HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05102011 - D.5RECOMMENDATION(S):
INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 2011-08, which would require, after two impoundments, the
spaying or neutering of an impounded dog before it can be returned to the pet owner; and
Ordinance No. 2011-09, which would require the microchipping of all impounded dogs and
cats; waiving reading, and fixing May 17, 2011 for adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Implementing this ordinance would require an additional surgery shift and would add, at the
minimum, one additional day that over 1,000 dogs will be held in the shelter. An additional
Animal Technician will be needed to manage this increase in shelter population, as staffing
in the Animal Services Department is already fully utilized in managing the increase in
animal population caused by the economy and the recent Appellate Court decision
disallowing Saturday as a holding day.
The cost of staffing to implement this program would be:
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 05/10/2011 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: JULIE ENEA (925)
335-1077
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 10, 2011
, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
D. 5
To:Board of Supervisors
From:PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Date:May 10, 2011
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:INTRODUCE ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE SPAYING/NEUTERING AND MICROCHIPPING
OF IMPOUNDED DOGS
FISCAL IMPACT: (CONT'D)
Registered Veterinary Technician $ 88,220
Animal Technician $ 72,994
Total:$161,214
Offsetting Revenue:*
Surgeries (fee ranging from $50-$150)($ 94,610)
Microchips - All impounds (fee of $20)($ 32,415)
Unfunded program cost:$ 34,189
*This does not include additional offsetting revenue from rabies vaccinations and licensing from those dogs owners
who are required to spay or neuter their pets.
BACKGROUND: On August 10, 2010, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Public Protection Committee (PPC) a
proposal to enact an ordinance to require the spaying or neutering of pit bull-type dog breeds in the unincorporated area
of Contra Costa County. The referral was prompted by concern over recent attacks by large, aggressive, and
potentially dangerous dogs that were unlicensed and/or at large in neighborhoods and communities. The PPC took this
matter up at its August 16, 2010 meeting and received a substantial amount of public testimony. The added concern
over unlicensed dogs is that in the event of a dog bite, it is much more difficult to verify whether or not the dog was
vaccinated, requiring the victim to undergo painful rabies shots.
The Committee requested the Animal Services Director to gather and report at a subsequent meeting statistics and
other information on the number of impounded, adopted or euthanized dogs by breed, the number of dog bites before
and after passage of the County’s dangerous dog ordinance passage of San Francisco’s ordinance, and the potential
costs of a policy requiring spay/neutering of impounded dogs prior to allowing them to be reclaimed. The PPC
received a follow-up report on November 30 and decided, rather than targeting specific dog breeds, to pursue the
development of a policy that focuses on pet owners that do not comply with County regulations regarding dog
licensing and control. The objective of the policy is to gain greater compliance with relevant dog control laws and
regulations, reduce over-population of companion dogs, reduce the euthanization of unclaimed/unwanted dogs, and
increase public safety. Key elements of the policy are:
1. Any unlicensed and unaltered dog at-large will be altered and microchipped before release;
2. Any licensed and unaltered dog at-large (1st offense in 3 yrs) will be microchipped and released intact;
3. Any licensed and unaltered dog at-large (2nd offense in 3 yrs) will be altered before release;
4. Dogs that cannot be altered for a medical reason confirmed by a veterinarian would be released with a
citation, providing two months to correct the infraction and a fine for failure to make the correction after two
months
The Animal Services Director reported to the PPC in January regarding other counties that have similar policies, the
amounts/ severity of their penalties for non-compliance, and the resources that would be required to implement such a
policy in this county. As a result of these discussions and a significant amount of public testimony in support of
voluntary spaying and neutering but against a mandatory spay/neuter program, the PPC is recommending a change to
County ordinance that attempts to address the need for better dog control and not penalize responsible pet owners who
comply with dog control laws and regulations (specifically, County Code sections 416-6.002 and 416-4.4 and
California Food and Agriculture Code section 31751.7). The proposed ordinance does not contain a unilateral mandate
for the spaying or neutering of all dogs owned by residents of the unincorporated area. Rather, it requires the spaying
or neutering of dogs only when owners fail to fulfill their responsibility of licensing, vaccinating, and controlling their
pets.
Our Committee also recommends a three-month public education period prior to implementing the ordinance. The
Animal Services Department should use this period to gear up for the program and should utilize the County Web Site,
the Department Web Site, Department Facebook, monthly license mailers, and County newspapers to alert the public.
During the three-month education period, violators would be given warning notices and their dogs released intact.
During the three-month education period, violators would be given warning notices and their dogs released intact.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
ATTACHMENTS Ordinance 2011-08 Spay/Neuter Impounded Dogs Ordinance 2011-09 Microchip Impounded
Dogs/Cats