That the Emergency and Protective Services Committee recommend to Council that former Ottawa By-law 103-78 respecting the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic, as amended, be amended to incorporate the proposed fees and charges specified in Document 1, applicable to all surgeries requested the day after City Council approval of this report.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des services de protection et d’urgence recommande au Conseil municipal que le Règlement municipal 103-78 de l’ancienne Ville d’Ottawa concernant la Clinique de stérilisation de la Ville d’Ottawa, tel que modifié, soit révisé de façon à tenir compte des frais proposés au document 1 pour ce qui concerne les interventions chirurgicales demandées à compter du lendemain de l’approbation du présent rapport par le Conseil municipal.

BACKGROUND

In recognition of the importance of pet spaying/neutering to effective control of the pet population, and hence, to the goals of animal control generally, the former City of Ottawa requested of the Province and was granted special legislation, by way of the City of Ottawa Act 1976, to establish a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

On that basis, the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic, located at 95 Bayview Road, was established in 1978 with a Council-approved mandate of making the spay/neuter service more accessible to and affordable for pet owners who might not otherwise have their pets spayed/neutered, thereby encouraging the sterilization of the optimum number of cats and dogs. The overall objective is to reduce the unwanted pet population, thereby reducing the need for care and shelter for homeless animals, the euthanasia rate and hence, the costs of animal control.

The Clinic specializes in pet sterilization. As of July 8, 2002, a total of 90,909 surgeries have been performed since its establishment in 1978. On average annually, approximately 2500 surgeries are performed. Every unspayed female dog, and her offspring, can produce 67,000 more dogs in six years. On that basis, the operation of the Clinic plays a critical role in the control of the pet population and the associated costs of animal control.

The fees and charges for the services provided by the Clinic have been established on the basis of the aforementioned mandate and with the goal of cost recovery, giving due consideration to the benefits of the program to which a monetary value is difficult to attribute. Further, Clinic fees and charges are significantly lower than those of the private sector – which has a more profit-oriented mandate – thereby rendering it more affordable and increasing the rate of pet sterilization.

Since the time of the establishment of the Spay/Neuter Clinic under the former Ottawa, general authority for that purpose was granted to all municipalities under Section 210(12) of the Ontario Municipal Act. Other Ontario and North American municipalities have also recognized the benefit of and need for accessible pet spay/neuter services in view of the municipal animal control mandate and most provide spay/neuter programs as a best practice. Considered a progressive initiative, Ottawa’s Spay/Neuter Clinic has acted as a model for such programs and has been the subject of inquiries from other cities in North America and the United Kingdom seeking to implement similar programs.

In support of the spay/neuter mandate, in 2001 and 2002, Proclamations from His Worship Mayor Chiarelli have established Ottawa Spay/Neuter Day and have “[encouraged] citizens to have their companion animal(s) spayed or neutered”.

DISCUSSION

Traditionally, increases in Spay/Neuter Clinic fees and charges have been incremental and have largely been based on increases in expenses associated with providing the service. Fees are also based on the complexity of and the time required to perform each type of surgery, as well as the demand for service in each category.

The proposed fee increases are summarized below. They are required to address increases in expenditures associated with the operation of the Clinic, while still allowing the City to continue to provide the service at approximately 50-60% of the fees charged by the private sector and therefore, maintaining some level of accessibility and affordability.

Pre-surgery medical consultation

Each animal must be examined prior to surgery to ensure that it is fit to withstand anaesthetic and to undergo the procedure generally. For purposes of cost recovery in that regard, be it for animals actually undergoing a procedure or for those disqualified to do so, the pre-surgery medical consultation fee was introduced in 1991 and has remained at the same level ($5) since that time. The increase to $15 is therefore proposed.

Dogs

Given anatomical factors, sterilizations performed on female dogs (spays) are the most complex and require the most amount of surgery time of all surgery categories. Further, as the size and weight of the dog increases, so does surgery complexity and time required for both dog spays and dog neuters (males). The proposed dog spay and dog neuter fees are established accordingly and reflect a $10 increase in each weight category.

Cats

Although not as complex as dog spays, sterilizations on female cats are more complex than those on male cats. Fees are therefore proportioned accordingly. Further, weight categories are not relevant to cats. A $10 increase in the fees for cat spays and cat neuters is proposed.

Surcharges

Surcharges for surgeries on pets with more unusual physical or anatomical circumstances are required to cover the costs associated with the additional complexity and time required to perform such surgeries. The proposed increase in each of the surcharges is reflective of those factors and of increases in Clinic expenses.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no environmental implications associated with the recommendation.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no rural implications associated with the recommendation. The services provided by the Clinic are equally accessible to all residents of the City.

CONSULTATION

External Agencies

A copy of the report has been forwarded for information to the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS), which operates a Mandatory Sterilization Program (MSP) in relation to the cats and dogs adopted from that facility. The OHS is unable to provide pet sterilization services itself. Under the MSP and as incentive to persons adopting a pet from the OHS, the fee for a pet adoption includes the cost of spaying/neutering and a voucher is provided to the client as part of the Adoption Agreement. The voucher may be redeemed at any participating veterinary facility, which is reimbursed by the OHS for the cost of the surgery. The MSP fees have traditionally been based, in part, on those of the Spay/Neuter Clinic.

Public

A notice advertising the date and time of the meeting at which the report will be discussed has appeared in the dailies, in accordance with relevant Corporate policy. Copies of the report were made available to the public upon request.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Subject to City Council approval of the recommendation, revenues generated from the services provided by the Clinic will be credited to the Spay/Neuter Clinic account 132712-407247.

ATTACHMENTS

Document 1 – Spay/Neuter Clinic Fees and Charges

DISPOSITION

Corporate Services, Legal Services Branch, in consultation with Emergency and Protective Services, to process the amending by-law to Council

DOCUMENT 1

SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC FEES AND CHARGES

Category Current ($)* Proposed ($)*

Pre-surgery medical consultation 5.00 15.00

Dog Spay

30 pounds or less 85.00 95.00

31-50 pounds 95.00 105.00

51-70 pounds 105.00 115.00

71-90 pounds 120.00 130.00

91 pounds or more 135.00 145.00

Dog Neuter

30 pounds or less 70.00 80.00

31-50 pounds 75.00 85.00

51-70 pounds 80.00 90.00

71-90 pounds 95.00 105.00

91 pounds or more 105.00 115.00

Cat Spay 65.00 75.00

Cat Neuter 35.00 45.00

Surcharge for pregnancy 30.00 40.00

Surcharge for monorchid/cryptorchids 55.00 65.00

*exclude GST