From
Andrew Fortune, Acting Animal Services Manager
Title
Renew interlocal agreement through September 2019 with Dallas County Sheriff's Department to participate in an inmate training program that provides foster care and basic obedience training to homeless shelter dogs; authorize the City Manager to execute the four renewal options under the contract
Presenter
James R. Cummings, Environmental Services Director
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
In 2016, the Dallas County Sheriff's Department implemented an inmate dog training program that rotates a new training class every five (5) weeks. Each training class consists of five (5) rescued dogs from Grand Prairie Animal Services. The rescue dogs are taught the Canine Good Citizen Course which includes basic commands for sit, down, stay, walk on a leash, accept friendly strangers, come when called, and accept grooming.
The program is conducted at the Suzanne Kays Jail and is taught by an instructor from El Centro College with the assistance of the ten (10) volunteer inmates, and one Dallas County detention officer. During the program, the County provides adequate food, water, and shelter for each of the dogs delivered to the County during each of the five week training classes.
All dogs provided by Grand Prairie Animal Services are small to medium sized breed dogs and are spaded/neutered, have all applicable vaccinations, and are properly groomed. The dogs provided have received adequate veterinarian care and are free of illness, disease, disability, or behavioral issues that would prevent the dog from participating in the training class. The benefit of the training classes has been to facilitate higher adoption rates of the trained rescued dogs.
This agreement is effective through September 2019 with the option of four (4) annual renewals.
Financial Consideration
None