HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7949 F14 ORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7949
TE-
V, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 26, 1995
i
rex�� Subject: PROPOSED WAIVER OF IMPOUNDMENT FEES
tier' FOR SPAYING/NEUTERING OF PE'T'S
The Animal Shelter Advisory Committee was established by City Council on April 19, 1994. The
mission of the Committee is to provide recommendations to the City regarding the Animal Control
Division's comphannce with the Texas Rabies Control Act and to recommend ways to improve the
efficiency and cost effectiveness of the Animal Control Program. After months of deliberation on
the problems of pet overpopulation, the Committee is recommending that the Animal Control
Ordinance be amended to provide waiver of impoundment fees by allowing the pet owner to elect
to spay/neuter their pet. This report is a response to the recommendation of the Committee.
Background
Pet overpopulation is a serious challenge facing municipalities today, and the City of Fort Worth is
no exception. The number of homeless dogs and cats far exceeds the number of homes for them
Based on American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) estimates, the City of Fort Worth
has an estimated 225,022 pet population (107,869 dogs and 117,153 cats). The failure of pet
owners to confine their unaltered animals to their properties has contributed to an estimated
100,000 homeless animals.
The main cause contributing,to this problem of homeless animals is the unwillingness or failure of
pet owners to take responsibility for their pets and the litters they produce. The AVMA indicates
that one female cat can be the source of 400,000 kittens within seven years and likewise one female
dog and her offspring can be the source of about 67,000 puppies in a like time period. Stray and
homeless animals create numerous public health and safety problems by getting into trash
containers,transmitting disease, angering citizens,biting people and causing traffic accidents.
OFFICIAL
WORTH T u
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7a4ca
TC Page 2 of 4
o� +r� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council 9
rtx►s Subject: PROPOSED WAIVER OF IMPOUNDMENT FEES
1873 FOR SPAYING/NEUTERING OF PETS
Fee Waiver Proposed
To decrease the number of homeless animals in the City of Fort Worth, the Committee is
recommending an incentive be introduced to encourage pet owners to spay or neuter their pets and
reclaim them In the last three fiscal years (1992 - 1994), 45,082 animals were impounded; 2,764
(6%)were reclaimed;and 38,975 (86%)were euthanized.
Fiscal Animals .Returned Adopted/
Year Impounded To Owner Euthanized Other
1993-94 16,367 1,022 (6.2%) 14,253 (87.1%) 1,092 (6.7%)
1992-93 14,420 798 (5.5%) 12,603 (87.4%) 1,019 (7.1%)
1991-92 14,295 944 (6.6%) 12,119 (84.8%) 1,232 (8.6%)
In FY 1993-94, the estimated cost for picking up a stray animal and euthanizing it after holding it
for 3 days at the Humane Society was $39.63 per animal. Recognizing that euthanization is not a
cost effective nor a preferred solution to the problem of homeless animals in this community, the
Animal Shelter Advisory Committee recommends that pet owners be given the option of paying
the impoundment fee which is $65.00, or paying a $25.00 fee to have their animal spayed or
neutered. By amending the Animal Control Ordinance, pet owners would be given the following
options to consider in reclaiming their pet:
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO.- 7949
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 3 of 4
X Subject: PROPOSED WAIVER OF IMPOUNDMENT FEES
1873 FOR SPAYING/NEUTERING OF PETS
Proposed Spay/Neuter Options
Current Fee Options for Owners
Altered Pet Unaltered Pet
W/city W/o city Pet W/O City Pet W/City
Registration Registration Registration Registration
Option A Option B tion C tion Q
Impoundment Fee $65.00 $65.00 $25.00 $25.00
City License Fee - 10.00 10.00 10.00 0.00
Rabies Vaccination Fee - 10.00 9.00 9.00 0.00
Total Fees $45.00 $84.00 $44.00 $25.00
Spay/Neuter Credit - 25.00
$20.00
Boarding Fees(2 days
$5/day) 10.00 10.00 - 10.00 10.00
TOTAL FEES $30.00 $94.00 $54.00 $35.00
Fiscal Impact
If impoundment fees are waived, the City would experience a slight decrease in revenue. Staff
estimates that 1,022 additional animals would be reclaimed by their owners. An increase in
licensing fees is projected in that staff estimates half of the reclaimed animals would not have a City
tag. A decrease in impoundment fee collection is based on the assumption that 25% of the pet
owners would have paid the full impoundment fee but given the spay/neuter option selected the
lower fee. This results in a loss of$12,250.00 (Decrease in impoundment fees is based on 25% of
$49,000.00 total impoundment collections in FY 93-94).
REVENIJEIMPACT
Projected Licensing sing Fee $ 5,110.00
(1/2 of 1,022 pets at $10.00)
Estimated Decrease in Impoundment Fee - 12L250.00
(Based on 25%of total impoundment <$ 7,140.00> .......
collections in FY 93-94) OffICIAL RECORD
C117 SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TEX.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
. .........
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7949
Nip T[p.
uwtx Vorrry' To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 4 of 4
Subject: PROPOSED WAIVER OF IMPOUNDMENT FEES
FOR SPAYING/NEUTERING OF PETS
The City would experience a savings from not being charged kenneling costs at $5.75 per day per
animal.. This savings on the cost of kenneling would more than offset the decrease in impoundment
collections.
SAVINGS FROM KENNELING COSTS
Kenneling Costs Savings $17,629.00
(1,022 x$17.25)
Impoundment Fee Loss - 7,140.00
$10,489.00
Staff recommends implementation of the Committee's recommendation in that the spay/neuter
option introduces an incentive for pet owners to reclaim their pets, increases the number of altered
animals in the community, and decreases the cost of kenneling activity to the City. If there is no
objection, an M&C will be prepared for City Council action.
If you should have any questions on this matter,please let me know, or call Assistant City Manager
Libby Watson.
r
6%ob Terre
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS