Agenda

Return

C.160

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Beth Ward, Animal Services Director
Date:	June 26, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with Unconditional Dog

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/26/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Beth Ward, 925-608-8470

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: June 26, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Animal Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Unconditional Dog, in an amount not to exceed $300,000 to provide animal enrichment services at the Animal Services Department's shelters for the period July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This contract is funded 100% by the Animal Benefit Fund (non-General Fund).

BACKGROUND:

The purpose for contracting with Unconditional Dog, also known as the "Shelter Enrichment Team" (SET), is to determine the behavioral needs of each dog within the shelter, provide a program of activities to enrich their wellbeing during their temporary stay, and to educate staff, volunteers, and the public about pet's ongoing behavioral maintenance needs.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The SET is responsible for providing behavioral assessments, as well as, enrichment for dogs based on their individual needs, focusing especially on those pets that the volunteer team are unable to handle due to safety concerns or legal restrictions and that other staff do not have resources to upkeep. The goal of these services begin as soon as the dog enters the CCAS programs, with assessment and the creation of a behavior plan, to maintain or improve the pet's mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, to secure more rapid movement toward adoption. Working together with medical, volunteer, shelter, transfer partner coordinators, and adoption counselors, the SET team will address concerns that impact the individual dog's program and successful placement in an appropriate permanent home.

The SET endeavors to ensure successful placement following adoption, by working with the adoption counselors, staff, and other volunteers, to ensure they understand the program for each dog as they interact with potential adopters. The SET team provides classes to share behavioral concepts and positive reinforcement handling techniques to staff, volunteers, and the public. They also provide behavioral information for each dog to adopters via the Chameleon behavior record, as well as access to public training classes, and individual behavior consults when needed.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failure to approve this contract will affect the Department's capacity to provide animal welfare and care to sheltered animals at the Pinole and Martinez shelters.