ADOPTED - APRIL 10, 2001

Agenda Item No. 15

Introduced by the Law & Courts and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE ANIMAL CONTROL FEES TO ALLOW

QUALIFIED ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS TO ADOPT SHELTER ANIMALS

AT A REDUCED RATE

RESOLUTION #01-111

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, on September 18, 1972, adopted the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance which therein provided for the appointment of an Animal Control Director and certain deputies and assistants to fulfill the duties as described by the Ordinance; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, on July 27, 1999, amended the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance so that the fees and expenses established by the Animal Control Ordinance could be changed from time to time by action of the Board of Commissioners; and

WHEREAS, certain Animal Rescue Groups have requested that the animals at the Ingham County Animal Shelter, which have been proven to be unwanted animals, be made available to them for adoption at a reduced rate below the normal adoption rate; and

WHEREAS, a rate reduction for the adoption of animals by animal rescue groups, would make it more economically feasible for more of the Animal Shelter's unwanted animal population to be spared from euthanasia through adoption; and

WHEREAS, a set of criteria has been established under which the Animal Control Director of Ingham County may approve those organizations which would qualify for the reduced rate for adoption, together with rules which must be followed in order to maintain the organization's qualifications, which criteria are entitled "Animal Rescue Groups Qualifications and Rules" attached and incorporated by reference herein.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Director of Ingham County Animal Control may approve certain animal rescue groups for a reduced rate for adoption in accordance with the "Animal Rescue Groups Qualifications and Rules," attached and incorporated herein by reference.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the schedule of fees and expenses for Ingham County Animal Control be amended so as to reduce the rate for adoption by qualified animal rescue groups to Twenty Four Dollars ($24.00) for dogs and Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) for cats.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this change in the schedule of fees and expenses take immediate effect upon passage of this resolution by the Ingham County Board of Commissioners.

LAW & COURTS: Yeas: Lynch, Krause, Schafer, Severino, Stid, De Leon, Dedden

Nays: None Absent: None Approved 3/29/01

FINANCE: Yeas: Hertel, Schafer, Minter, Swope, Lynch, Krause

Nays: None Absent: Czarnecki Approved 4/4/01

Attachment to Board Resolution #01-111

ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS QUALIFICATIONS AND RULES

(ANIMAL ADOPTION FEES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS)

Certain non-profit animal rescue groups who adopt animals from the Ingham County Animal Shelter, may qualify for a reduction in the normal adoption fees of up to one half, (50%) of the usual rate for the adoption of animals.

In order for an organization to qualify for the reduced rate they must first be registered with Ingham County Animal Control as an agency eligible for the reduction. Authority for designation as a qualifying animal rescue group has been delegated to the Director of Animal Control by The Ingham County Board of Commissioners. Such designation by the Director may be granted when an application is presented for approval to Director of Ingham County Animal Control. Disputes arising from the qualification and approval process may be directed to the Law and Courts Committee, of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners for resolution.

General requirements of the organization:

• Registration as a non-profit organization with the State of Michigan



• Specifically itemized locations where the animals will be kept by the rescue group until the time of final adoption. These locations will be reviewed by Ingham County Animal Control for suitability at the time of application and periodically reviewed while an organization participates in this program.



• Specific names of the individual members of the organization who will be able to take animals from the Ingham County Animal Shelter, on behalf of the organization under this program.



• The organization has demonstrated responsibility in the care, treatment and housing of animals, and diligence in the selection of appropriate environments for final adoptive placements.

Order of priorities for dispositions of animals from the Ingham County Animal Shelter:

• The first priority of the Animal Shelter is to return pets to their rightful owners.



• The second priority of the Animal Shelter is to provide opportunities for the general public to adopt our unwanted/unclaimed pets and to match our pets with suitable homes.



• The third priority is to match animals, who have potential to be of service to society, to placements at service organizations such as Leader Dogs for the Blind or Paws for Cause. Animals is this category may also be adopted for service in law enforcement organizations.



• The forth priority is placement of animals with animal rescue organizations as a means of providing additional opportunities to find homes for otherwise unwanted pets. It is this category of pets which will be available for the reduced adoption rate.

The County will reserve the right to disallow an animal rescue group from taking animals which Ingham County Animal Control has deemed are a public health & safety risk or are otherwise not suitable for adoption. Adoption by an animal rescue group is a full adoption, at a reduced rate, in which ownership to the animal passes to the rescue organization at the time of the adoption. The adoptive rescue group must comply with State Statutes regarding sterilization, rabies shots and dog licenses. The Statutory requirement that all animals adopted from the Ingham County Animal Shelter must be sterilized and rabies vaccinated, is in no way affected by this reduction in the adoption fee. The customary pre-payment for these services to their veterinarian of choice is unaffected by the reduction in the adoption fee.

Dogs adopted by rescue groups are required to be licensed. The deposit for the dog license is included in the remaining portion of the adoption fee the rescue group will be required to pay at the time of adoption. There is no additional fee to license the dog after it is rabies vaccinated, provided that the license is obtained within the time specified on the receipt. All licenses will be issued to the foster home where each animal is adopted or harbored upon evidence that the animal has received its rabies vaccination. Once the animals are adopted to their permanent homes, the rescue group involved will notify Animal Control of the new owners including their name, address and telephone number. This will allow for the proper transfer of the dog's license.

The County will not guarantee the health of the animals adopted from the Shelter. As with any adoption, the adopting agent should take the animal to a veterinarian for a health check-up within 48 hours of the adoption. Should the veterinarian determine that a serious health condition exists, the animal may be immediately returned to the Shelter for a full refund.

The adoption fees for qualified rescue groups will be:

• For Dogs . . . . . . . . . .$24.00
• For Cats . . . . . . . . . . $15.00