Title
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing a one-year renewal agreement with Animal Alliance of Galveston County spaying and neutering services in an amount not to exceed $175,600 (Chief of Police)
Background:
Approval of this agreement will extend availability of spay and neutering services from Animal Alliance of Galveston County.
Animal shelters in Texas are required by law to sterilize all animals adopted from that shelter and to identify the animal as sterile by microchipping or tattoo. Rabies vaccines are also required by law and can only be administered by a licensed veterinarian. A formal, competitive process is not required for professional services per Texas Local Government Code 252.022(4), which lists the general exemptions of a formal bid, competitive bid process. Even though bids are not required for professional services, League City Animal Shelter (LCAS) checked pricing at two local facilities to insure we are indeed receiving the lowest pricing available for all services needed. For the same services for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, SNIP of Texas Spay/Neuter would charge $194,000, and WellCare Pet Clinic would charge $321,295 for the same services.
The LCAS currently has 18 to 32 standing appointments every Wednesday with Animal Alliance to spay/neuter and administer rabies vaccines to animals from the LCAS. Occasionally, Animal Alliance will perform minor procedures at the same time the pet is being sterilized such as minor hernia repairs, cleaning of infected ears, and administration of antibiotics, which requires an additional charge. The LCAS staff has been diligent in seeking the best price and readiness to serve. The City has had a long-standing relationship with Animal Alliance. They are a non-profit low-cost spay neuter clinic and as such, offer the lowest prices for the services rendered. Animal Alliance can perform 75-100 surgeries per month, as opposed to 10 per month at private clinics.
In keeping with our goal of making League City a “No-Kill” community, the LCAS does not euthanize healthy, adoptable animals. In 2019, LCAS had 1,487 animals adopted and are projecting to achieve a similar number of adoptions this year.
In CY 2019, the LCAS took in 1,956 strays in comparison to 1,661 taken in CY 2018. This is an 18% increase in the number of stray animal intakes between 2018 and 2019. Animal Alliance average cost per surgery for 2019 was $77.17 and cost per rabies vaccine was $12.60, a 3% rise from 2018. As of September 30, CY 2020 stray intake was only 1,241 which is less YTD than was seen in CY 2019. Using the 2019 intake numbers as the basis, the total cost for surgeries and rabies vaccines would increase by 19% from 2018’s cost of $147,600 to an increase of $175,600.
In response to the stray intake increase within the City of League City, the LCAS will be participating in a nationwide initiative with intake reduction programs. These programs are built to support people within our community who may feel the need to abandon their pets as strays due to the lack of rehoming resources. An example of these programs includes the Home to Home program, a web-based rehoming resource designed specifically for animal shelters to reduce owner surrenders and owned animal abandonments by 20-30% and increase customer satisfaction overall for the citizens in our community.
CONTRACT ORIGINATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. DataSheet
2. Proposed Resolution
3. Exhibit A - Agreement with Animal Alliance
4. Vendor Report Card
FUNDING
{x} Funds in the amount of $70,560 are available from FY2021 Animal Control Professional Services Account 2750000/Object # 53050, with the additional $108,040 to be spent from savings within the FY2021 Animal Control department budget, donated funds, and/or from the FY2022 budget.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{ X } NOT APPLICABLE