The Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance to amend BARC’s animal transport operations agreement with Rescued Pets Movement (RPM), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, to include additional language that specifically provides that BARC will provide necessary medications and animal health certificates for transport.
In July 2015, the City of Houston entered into a five-year contract with RPM to transport a minimum of 4,680 animals per year – or approximately 390 animals per month – from the City’s BARC animal shelter to “no kill” communities, facilities, and foster-based rescues in the United States that have a demand for adoptable pets. BARC pays $75 per animal transported with a not-to-exceed contract amount for five years of $2,161,400.
Exhibit C of the City’s contract with RPM speaks to BARC’s releasing to RPM “sufficient medical supplies and medication as required for the immediate health and safety of the animal”. Thus, BARC’s practice has been to send every animal to transport with their necessary medications (i.e. heartworm medication if the animal is being treated for heartworm, etc.). However, the contract scope of work does not specifically require BARC to do so.
In addition, the State of Colorado requires dogs and cats imported to the State to be accompanied by a certificate stating that they are free from exposure to rabies and (if over three months of age) have been immunized for rabies within twelve (12) months prior to entry. This requirement was enacted by the State of Colorado after the contract was approved by City Council. In the spirit of the language referenced above, BARC also provides the necessary health certificates. If BARC did not provide this service, RPM would need to hire veterinarians to provide the certificates, substantially increasing their costs of operation and impairing their ability to continue to perform transports for the City at $75 per animal.
Accordingly, ARA requests City Council’s approval to amend the contract to specifically include the provision of the medications and certificates to RPM by BARC veterinarians. No additional funding is required for this amendment.
These costs are expected to remain consistent for the remainder of the contract. If not for the heroic efforts of RPM, BARC would have been unable to reach the historically high live release since BARC and RPM’s partnership began.
Departmental Approval Authority:
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Tina Paez, Director Other Authorization
Administration & Regulatory
Affairs Department