From
Lily Yap, Animal Services Manager
Title
Ordinance amending Chapter Five, "Animal Services," Section 5-14 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, to adjust adoption policy to reflect industry best practices and discontinue adopter-specific citation process
Presenter
Lily Yap, Animal Services Manager
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The adoption fee for an animal from Prairie Paws Adoption Center currently includes the spay/neuter, microchipping, core vaccinations, and rabies vaccination. For animals that are too young for rabies vaccinations at the time of adoption, our current ordinance dictates that an adopter either return for an appointment at Prairie Paws Adoption Center to have the vaccine administered or follow up with their personal veterinarian to administer the rabies vaccination and submit proof to our staff. If neither of these actions are taken, under this version of the ordinance, the responsibility falls on Animal Services to issue a citation with a fine that could amount to over $100. This ultimately targets our most valuable customers. With the adjustment to the ordinance, the responsibility to ensure that an underaged animal is vaccinated for rabies will fall on the adopter, similar to the process for any other pet owner in Grand Prairie.
To supplement care for our underaged, adopted pets, the ordinance dictates that the Animal Services Manager will be able to implement a uniform policy that provides a service for the adopted pet to receive the rabies vaccination from Prairie Paws Adoption Center when of age. This will be primarily be based on veterinary availability. This creates an adoption process, including spay/neuter, microchipping, and age appropriate vaccinations, that is in line with industry best practices.
Financial Consideration
None
Body
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE "ANIMAL SERVICES," SECTION 5-14 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, TO ADJUST ADOPTION POLICY TO REFLECT INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES AND DISCONTINUE ADOPTER-SPECIFIC CITATION PROCESS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, state law places the responsibility to ensure dogs and cats have received the rabies vaccination by four (4) months of age on the pet owner;
WHEREAS, the Grand Prairie Animal Shelter wishes to make animals available for adoption which are too young to receive their rabies vaccine;
WHEREAS, the Grand Prairine Animal Shelter customers have expresssed a desire to use private veteranarians to administer the vaccination; and
WHEREAS, amending the ordinance in accordance with best practices will assist in the efficiency and success of he Grand Prairine Animal Shelter;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That Section 5-14 of Chapter 5, "Animal Services", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"(a) Condition. The animal services manager shall be authorized to place for adoption dogs or cats impounded by the city under the following conditions:
(1) The animal services manager shall determine whether a dog or cat is healthy enough for adoption; however, such a decision by the animal services manager shall not constitute a warranty of the health or age of any animal.
(2) There will be an adoption fee for all dogs and cats at an amount established by chapter 5 article IV. The animal services manager shall have the authority to waive such fee in cases of special pet adoption promotions.
(3) All dogs and cats shall receive a microchip implant of a type approved by the animal services manager.
(b) Rabies vaccination.
(1) Dogs or cats age four (4) months or older.
All adopted dogs and cats aged 4 months or older shall be vaccinated for rabies prior to adoption. The animal services manager may determine if it is not medically safe to administer a rabies vaccination at the time of adoption. In these cases, the adopter shall sign a written agreement acknowledging that the animal has not received the rabies vaccination and agreeing to full responsibility for following up with their personal veterinarian to administer the rabies vaccination upon eligibility.
(2) Dogs or cats age less than four (4) months.
In the event an adopted dog or cat is under four (4) months of age, the vaccination will not be required until the animal is at least three (3) months of age but no older than four (4) months of age. If an animal is released without a rabies vaccination, the adopting person shall sign a written agreement acknowledging that the animal has not received the rabies vaccination and agreeing to full responsibility for ensuring the animal is administered the rabies vaccination before the animal has reached four (4) months of age. The Animal Services Manager may adopt and amend a policy which provides an opportunity for adopted animals to receive a rabies vaccination at the shelter provided that the policy is uniformly applied.
(3) Other adopted animals shall be required to be vaccinated in accordance with the requirements of the state health agency or in accordance with the recommendations of the American Veterinary Medicine Association.
(c) Sterilization.
(1) In the event an adopted dog or cat is not sterilized, the animal services manager shall cause the animal to be sterilized. The services for sterilization shall be administered at the time of adoption unless the animal services manager determines it is not medically safe to sterilize the dog or cat at the time of adoption. Each animal shall be sterilized prior to being released to the adopting person unless:
a. The dog or cat is under two (2) months of age; or
b. The animal services manager determines that the dog or cat should not be sterilized for health reasons or the animal services manager has determined the animal has been previously sterilized; or
c. The adopting person has signed a written agreement that the person will have the animal sterilized by animal services in accordance with the written agreement, which will provide notice of the date and time for the person to return with the adopted animal for sterilization.
(2) The animal services manager may extend the sterilization deadline upon presentation of a written veterinary report, stating that the life or health of the adopted animal may be jeopardized by surgery. There is no limit to the number of extensions that may be granted under this subsection.
(3) A person who signs a sterilization agreement commits an offense if he/she fails to have the animal sterilized on or before the sterilization completion date stated in the agreement.
(4) If the adopted animal dies on or before the sterilization completion date, the adopting person shall deliver to the animal services manager a signed letter stating that the animal is dead. The letter shall be delivered not later than the seventh day after the date of the animal's death, and shall describe the cause of death if known and provide the date of death. A person commits an offense if the animal services manager does not receive the letter before the expiration of the seventh day after the sterilization completion date.
(5) If the adopted animal is lost or stolen before the sterilization completion date, the adopting person shall deliver to the animal services manager a signed letter stating that the animal is lost or stolen. The letter shall be delivered not later than the seventh day after the date of the animal's disappearance, and shall describe the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and the approximate date of disappearance. In such case there shall be no refund of the adoption fee. A person commits an offense if the animal services manager does not receive the letter before the expiration of the seventh day after the sterilization completion date.
(6) The animal services manager shall be authorized to reclaim any adopted animal after the expiration of the seventh day after the sterilization completion date, if the animal services manager has not received proof that the person is in compliance with the sterilization agreement. In such case there shall be no refund of the adoption fee, and ownership of the animal shall revert to the city.
Section 2. Savings Clause.
That the Code of Ordinances of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas shall remain in full force and effect, save and except as amended by this ordinance.
Section 3. Severability Clause
If any article, section, sub-section, sentence or phrase of this Ordinance should be held to be invalid for any reason whatsoever, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance which shall remain in full force and effect and to this end the provision of this Ordinance are declared to be severable.
Section 4. Cumulative Clause.
All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances not consistent or conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed. Provided that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency and in all other respects this Ordinance shall be cumulative of other Ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered in this Ordinance.
Section 5
That this Ordinance shall be and become effective immediately upon and after its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS ON THIS THE 3RD DAY OF MARCH, 2020.