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Health Services Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chief Animal Control Officer to temporarily discount the adoption fee for cats and kittens due to extreme overpopulation at the Animal Shelter. The proposed discounted fee would be effective upon approval through September 30, 2011 (with the option for the Chief to continue the discount period through October 31, 2011 if overpopulation continues). The proposed discounted fee is $40 per cat/kitten.
FUNDING: Fee for services and penalties.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: This action is anticipated to encourage adoptions and reduce the number of days/costs for boarding. The proposed discounted fee will cover a portion of the cost associated with adoption of cats and kittens, as indicated below.
Background: Effective April 1, 2011, the adoption fee for cats and kittens was established at $80 per animal. This fee was intended to cover associated adoption costs, including vaccination/testing, micro chipping, and sterilization, along with board and care, attendant costs, and other miscellaneous support activities.
The proposed discounted fee would be effective upon approval through September 30, 2011 (with the option for the Chief to continue the discount period through October 31, 2011 if overpopulation continues), and would be $40 per animal. The average cost of sterilization and treatment(s) required prior to adoption are as follows: adult female cat $41.50; adult male cat $36.50; female kitten $31.00; and male kitten $26.00.
Reason for Recommendation: Each spring/summer season the Animal Shelter receives an abundance of cats and kittens that are either strays or are left by owners unable to care for their litters of kittens. This is a seasonal reproductive event and lasts for a few months. At the current time, the Animal Shelter has the capacity of 9 cages in adoption, 6 in isolation (a holding area pending readiness for adoption), and 9 for strays. Th...
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