In 1998, the Animal Benefit Fund was created by the Animal Services Department to allow the Department to receive donations from individuals, animal welfare organizations and businesses, to support animal health and welfare projects that are not funded by departmental or general County revenue. On April 19, 2016, the Board of Supervisors delegated specific authority to the Animal Services Director, to accept any monetary donation, gift, bequest, or device made to or in favor of the Contra Costa County Animal Services Department, as allowed under Government Code section 25355, and to solicit donations for the benefit of shelter animals. Along with this delegated authority, the Animal Services Director is required to file a report with the Board of Supervisors every quarter that describes the source and value of each gift.   
  
On December 8, 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2020/326, which authorized the Animal Services Director to implement the following programs within the Animal Benefit Fund beginning FY 2021/22:  
1. Medical Assistance Program: This program is for medical assistance and emergency veterinary care for animals that are in the County's jurisdiction and/or have been accepted into the County shelter’s care. Funds are used for medical care over and above the mandated medical care for animals in the care of the shelter and that need further assistance to be made available for adoption or released to a transfer agency. Funds may also be used to provide necessary medical care to an animal to help keep the animal out of the shelter.  
  
2. Humane Education Program: This program helps to support humane education services at the County animal shelter and within the community. Humane education support may also be used to help pet owners resolve behavioral problems that might otherwise cause them to give up their pet, to help shelter animals with behavioral issues that might keep them from being easily adopted, and to create humane education programs for school age children.  
  
3. Shelter Intervention Program: Often, families in a crisis turn to surrendering their pet to a shelter due to lack of financial resources. The intervention program helps to provide resources to keep animals in their homes. Examples of intervention tools: spay/neuter, behavior/training assistance, fence repair and grooming. This program may also be used to help domestic violence victims or seniors on limited incomes to keep their pets in their lives when they may otherwise have had to consider relinquishment due to lack of funds for basic daily needs or medical concerns.  
  
4. Spay Neuter and Wellness Program: This program allows spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchips to be more affordable and accessible in Contra Costa County. Contra Costa Animal Services accomplishes this by establishing partnerships and is developing mobile programs to reach into the areas of the County in greatest need, targeting the species/breeds of animals most likely to be found in the County shelter, and supporting healthy community cats through TNR/RTF (trap-neuter-return / return- to-field) and Working Cat Adoptions.  
  
The total value of donations received for July 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023 is $342,166.

Failure to accept the report will delay the information the Board of Supervisors has requested.