Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 2
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
Appropriation of $68,000 from District 2 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Tranche II POETA Account 106388.63258.521209.01.02.602778 to LifeLine Animal Project for DeKalb County Spayathon 2025
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PURPOSE:
To appropriate $68,000 from District 2 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Tranche II POETA Account 106388.63258.521209.01.02.602778 to LifeLine Animal Project for DeKalb County Spayathon 2025.
NEED/IMPACT:
DeKalb County must increase the spay/neuter rates of the animals most apt to inadvertent breeding. Research and existing community programs show that spay/neuter rates quickly climb from an initial rate of 25% to 75% when sterilization services are made free and accessible, and a relationship of trust is established with the pet owner. Exacerbating the backlog of needed sterilization surgeries are (1) the lingering effects of the shutdown of nonessential veterinary surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) the critical lack of accessible and affordable veterinary care in underserved areas of south DeKalb County.
To address this reality, it’s imperative that funding and spay/neuter capacity be increased. Targeted sterilization of the animals most apt to be adding to pet overproduction is the most efficacious approach. The first, and a substantial, step towards a solution is a targeted “Spayathon” for underserved areas of DeKalb County. A Spayathon is an intensive spay/neuter event aimed at altering large numbers of pets in a short period of time. Over the course of three days (February 21-23, 2025), we propose holding the DeKalb County Spayathon, utilizing nonprofit spay/neuter clinics, municipal veterinary clinics, mobile clinics, and private veterinary offices simultaneously spaying and neutering hundreds of cats and dogs otherwise at high risk of inadvertently breeding and adding to the local overpopulation problem. Services involve either bringing mobile veterinary clinics to these locales or bringing the animals to existing veterinary clinics. Public funds of $68,000 are requested for the DeKalb Spayathon to cover project management, veterinary staffing, supplies, and other associated costs (see attached Budget). This funding level would allow for a projected target of 300 spay/neuter surgeries during the Spayathon, based on an average cost of $150 per animal plus administrative costs. Additional private funds or donations will enable a commensurate number of dogs and cats to be added to the projected target number.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$68,000 from District 2 ARP Tranche II POETA Account 106388.63258.521209.01.02.602778
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the appropriation of $68,000 from District 2 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Tranche II POETA Account 106388.63258.521209.01.02.602778 and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all necessary documents.