of Appreciation to the Heart of Chula Vista Animal Care Facility
Attachment C- Letter of Appreciation to Yin and Gary Faunce
Attachment D- Letter of Appreciation to Merck Animal Health