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Accept a grant from the University of California, Davis Campus School of Veterinary Medicine for the Koret Shelter Medicine Program in the amount of $100,000 for the period of April 1, 2024 through March 30, 2025 to enhance the animal foster program; Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the grant agreement and any subsequent amendments, pending County Counsel concurrence up to an annual aggregate of $74,999; and Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) of $26,278 to recognize unanticipated grant revenue offset by grant related appropriations (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Sheriff recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Accept a grant from the University of California, Davis Campus School of Veterinary Medicine for the Koret Shelter Medicine Program in the amount of $100,000 for the period of April 1, 2024 through March 30, 2025 to enhance the animal foster program;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the grant agreement and any subsequent amendments, pending County Counsel concurrence, up to an annual aggregate of $74,999; and
3. Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) of $26,278 to recognize unanticipated grant revenue offset by grant related appropriations (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY:
The State of California provided $50 million in one-time General Fund dollars for the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program (KSMP) to develop a program that provides expertise, support, and local assistance grants over a five-year period to help local communities achieve the state’s policy goal that no adoptable or treatable dog or cat should be euthanized. The KSMP team of veterinary shelter medicine experts are trained to approach shelter assessments holistically, taking into account community capacity, partnerships, local ordinances, and the overall culture of an organization and its board (when applicable), while simultaneously pinpointing specific bottlenecks presented in a shelter’s practices that, if relieved, immediately improve both efficiency and lifesaving results.
In September of 2023, Solano County Animal Care applied for a $100,000 More Pets and People Together Grant through the California for All Animals statewide animal shelter assistance program to increase foster programming which will in turn increase Animal Care’s live release rate and increase connections with those in our community. Animal Care will utilize the $100,000 grant as to enhance the foster program in Solano County. In December of 2023, Animal Care was notified that it was awarded a $100,000 grant to hire an extra-help Animal Care Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator to revamp the foster program and provide supplies to those who volunteer to foster animals from the facility.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Solano County Animal Care will receive $100,000 in KSMP grant funds for the period April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. This grant does not include a match provision. Animal Care anticipates expending $26,278 of the grant funds during FY2023/24. The Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) will recognize unanticipated grant revenue offset by salaries and benefits for an extra help Animal Care Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator and supplies for volunteer fosters. Board approval will not have any impact to the County General Fund.
The Sheriff’s Office will include sufficient appropriations and grant revenue in Animal Care’s FY2024/25 Requested Budget. The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the Sheriff’s Office FY2023/24 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
In the Fiscal Year 2020-21 State of California budget, Governor Newsom proposed $50 million in one-time General Fund dollars for the Koret Shelter Medicine Program, at the University of California, Davis, Center for Companion Animal Health to develop a program that provides expertise, support, and local assistance grants over a five-year period to help local communities achieve the state’s policy goal that no adoptable or treatable dog or cat should be euthanized. Because of the enormous changes forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor scaled back his plan while showing his continued commitment to the goal with a $5 million allotment for a two-year pilot project. In May of 2021, Governor Newsom made $45 million augmentation to the project and restored the funding and longer timeline of the governor’s original proposal of $50 million over five years that was made in January of 2020. KSMP objectives are:
• Prioritized investment and direct professional engagement with animal shelters in under resourced and overburdened communities
• Regional best-practice summits open to all animal sheltering personnel
• Access to the most current research and shelter management models available, as well as the subject matter experts who pioneered the veterinary medicine field that concentrates on the health and well-being of animals living in shelters
• Interactive group training that guarantees shelters have access to best-practice protocols and models
• Robust resource library complete with sample forms, protocols, case studies, policies and tool kits
The University of California, Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program’s goal is to make sure that no animal loses its life simply because it loses its home. KSMP serves as an enduring resource for veterinarians, shelter caregivers, and the general public. The program’s main activities are to assist groups in saving homeless pets through providing lifesaving information both online and through ‘one on one’ consultations, offering training and education in shelter medicine; and conducting shelter health research based at UC Davis.
In March of 2022, Solano County Animal Care Services (Animal Care) applied for and received a $5,000 KSMP Welcome Grant through the California for All Animals statewide animal shelter assistance program. This grant required a response to a baseline questionnaire and offered to share five years of historical data (2017 - 2021) and submit in each subsequent year annually (2022 to 2026) a survey. Participation in this grant allowed for future grant opportunities. In September of 2022, Animal Care applied for and received a $50,000 marketing/advertising grant to increase marketing for adoption events and other outreach programs.
With acceptance of this KSMP grant, Animal Care will continue to improve processes that impact animal adoptions and treatment.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to accept the grant; however, this alternative is not recommended as the Koret Shelter Medicine Program grant is anticipated to enhance Solano County’s Animal Care’s existing animal foster program and in turn increase Animal Care’s live release rate and increase connections within the community.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION