Title
Discussion of issues relating to recommendations from the City’s Animal Shelter Advisory Committee.
Body
Summary:
The City’s Animal Shelter Advisory Committee consists of four (4) members: Dr. Dale Lonsford (Chair), Councilwoman Rae Sinor, Leeann Selman, and Jeanna Hooker. This Committee is prescribed by State law, and its purpose is to make advisory recommendations related to the City’s Humane Department. At a recent Committee meeting held on February 6th, the Committee voted to recommend the following:
1. We begin testing all dogs for heartworms prior to being placed for adoption.
2. We test all cats for feline leukemia prior to being placed for adoption.
3. Our standard adoption fee be increased by $10 (from $50 to $60) to help offset the cost of these tests. The actual cost of these tests are $6-7 for heartworm and $17-20 for feline leukemia.
On Tuesday evening, staff would like to discuss this with Council and receive your input. If Council is agreeable to begin offering these tests, and recoup their costs via enhanced adoption fees, we will have the fee schedule adjusted at a future City Council Meeting.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
To be determined.
Recommended action
Discussion only in Workshop.