REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 25, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, 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 extending the waiver for the private adoption, spay/neuter and vaccination fees, for two additional years, where fees are reduced to $10 and $20 for cats/kittens and dogs/puppies respectively, as shown in Attachment A, through June 30, 2026, or until the previously approved allocation of $150,000 is exhausted, whichever comes first, serves a public purpose by promoting the adoption of animals and providing for the social service needs of County residents by helping remove barriers to adoptions.
2. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to continue the decrease of 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 will not result in the use of additional Discretionary Funding (Net County Cost). The services provided by the Department of Public Health (DPH) will continue to be covered by the extension of the recommended fee waiver.
On September 12, 2023 (Item No. 17) the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved an allocation of $150,000 funded by the Community Concerns General Fund Reserve. Currently, DPH has used approximately $62,000 of this funding, with a remaining balance of $88,000. The use of Discretionary General Funding is not requested at this time. However, any required budget adjustments will be presented to the Board for approval in a future Board agenda item, if necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 2020, DPH has seen a steady increase in the intake of stray, surrendered, or abandoned 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 these adoptions, emphasizing the need to find homes for them as quickly as possible.
Rescue Groups continue to be a substantial resource for animals, and DPH has held multiple successful events to encourage the adoption of cats and dogs. However, the significant increase in animals entering the shelter calls for additional measures to be taken.
On September 12, 2023 (Item No. 17), the Board approved an allocation of $150,000, from the Community Concerns General Fund Reserve, to waive and reduce fees associated with adopting cats and dogs. The success of this program has been evident, with DPH completing over 1200 adoptions since the waiver was put in place. However, because DPH has not exhausted the allocated funding, an extension of the program is requested for two additional years. This waiver extension will continue to serve a public purpose by promoting the wellbeing of animals throughout the county, reducing shelter occupancy thereby extending resources for more animals, and removing barriers and the financial burden on residents who are interested in adopting a pet. This initiative will extend reduced cost adoptions through June 30, 2026, or until the allocation of $150,000 is exhausted (whichever comes first).
This item must be approved by the Board under County Code section 16.0231(a).
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, and Daniel Pasek, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 30, 2024; Public Health (Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146) on May 31, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392 and Jevin Kaye, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-3078) on June 5, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on June 8, 2024.