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Commissioner Hovis - Animal Care and Enforcement - To Accept and Appropriate a Lifesaving Grant from the Petco Foundation to Assist in the Medical Care of Shelter Pets and to Authorize Any Unspent Funds on 6/30/2019 to be Carried Forward to Fiscal Year 2020 (100% Grant Funds - $10,000)
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STAFF CONTACT
Kristine Blankenship, Animal Care Administrator
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
N/A
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
In 2018, 23% of the shelter dogs tested positive for heartworm disease, a parasitic worm that is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. In the past these dogs were only able to go to non-profit animal rescue organizations for treatment, but many were euthanized. In 2018, 58.5% were taken by non-profit organizations, 7.3% were adopted, and 27% were euthanized. In response, GCACE began a donation based foster to adopt program (Full Hearts) to treat highly adoptable heartworm positive dogs with treatment by GCACE. To date, GCACE has successfully treated 11 dogs for heartworm disease and these have been adopted. This program is labor intensive and dependent on donations from the public.
In response to this program, GCACE has applied for and received a Lifesaving grant by the Petco Foundation ($10,000.00) to increase our Full Hearts program to save more animals. The grant will be broken into the following: 40% ($4,000.00) will be used for the in-house treatment foster to adopt program for heartworm positive dogs, 55% ($5,500.00) will go toward treatment vouchers for adopters to use at partnering veterinary practices for heartworm treatment, and 5% ($500.00) for community education on heartworm prevention and the seriousness of heartworm disease in dogs.
Due to the nature of the grant cycle, this grant will cross over into fiscal year 2020, and any remaining funds in (010-02-4380-0000-560000-19569) on 6/30/2019 will need to be carried forward to FY 2020.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
Budget Change Request