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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Accept the 2025 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) California Wildfire & Disaster Preparedness Fund grant in the total amount of $180,000 with no match requirement, and approve and authorize the Chair to sign the ASPCA Funding-In Agreement 10019 for this award, for the retroactive term of October 29, 2025, to November 30, 2027;
2) Delegate authority to the HHSA Director or Chief Assistant Director to execute future amendments to this agreement that do not increase Net County Cost, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval as applicable, and subsequent administrative documents or required fiscal or programmatic reports; and
3) Authorize the Chief Administrative Office Facilities Division and HHSA to explore the temporary use of county-owned parcel 329-240-0555, a parcel across Industrial Drive from the Sheriff’s Office Facility, as an enclosed evacuation site that will accommodate large animals and livestock during local emergencies.
FUNDING: 2025 ASPCA California Wildfire & Disaster Preparedness Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2006 mandates that local emergency preparedness plans include provisions for household pets and service animals before, during, and after major disasters. This includes planning for evacuation, sheltering, and veterinary care. Importantly, compliance with the PETS Act is also tied to eligibility for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funding.
On January 13, 2025, ASPCA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the CWDP grant inviting animal welfare organizations responding to animal needs due to wildfires to apply. The purpose of this grant is to support animal welfare organizations in disaster response and preparedness initiatives. As outlined in the NOFO, grantees are allowed to expend funds on building capacity f...
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