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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10237
February 12, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: UPDATE AND REPORT ON ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
Introduction:
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At the January 15 Work Session, City Council requested an update and report on Animal Care
and Control (ACC). The continuing charge of ACC is to serve and protect the public, care for the
animals in our custody, prevent animal cruelty and to perform these functions in a professional
and efficient manner. ACC focuses first on education, followed by voluntary compliance and then
lastly enforcement.
By the numbers:
FY18 FY17 FY14 (for comparison)
Live Release Rate 90.58% 91.41% 65.65%
Dogs Impounded 12,308 12,093 10,446
Pets Returned to Owner 3,051 2,835 1,342
Returned to Owner in Field 1,516 1,237 127
Volunteer Hours 23,493 9,259 Unknown
Monetary Donations/Grants $299,146 $185,128 $80,766
Recent Highlights:
Evening/After-Hours Services: Continue to integrate/train ACC staff into other Code
Compliance services so that evening and call-out staff can handle both animal and unique after-
hours inspections for other staff. While job classification impacts complete integration, this effort
is progressing well. ALL Code Compliance staff are subject to 24/7 call-out and/or scheduling of
after-hours services for projects and unique circumstances.
Animal Transport: Through the use of volunteers, ACC began transporting animals for adoption
in other states (Maine, Washington, Oregon, Washington DC so far) through a public-private
endeavor between the City, the Chuck Silcox Foundation and North Texas Community
Foundation. The goal is to transport 1,800 animals per year, funded and administered through
this program/donations.
Donation of Adoption/Transport Trailer and Truck: In FY 2018, North Texas Communities
Foundation (NTCF), at request, donated to the City an Adoption/Transport trailer,
valued at approximately $57,000. On February 12, 2019, Council will have the opportunity to
accept an additional donation from NTCF of a Ford F450 Truck, also valued at approximately
$57,000, to tow the trailer and be available, as needed, to tow the Code Compli
Emergency Response Trailer to assist with disaster response/community projects.
First Annual Mega-Adoption Event: On December 8 and 9, 2018, ACC partnered with the
Humane Society of North Texas and the PetCo Foundation with assistance from the Fort Worth
Police Department, event staff at the Will Rogers facility, volunteers and staff. The goal was 500
adoptions but at the end of a long weekend, 861 animals were adopted.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10237
February 12, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: UPDATE AND REPORT ON ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
New Shelter Manager and Shelter Veterinarian: Through a national search, ACC recently
hired Jessica Brown, from Detroit Animal Care and Control, as our new Shelter Manager and Dr.
Ronald Epps, from Waco Animal Care & Shelter, as our new lead Shelter Veterinarian.
Chapter 6 Ordinance Rewrite: ACC, the Legal Department and citizens (through multiple public
meetings) revised, strengthened and simplified the Animal Chapter so that all animal related
ordinances are either in Chapter 6 or referenced in Chapter 6. The ordinance now requires
microchips in lieu of most city licensing, dangerous and aggressive dog enforcement was
simplified and strengthened.
Special Operations: A Code Supervisor and two three member teams specialize in impounding
stray dogs from the streets of Fort Worth. These teams utilize GIS heat maps to target areas with
increased stray dog complaints and assist district officers in difficult stray dog cases. They
employ specialized equipment and techniques to capture stray dogs and to abate nuisance
coyotes and feral hogs.
Low Cost/No Cost Spay/Neuter: All medically and age appropriate dogs and cats are sterilized
prior to adoption or transfer. ACC currently partners with Texas Coalition for Animal Protection
and Spay Neuter Network to sterilize the rest after adoption/transfer and to provide low and no
cost spay/neuter services in underserved communities. In the past year, ACC utilized grants to
provide payment vouchers, transportation, general information and scheduling for spay/neuter
surgeries at partner facilities.
US Conference of Mayors Grant: ACC, workin
competition to make Better Cities for Pets. This past June in Boston, Mayor Price accepted the
working alongside other City departments in underserved communities (focusing on
Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives: Stop Six, Ash Crescent, Northside).
New North Animal Shelter: /second animal shelter in
far northwest Fort Worth funded through the 2018 Bond Program. Public engagement meetings
on shelter and campus design and information will begin in March. Groundbreaking should be
this coming Winter with a grand opening scheduled for the early 2021.
If you have any questions please contact Brandon Bennett, Code Compliance at (817) 392-6322.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS