Agenda - 10-07-2008 - 4h - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 7, 2008 Action Agen Item No. ~~ _SUBJECT: Animal Services Community Spay/ Neuter A reement with AnimalKind DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: AnimalKind Agreement Bob Marotto, Director, 968-2287 $20 Fix Brochure/ Application Ross Oglesbee, J.D., Chair, Animal Community Spay/Neuter Fund Services Advisory Board, 966-0599 Memorandum PURPOSE: To request the approval of an agreement between Orange County and AnimalKind in the amount of $15,000 that would be expended in the current fiscal year for the spay and neuter of pets belonging to low income Orange County residents, both those who are clients of the Department of Social Services (DSS) and those who are not. BACKGROUND: This agreement is based on an evolving relationship with AnimalKind, as a part of their regional effort to promote private/public partnerships to end the needless euthanasia of animals. The County's Department of Social Services (DSS) has agreed to collaborate with the Animal Services Department as it partners with AnimalKind, and the agreement is based upon distinguishing between residents that are clients of DSS and other low-income residents that are not DSS clients. For those residents who are clients of DSS programs such as Food Stamps and Medicaid, DSS will send out a notice and identify those pet owners who wish to have their pets spayed or neutered through AnimalKind. Those residents will apply directly to Animal Services and will receive a "no-pay" voucher, which will not require a co-pay at the time of service. This is at the recommendation of DSS, which has determined that any co-pay would be a deterrent to participation, given the state of the economy. The average County cost of each surgery for the pets of DSS clients will be $95. Other residents of Orange County who are not DSS clients but who still meet the eligibility requirements for AnimalKind can apply directly through AnimalKind for the $20 Fix. Residents in this group will qualify if they are at or below 125 percent of the poverty level for the number of persons living in their household (see attached brochure). These residents will receive a voucher from AnimalKind and be required to pay a $20 co-pay to the veterinarian at the time of their pet's surgery. The average County cost for these surgeries will be $75.