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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the HHSA Director to apply for and accept the Petco Love Foundation’s Vaccinated and Loved Campaign grant program in the estimated amount of $25,000 and an estimated period of four years, with this application already being approved by County Counsel and Risk Management (Attachment B); and
2) Delegate authority to the Manager of Animal Services, or Assistant Director of Human Services, to administer the program to include vaccine reorders that do not increase Net County Cost, and subsequent administrative documents or required fiscal or programmatic reports.
FUNDING: 100% Petco Love Foundation; no matching funds are required.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Petco Love Foundation (Petco Love) is taking action to reduce vaccine preventable diseases by allocating three million pet vaccines to animal welfare partners to distribute for free to family pets. These vaccines include Canine DAPPv, which protects against Distemper, Adenovirus, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza; and Feline HCP, which protects against rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and feline leukemia. This unique program is designed to increase the number of vaccinated family pets, not only to improve the lives of family pets, but to decrease the spread of disease should these pets enter shelters.
Partner organizations must agree to not place any limitations on the distribution of these lifesaving vaccines to family pets, such as breed, altered status, and location, etc. Additionally, free vaccines may be combined with other services that are offered such as free or low cost spay/neuter, rabies vaccines and other services, but are not required. Petco Love recognizes that there is a cost of administering vaccines; therefore, they will provide an initial stipend of $3 per administered vaccine to HHSA Animal Services.
HHSA’s application will go through an evaluation process by Petco Love and the application submission does not guarantee vaccines will be approved and shipped to Animal Services. However, upon application approval, HHSA Animal Services will automatically be an approved Petco Love partner and the vaccines will subsequently be shipped upon notification. In anticipation of approval, HHSA’s application to this grant has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management as there will be no resulting funding agreement that follows if this grant is awarded.
If approved, HHSA Animal Services will host free vaccine/microchip clinics several times a year at both the Diamond Springs and South Lake Tahoe animal shelter locations. The clinics will be drive-through style clinics with follow-up booster appointments made and completed at the shelters. Additionally, staff will periodically go into the community to vaccinate and microchip animals owned by unhoused individuals. HHSA does not have a veterinarian on staff; therefore, the vaccines will be administered by Registered Veterinarian Technicians and Animal Services Officers.
Lastly, the estimated award amount of $25,000 includes the value of HHSA’s initial vaccine order, subsequent vaccine reorders that are permitted under the program, and the $3 stipend per vaccine given in the community for an estimated four years. Petco Love does not indicate how long the Vaccinated and Loved Campaign will continue; therefore, HHSA is providing these estimates based on its plan to provide said vaccines to the community. If this grant is accepted by the Board, HHSA may extend this grant plan beyond the estimated funding amount and term, as long there continues to be no match requirement or impact to Net County Cost, and the program continues to be effective, and the vaccines are available.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, the County would be ineligible to participate in the Petco Vaccinated and Loved Campaign and would not receive free vaccines, including the stipend, in the estimated amount of $25,000. Consequently, HHSA may be unable to provide free vaccines in the community.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency