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Grant ID:
1730
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Pinellas County Spay/Neuter |
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Municipal |
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$25,000.00 |
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Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners |
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Application Information |
Demographics
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Pinellas County Animal Services
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www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices
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Sandra F. Singletary
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Customer Service Manager
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[email protected]
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Doug Brightwell
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[email protected]
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12450 Ulmerton Road
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Largo
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Florida
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33774
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727-582-2657
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727-582-2559
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Agency Details
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Begin:
10/01/15
End:
09/30/16
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$4,598,942.00
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$4,598,942.00
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Full Time:
55
Part Time:
2
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229
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985.00
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Pinellas County Animal Services was previously awarded in 2014.
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| Years Funded: 2014 Year(s) denied/incomplete:
2016
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| Grant # | Proposal Year | Proposal Title | Status |
| 84 | 2009 | Animobile at Work | Funded |
| 1385 | 2014 | Spay/Neuter Pinellas County | Funded |
| 1665 | 2016 | Spay/Neuter Pinellas County | Denied |
| 1730 | 2017 | Pinellas County Spay/Neuter | Funded |
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Describe your Organization:
Applicant Qualifications
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For your organization, in the last complete fiscal year:
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7454
cats and
4963
dogs were admitted.
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3353
cats and 1396
dogs were adopted. |
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3367
cats and 1161
dogs were euthanized. |
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2572
cats and 1272
dogs were sterilized. |
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Briefly describe your animal programs:
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If your program performs adoptions, are all animals sterilized before adoption?
Yes
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If not all, what percentage of animals are not currently sterilized before adoption?
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If not all, how are animals selected for sterilization before adoption?
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If not all, describe your sterilization policies and procedures for assuring sterilization
after adoption:
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Give additional background information on your organization's programs as they relate
to this application and the qualifications of the personnel who will be in charge
of this program. Show that you have the ability to carry out this program.
Pinellas County Animal Services offers low cost feline spay/neuter services for low income residents and discounted spay/neuter services for unsterilized, impounded dogs and cats. We have a full veterinary staff led by Dr. Robbie Asher. We would like to offer services to residents own dogs and cats whose income is considered low income and can't normally afford to have their pets sterilized. We also plan to work with our shelter partners and community veterinarians along with non-profit groups who regularly offer low cost or free spay/neuter services to the community. Collaborating with our community partners and community veterinarians will ensure that we as an animal welfare system have the ability to carry out this program.
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If you currently have a program for sterilization of cats and/or dogs, describe
your current level of funding and productivity and why additional resources are
needed?
Pinellas County Animal Services currently only offers low cost feline spay/neuter services to low income residents by appointment at the shelter. Also, residents have the option to pay for a discounted spay/neuter for unsterilized, impounded dogs/cats. There is no available funding in Animal Services' budget to offer more sterilization services to the public. This grant would allow us to partner with other animal welfare organizations and community veterinarians to offer low cost spay/neuter services in the neighborhoods where residents need it most.
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Target Population |
Geographical target area (name of city, county, zip codes, geographical Information service (GIS), etc.):
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Pinellas County |
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Total human population in target area:
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960,730 |
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Percent of residents living below poverty in target area:
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13.6 |
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Estimated number of pet cats in target area (human population divided by 3.3):
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291131 |
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Estimated number of pet dogs in target area (human population divided by 4.0):
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240183 |
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Estimated number of feral cats in target area (human population divided by 6.0):
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160122 |
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Number of cats admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year
(if known) |
10,023 |
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Number of dogs admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year
(if known) |
7,154 |
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Number of cats euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year
(if known) |
3,755 |
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Number of dogs euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year
(if known) |
1,358 |
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Please explain if you believe your target area animal population is significantly
different than above.
The target area is likely to be similar to that described above. |
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Please explain what you believe are the most substantial sources of dog and cat
overpopulation in the target area:
Lack of resources for spay/neuter services is the most common source of dog and cat overpopulation in our communities. Many residents in our highly populated areas do not have access to transportation outside of public transit which does not accommodate the animals in need of this service and there are limited veterinarian clinics that offer low cost surgeries. Furthermore, a majority of residents in the County who have large dogs cannot afford large dog surgery. Besides the lack of resources for spay/neuter, many residents in the target area do not have proper shelter facilities or enclosed properties for indoor/outdoor pets leading to unplanned copulation by neighborhood dogs and cats. It is important to note that some residents in the target area may hold ideological beliefs against spay/neuter (i.e. pet owners sometimes are against neutering their dogs because of some obscure attachment that they believe their dogs' have with their gonads). However, the scope of this grant does not take into account educational outreach for the minority of pet owners who follow this philosophy. |
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What kinds of spay/neuter services are currently available in the target area
and in what ways are these resources currently insufficient to meet community needs?
There are three clinics that offer low cost spay/neuter services within the target area. Low income residents in the target area cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars on spay/neuter services and the community cannot afford the costs related to the overpopulation of pets. Of the three clinics that offer low cost spay/neuter services, one is a dedicated low cost spay/neuter clinic, one is a non-profit rescue with a dedicated clinic offering low cost spay/neuter services, and one is a private veterinary clinic offering low cost spay/neuter services on an as needed basis. The services offered by these three clinics are insufficient because, although their costs are low, they are not low enough to meet the income restrictions of the residents in the target area.
By partnering with our Veterinarians and animal welfare partners in the county, we will be able to offer low cost spay/neuter services to the poorest residents in our community which will benefit the residents and the community as a whole by reducing the population of pets into the future.
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Florida Animal Friend is highly supportive of proposals that are focused on
animal populations that are identified as substantial sources of dog or cat overpopulation
rather than being diluted over too broad of a geographic area or diverse animal
populations. Describe the specific target animal population of the spay/neuter project
proposed for this grant:
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TNR Managed Colony Feral Cat Program/Community Cats (Free-Roaming and/or Owned) Program
Define the precise boundaries of the colony or targeted area, including estimate of square miles.
Within Pinellas County boarders which is 608 square miles.
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What is the criteria used for determining the target area(s) and/or eligibility for this program?
Targeting entire county for low income residents and caregivers working with Pinellas Pet Partners.
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Describe whether the targeted area is rural, suburban, or urban. Is it commercial, residential, agricultural, or a designated special land use?
Targeting suburban and rural areas. All land types.
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Estimated number of cats in the target colony area
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100000
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Estimated number that are currently sterilized: 4000
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Projected reduction after utilizing the grant: 10000
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For TNR program, describe the ability to maintain lifelong care for remaining cats, commitment level of volunteers/organizations, etc.
MEOW Now and Pinellas Pet Partners assist with spay and neuter efforts and caregiver education and support.
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Do current city/county ordinances address TNR or free-roaming cats?
Yes
Please explain what is allowed:
Community cat colonies are allowed if cats are ear-tipped, sterilized and rabies vaccinated.
(NOTE: FAF will not fund any program this is inconsistent with local ordinances.) |
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For TNR program, list any groups or government agencies who support this TNR effort:
MEOW Now
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Describe any effort to lessen the negative impact on local wildlife.
Community education through the Pinellas Pet Partnership.
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Describe efforts that will be made to mitigate current or potential nuisance issues.
Community education through the Pinellas Pet Partnership.
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Will the cats be ear-tipped?
Yes
Will the cats be microchipped?
No
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Provide any additional information that will help the grant selection
committee understand how this program will operate to achieve its goals.
In addition to spay/neuter and educational efforts by community partners, Pinellas County Animal Services provides grant assistance to provide additional TNR and low income spay/neuter availability for citizens.
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Objectives |
What do you hope to accomplish with these funds (objectives should be specific
and quantifiable)?
Pinellas County Animal Services, in conjunction with our agency partners, the Humane Society of Pinellas, SPCA Tampa Bay, and Pet Pal Animal Shelter, as well as community veterinarians and Spay Neuter groups hope to lower the number of unsterilized pets in Pinellas County through a community-wide systems approach. We, as partners, already share data following Asilomar standards to better track progress across the County and within our animal welfare partnership system. Our ultimate goal is to significantly reduce the number of unsterilized pets in the community thereby reducing shelter intake, pets euthanized, and the number of homeless pets, while simultaneously increasing adoptions and live release rates. We will be able to quantify our success through continued data tracking and reporting which can be found on our agency website. We believe that by working together with our partners and community veterinarians to accomplish this objective, we will best serve the residents of Pinellas County and their pets. |
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How does this program increase the number of sterilization surgeries above the
existing baseline?
Pinellas County’s low cost spay/neuter services are somewhat limited in terms of the number of organizations offering low cost spay/neuter and their geographical locations. This program aims to increase the number of sterilization surgeries above the existing baseline by targeting the communities that need it most and sponsoring local clinics within those communities to perform the surgeries. Collaborating with our partners (the Humane Society of Pinellas, SPCA Tampa Bay, Pet Pal Animal Shelter, community veterinarians), and working with other Spay Neuter groups, we’ve determined that PCAS can best serve the entire county by collaborating this way. This will increase the number of sterilizations because residents who do not otherwise have transportation or cannot afford to have their pet sterilized will be able to use their local clinics for this service. |
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Methods |
What criteria will you use to determine eligibility for your program?
Pinellas County residents will provide a current driver’s license and proof of some form of government assistance or check stub that shows the need for assistance with spay-neuter. |
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How will you advertise the program? Explain how the advertising will reach the target
audience.
We will send out a press release to solicit non-profits, shelters and local veterinarians who wish to participate in the program and currently assist clients with this need. |
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How will you address barriers to full use of the program such as transportation,
illiteracy, and cultural hurdles?
Transportation is the most challenging barrier which we have addressed by partnering with local clinics to offer discounted / free services to the residents in their communities. There is a small population of Spanish-speaking residents in our target area so we plan to make our direct mail literature and flyers in both English and Spanish. As discussed previously, it is not within the scope of this grant to address this philosophical view that citizens have in regards to sterilization of their pets. A comprehensive, long-term educational outreach campaign would be necessary to begin to change the hearts and minds of those who follow this ideology. |
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Does this project involve the transportation of animals by someone other than
the client? If so, describe the vehicles, methods for confinement, personnel training,
liability releases used to assure the safety of the animals and handlers.
No, this project does not involve the transportation of animals by someone other than the client. |
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Veterinary Services |
What arrangements have you made with veterinarians to perform the surgeries?
The surgeries will be performed by our partners who we already have agreements with and a few veterinarians in our county as the need arises.
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Veterinary Practices
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Fee Range
What is the fee range to be paid for spay and neuter and what is the distribution
to be paid by the client vs. the grant program? Keep in mind that Florida Animal
Friend grant funds may only be used for costs directly associated with sterilization
surgery (including anesthesia and pain control) and not for other items such as
vaccines, testing, licensing, and capital purchases.
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Please check each item below to indicate additional services offered at the time
of surgery, whether the client is required to pay for them, and if so what the fee
is. For example, if an examination is required for surgery but is not charged to
the client it would be marked: Required
Yes, Fee to client
No
None of the anticipated grant funds can be used for any of the above services, except for pain medication.
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If necessary, please explain the procedures and fees described above:
It will be between the clinic veterinarians and the client to determine pricing structures for any of the additional fees requiring payment by the client outside of the rabies vaccine. We leave decisions up to the discretion of the clinic veterinarians to determine the best course of action.
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Is this a voucher program?
No
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If so, how will you assure compliance with the program?
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For your voucher program, how have you determined the capacity of the veterinarians listed above to handle the projected capacity?
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Will you have the ability to report the number of vouchers issued and the percentage that result in S/N surgeries?
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Other Information |
Provide any additional information that will help the grant selection committee
understand how the program will operate to achieve its goals.
The goal of this project is to capitalize on the integrated animal welfare system established in Pinellas County. By empowering our partners and community veterinarians participating in this project through cooperative action, we believe we will be able to foster stronger ties and improve animal welfare in the community. We all want the same deliverables and the best way to accomplish our objectives is by diversifying our approach to collaborate with our agency partners and community veterinarians to best serve the residents of Pinellas County. |
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Budget |
Total number of sterilization surgeries projected:
Cats:
250
Dogs: 250
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Total budget requested (Budget should not exceed $25,000):
$25,000.00
Average cost/surgery projected:
$50.00
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Describe any expenses that are not included in the grant and how they will be paid for (for example, vaccines, microchipping, ear notching, etc.):
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Describe any other funding sources for this program, i.e. other grants, targeted fundraising efforts, budget allocation, etc.
There are currently no other funding sources for this program.
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What percent of the total cost of the program would this projected grant cover?
100%
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Timeline |
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All projects must be completed within 12 months of receipt of funding. |
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Projected start date:
09/01/17/
Projected end date:
08/31/18 |
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Unexpended funds
Any unexpended funds must be refunded to Florida Animal Friend within 30 days of the end of the project.
Requests for extensions
Requests for time extensions are discouraged and not often granted. If it is imperative to request an extension, such request must be made in writing at least 30 days prior to the end of the project. It is FAF’s policy to seldom grant more than a 30-60 day extension.
Failure to submit reports and requests within the required time period will impact your agency’s future grant applications. |
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Future Funding to Sustain Public Spay/Neuter |
*Explain how the organization plans to fund this program in the future. Having sustainable plans
including other grants, local donations and other services generating revenue enhances the chances of receiving this grant.
Requiring a rabies vaccination with the surgeries will enable PCAS to track and collect future license fees
which may be used to fund future low cost spay/neuter projects. We also hope to maximize our Animal Welfare Trust Fund by promoting its mission to collect more donations, but a plan is still in development for this objective. |
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Promotion of Florida Animal Friend Spay/Neuter License Plate |
*Applicants selected for funding are expected to publicize their grant in support of their spay/neuter program and promote the sale of the Animal Friend license plate via press releases, newsletters, website links, social media, etc. Please describe your plan to promote the Florida Animal Friend Spay/Neuter License Plate. Grantees are required to submit documentation of promotional endeavors with their final report.
If awarded, PCAS would publicize this grant in a press release to local media, on our website, on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), in our monthly staff, volunteer, and rescue newsletters, and any other outlets deemed suitable by our communications department. |
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