REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 12, 2023
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Interim Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Waiver of Certain Fees Related to Adoption and Spay/Neuter Charges
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the waiver of the Department of Public Health private adoption, spay/neuter and vaccination fees, reduced to $10 and $20 for cats/kittens and dogs/puppies respectively as shown in Attachment A, through June 30, 2024, serves a public purpose by promoting the adoption of animals, providing for the social service needs of County residents by helping remove barriers to adoptions and will help approximately 2,300 animals in finding a new home.
2. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to decrease adoption, spay/neuter and vaccination fees in relation to Recommendation No. 1.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item may result in the use of additional Discretionary Funding (Net County Cost). The services provided by the Department of Public Health (Department) that are covered by the recommended fee waiver will be funded by an allocation of $150,000 from the Community Concerns General Fund Reserve. The use of Discretionary General Funding is not requested at this time. However, any required budget adjustments will be presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval in a future Board agenda item, if necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 2020, the Department of Public Health (Department), Animal Care Division, has seen a steady increase in the intake of animals. There are a number of possible reasons for the post-pandemic increase in animal intake, such as the increased cost of pet food and medical care. Although private adoptions have increased, the intake of animals has exceeded adoptions, a trend that has been seen throughout the region. The Devore Animal Shelter has experienced a 49% increase in the number of animal intakes in the last two years and is in need of finding homes for the animals as quickly as possible. Rescue Groups are not adopting animals at the same rate from the Devore and Big Bear animal shelters as seen in previous years. Thus, putting pressure on the system to find alternative solutions to increase private adoptions. The Department, Animal Care Division has held multiple successful adoption events to encourage the adoption of dogs and cats into loving, permanent homes but the increase in animal intake has still led to the need for more action to effectuate additional adoptions. This initiative would provide the opportunity to have daily reduced cost adoptions through June 30, 2024.
Approval of this item would serve a public purpose by allowing the Department to safely place animals in loving, permanent homes, reduce the financial burden on families associated with adopting and spaying/neutering animals, increase animal adoptions, and may be approved by the Board under County Code Subsection 16.0231(a).
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 28, 2023; Public Health (Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146) on August 25, 2023; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392 and Yael Verduzco, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-5285) on August 25, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 25, 2023.