3. SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC – REVIEW
of fees and service hours Clinique de stérilisation
animale - Examen des frais et des heures d'ouverture |
That Council approve the following:
1.
the Spay/Neuter Clinic
By-law, attached as Document 1, which provides for its fees and charges, be enacted to take effect
January 1, 2008; and,
2. the Spay/Neuter Clinic be open to
provide pet sterilization services on Fridays in addition to the current days
of Monday to Thursday inclusive, to commence the first Friday in January 2008,
and that the Draft 2008 Operating Budget be adjusted accordingly.
Que le Conseil approuve la motion
suivante :
1.
d’adopter le Règlement municipal sur les frais
exigibles de la Clinique de stérilisation animale (au document 1 ci‑joint)
et de le mettre en application à compter du 1er janvier 2008;
2. d’ouvrir la Clinique de stérilisation
animale pour y offrir des services de stérilisation des animaux de compagnie le
vendredi, en plus des jours de service actuels du lundi au jeudi inclusivement,
à compter du premier vendredi de janvier 2008, et de modifier le budget de
fonctionnement provisoire 2008 en conséquence.
DOCUMENTATION
1.
Deputy City Manager, Community and
Protective Services report dated 24 October 2007 (ACS2007-CPS-BYL-0046).
2. Extract of Draft Minute, 1 November 2007.
Report to/Rapport au :
Community and Protective Services Committee
Comité des services communautaires et de
protection
and Council / et au Conseil
24 October 2007/le 24 octobre 2007
Submitted by/Soumis par : Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal
adjoint,
Community and Protective
Services/Services communautaires et de protection
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Susan Jones, Director/Directrice
By-law and Regulatory Services/Services des règlements municipaux
(613) 580-2424 x25536, susan.jones@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC – REVIEW of fees and service hours
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OBJET : |
Clinique de stérilisation animale - Examen des frais et des
heures d'ouverture |
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the
Community and Protective Services Committee recommend to Council that:
1. the Spay/Neuter Clinic By-law, attached as
Document 1, which provides for its fees and charges, be enacted to take effect January 1, 2008; and,
2.
the Spay/Neuter Clinic be open to provide pet
sterilization services on Fridays in addition to the current days of Monday to
Thursday inclusive, to commence the first Friday in January 2008, and that the Draft
2008 Operating Budget be adjusted accordingly.
Que le
Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande au Conseil :
1. d’adopter le Règlement municipal sur
les frais exigibles de la Clinique de stérilisation animale (au document
1 ci joint) et de le mettre en application à compter du 1er janvier 2008;
2. d’ouvrir la Clinique de stérilisation
animale pour y offrir des services de stérilisation des animaux de compagnie le
vendredi, en plus des jours de service actuels du lundi au jeudi inclusivement,
à compter du premier vendredi de janvier 2008, et de modifier le budget de
fonctionnement provisoire 2008 en conséquence.
In May 2006, the City was advised that the lease for the Spay/Neuter Clinic at 1851 Merivale Road would expire on December 31, 2006. At its meeting of October 25, 2006, Council approved that authority be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of Community and Protective Services to relocate the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic to a suitable facility, with funding to an upset limit of $450,000 to cover retrofit and moving costs. Staff secured for lease an appropriate location at 26 Concourse Gate, in close proximity to the previous location, with the actual cost of moving and retrofit of $262,000.
The City is now, for the first time since its establishment, faced with paying leasing costs in the range of $36,000 annually. As a result, it is necessary to adjust the fees and charges as outlined in the draft by-law, attached as Document 1. The proposed fees represent increases of the current fees in the range of 4% to 20%. Overall, the proposed fees are approximately 50-60% of the average of those in the local private sector and those outlined in the provincial fee guide, and are intended to offset the leasing costs associated with the new facility.
Further, particularly now that the City must lease space, it would be prudent from both the fiscal and the service perspectives for it to be open for operation five days per week, as opposed to just Monday to Thursday inclusive. The four-day per week schedule was introduced by former Ottawa as a cost saving measure as part of its 1996 budget deliberations.
The additional costs associated with the opening of the Clinic on Fridays will be offset by revenue, and will result in more pets being spayed and neutered. This will help fulfill the primary goal of the Clinic which is to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs, thereby reducing the need for care and shelter for homeless animals, the euthanasia rate and hence, the costs of animal care and control borne by the municipality.
The City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic was established in 1978 with a Council-approved mandate of making pet sterilization services 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 care and control, which are borne by the municipality.
The Clinic operated from a building on Bayview Road from 1978 until 2003. That building, constructed in 1958, was acquired by the former City of Ottawa in 1977 to accommodate the Spay/Neuter program. It was understood at that time that the facility would support the program for a limited number of years and that its condition was such that a replacement facility would eventually be required in order to address the long-term programming needs of the Spay/Neuter Clinic. As a result of the continual deterioration of the building and engineering reports calling for its demolition in view of public and personnel health and safety, the Clinic operation was moved to 1851 Merivale Road, which was essentially a rent-free facility as a result of sponsorship.
In May 2006, the City was given notice that the Spay/Neuter Clinic’s lease at 1851 Merivale Road, where the Clinic had been located since 2003, was set to expire on October 31, 2006, with the option of continuing on a month-to-month basis until December 31, 2006. To expedite securing a new clinic, Council, at its meeting of October 25, approved that authority be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of Community and Protective Services to relocate the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic to a suitable facility, with funding to an upset limit of $450,000 to cover retrofit and moving costs.
Specifically, Council approved the following:
a)
Authority be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of Community and
Protective Services to relocate the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic to a
suitable facility, with funding to an upset limit of $450,000.00 to cover
retrofit and moving costs.
b)
Staff pursue sponsorship opportunities to help offset the capital expenditure
identified in a).
c) Staff report back to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee and Council in early 2007 with a proposed Spay/Neuter Clinic fee schedule that focuses on the overriding importance of an affordable service that will be attractive to the public and enhance the reduction of unwanted pet population and reducing the need for expanded pound services.
As well, the Emergency and Protective Services in its consideration of
the matter at its meeting of October 12, 2006 asked that:
d) staff investigate what other large Ontario
municipalities have done with respect to spay/neuter clinics including the
nature of any special legislation that may have been required.
e)
staff investigate what constraints or permits exist in the Municipal Act or the act
creating the City of Ottawa which would affect Ottawa’s ability to operate a
spay/neuter clinic through a separate agency.
New
Facility
Although December 31, 2006 appeared to be the latest date until which the Clinic could remain at the Merivale Road location, notice was given by the landlord of the requirement to vacate the premises by February 28, 2007. Staff of the CPS Department, in conjunction with Real Property and Asset Management, identified and secured for lease an appropriate space for the Clinic, located within close proximity to the former Clinic – Merivale and Hunt Club area – at 26 Concourse Gate. Clinic operations resumed in early June, following completion of the required retrofit and obtaining the requisite accreditation from the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. Although $450,000 was approved to cover retrofit and moving cost, the actual cost was $262,000. With the actual cost not being available until well into 2007 and giving due consideration to the budget processes of corporations which would potentially be approached, staff will be in a better position to pursue sponsorship opportunities in the coming months.
Fee Schedule and Hours of Service Review
In that the City is now, and for the first time since its establishment, faced with paying leasing costs in the range of $36,000 annually, it is necessary to make adjustments to the fees and charges schedule, contained in the draft by-law attached as Document 1. The proposed fees represent increases of the current fees in the range of 4% to 20%, with the greater increases being applied to sterilization of larger dogs, particularly females, which are more time-consuming and complex than smaller dogs. In addition, the weight categories have been amended somewhat to more appropriately reflect time and materials as they relate to cost recovery on sterilizations of the various sized dogs. Overall, the proposed fees are approximately 50-60% of the average of those in the local private sector and those outlined in the provincial fee guide. Spay/Neuter Clinic fees were last increased two years ago by approximately 4%.
Given the new location, the extent of the fee schedule adjustments as well as other organizational and policy changes associated with the Clinic, a new by-law is proposed to replace By-law 103-78, the original by-law establishing the Clinic at 95 Bayview Road as well as prescribing its fees and charges.
Further, particularly now that the City must lease space, it would be prudent from both the fiscal and the service perspectives to be open for operation five (5) days per week, as opposed to just Monday to Thursday inclusive. The four-day per week schedule was introduced by former Ottawa as a cost saving measure as part of its 1996 budget deliberations.
Services in Other
Municipalities
Based on staff’s review of pet spay/neuter services in other large Ontario municipalities, it would appear that none operate a clinic in wholly the same manner as that of Ottawa. The services to the public of those municipalities are largely part-time. None would have obtained special legislation, as they did not need to do so commencing in the 1990's given that the Municipal Act at that time provided the authority for municipalities to operate such clinics.
The Municipal Act, 2001, provides authority for the establishment of municipal services boards or separate municipal corporations for purposes of delivering services that the municipality cannot or does not wish to deliver. The Act also provides authority for the establishment of purchase of service agreements. Staff has in the past reviewed the latter option in relation to the spay/neuter clinic and concluded that, given the nature of the industry, such an arrangement would ultimately erode the service and its Council approved mandate. Further, the regulations of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the governing body for veterinary practitioners and facilities, would have implications with respect to either of the aforementioned approaches to service delivery.
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 City policy. Copies of the report have been made available upon request.
The proposed fee and charge increases are intended to offset the leasing costs associated with the new facility.
The
additional costs, such as staff compensation and surgical supplies, associated
with the opening of the Clinic on Fridays will be offset by revenue. These adjustments to Spay/Neuter Clinic
expenditures and revenues will be reflected in the Draft 2008 Operating Budget.
The recommendation has no direct impact on the City Strategic Directions.
Document 1 –
Proposed Spay/Neuter Clinic By-law
Legal Services Branch, in consultation with the By-law and Regulatory Services Branch to process the by-law to Council for enactment. By-law and Regulatory Services Branch to provide for any necessary notification.
DOCUMENT 1
BY-LAW NO. 2007-
A by-law of the City of Ottawa respecting the establishment of the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic for the spaying or neutering of cats and dogs, and to repeal By-law 103-78.
The
Council of the City of Ottawa enacts as follows:
1. In
this by‑law;
(a) "animal" means a cat or a dog,
(b) "City" means the City of
Ottawa,
(c) "Clinic" means the City of
Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic.
2. The Deputy City Manager of
the Community and Protective Services Department is authorized and empowered to
establish a Clinic, known as the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic, for the
spaying and neutering of cats and dogs under the direction of a veterinarian or
veterinarians licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the Province of
Ontario.
3. Subject
to the provisions of this by‑law, members of the public may have cats and
dogs spayed or neutered in a humane manner upon payment of the fees prescribed
in Section 5 of this by-law.
4. Non‑residents
of the City may have their cats and dogs spayed or neutered where suitable
vacancies in the appointment schedule are available.
5. (1) The fees, subject to the Goods and
Services Tax, are as follows:
(a) for female dogs which are:
(i) 10 pounds or less ………………………………… $140.00
(ii) 11-30 pounds ……………………………………... 155.00
(ii) 31-50 pounds ……………………………………... 165.00
(iii) 51-70 pounds ……………………………………… 185.00
(iv) over 70 pounds …………………………………… 205.00
(b) for male dogs which are:
(i) 10 pounds or less ………………………………… $125.00
(ii) 11-30 pounds ……………………………………... 135.00
(ii) 31-50 pounds ……………………………………... 145.00
(iii) 51-70 pounds ……………………………………… 155.00
(iv) over 70 pounds …………………………………… 165.00
(c) for female cats ………………………………………….. $100.00
(d) for male cats …………………………………………… $ 60.00
(e) surcharge for a pregnant cat or dog ……………………. $ 40.00
(f) surcharge for female cat or dog with any abnormal
abdominal condition(s), including but not limited to
obesity ………………………………………………… $ 20.00
(g) surcharge for female dogs undergoing surgery
after commencing estrus………………………………… $ 30.00
(h) surcharge for a monorchid/cryptorchid cat or dog……… $ 65.00
(i) surcharge for non-resident female cat
or dog………….. $ 15.00
(j) surcharge for non-resident male cat or
dog……………. $ 10.00
(k) for pre‑surgery medical consultation................………. $ 15.00
(l) Elizabethan collar................……… ................……… $ 8.77
and
include:
(m) one (1) day of hospitalization of the
animal, where required.
(2) In addition to the fees prescribed by
subsection (1):
(a) where additional hospitalization is required, the charge will be at the rate of $20.00 per animal per day, and
(b) where an unlicensed dog or cat is presented for surgery and if the owner is a resident of the City, the license application and license fee shall be paid in addition to the fees and the license will be issued as well as the certificate of spaying or neutering.
(3) the fees prescribed in this by-law shall
be paid in full upon the discharge of the sterilized dog or cat from the
Clinic.
6. The
Clinic's veterinarian may disqualify for surgery any animal, if upon
examination, the veterinarian is of the opinion that the animal is not
medically sound to undergo such surgery by reason of health or age, or that the
animal’s behaviour is such that it poses a significant safety risk for Clinic
personnel.
7. The Clinic shall provide, at no additional cost, such other veterinary
services that are related to the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs
including, but not limited to:
(a) the cleaning and treating of animals
exhibiting inadequate hygiene;
(b) grooming of animals as it relates to
post‑surgical care; and
(c) such inoculations that are considered
necessary by the veterinarian as a prophylactic treatment prior to admittance
of the animal to the Clinic.
8. Veterinary
services unrelated to the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs shall not be
provided except in cases of extreme emergency of which the veterinarian in
charge shall be the sole judge.
9. (1) Any person admitting an animal for the
spaying or neutering services provided by the Clinic shall sign a consent form
certifying that he or she is the owner of the said animal or is otherwise
authorized to present the animal for the above operation and may be required to
furnish proof of such ownership or authority.
(2) The consent form referred to in
subsection (1) shall contain a waiver of any and all liability of the City or
any employee of the City for any injury or death to an animal arising out of
the aforementioned operation or any services provided incidental thereto.
10. The
veterinarian shall establish a return date by which persons submitting animals
for spaying or neutering shall pick up said animals or be subject to the board
and care fees set out in Section 5(2)(a), said fees to commence the day after
such return date.
11. Failure
to pick up an animal within four (4) days, excluding days on which the Clinic
is closed, of said return date shall be deemed abandonment of such animal and
it shall be turned over to the Ottawa Humane Society.
13. This by-law may be referred to as the “Spay/Neuter Clinic By-law”.
ENACTED AND PASSED this day of , 2007.
CITY CLERK MAYOR
SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC – REVIEW OF
FEES AND SERVICE HOURS
Clinique de
stérilisation animale - Examen des frais et des heures d'ouverture
ACS2007-CPS-BYL-0046 CITY WIDE / À
L'ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE
Judith Belair, Animal Defense League of Canada supported the recommendation to extend hours of service, but conveyed grave concern about the proposed increase in fees and charges, particularly for the spaying/neutering of cats. She recognized the importance of the program, noting the costs associated with unwanted cats and dogs and the increased requirement for pound and animal control. In turn, a greater burden would fall on the Humane Society, which will have to find homes for, or euthanize, unwanted pets. She emphasized that the low cost spay/neuter clinic does not have to operate on a cost recovery basis and should remain affordable.
When asked whether the ADL had a record of people saying they could not afford the fees, Ms. Belair advised there was one individual who came to them for assistance; unfortunately, she was unable to pay the difference the League was willing to pay and had to give up her pet for adoption.
Councillor Holmes inquired whether the City had a subsidy for this program and was advised by the Director of By-laws and Regulatory Services that the program in itself is a subsidy compared to what is being charged across the province. The councillor remarked that subsidies exist for people unable to pay the full fee for recreational programs and asked if something similar could be set up for the spay/neuter clinic. Ms. Jones thought there might be a possibility, but was not aware what the difference in cost would be in terms of subsidization. The councillor suggested that perhaps staff could investigate this and report back. Ms. Jones advised that the former City of Ottawa used to offer a subsidy, but were operating on a $80,000 deficit. The councillor wanted to know what that system would be like and what affect it would have on the Humane Society. Ms. Jones advised that with no records to refer to, they would have to implement a pilot program and assess what the difference would be, which may take a year or two.
Mr. Kanellakos followed by stating that the issue is does the City want to fully recover the costs as a policy position or does it want to add funding to the program to allow people to participate at a lower cost. He explained that increased fees are being recommended because the City has had to pay rent for the first time and this would ensure that the program operates on a cost recovery basis. In response to additional comments made by the councillor, he agreed it is a question of what the impact is of getting more people to spay and neuter their animals in terms of saving elsewhere in City and other services. It was further noted by the Director that the City’s program is having an impact, as is the progressive animal control by-law and they continue to work with the Humane Society to continue to reduce those numbers. The Humane Society also has its own spay/neuter program.
Chair Deans remarked that even though the fees are proposed to increase, it will still be less than that charged at a veterinarian clinic. She recognized the program is running at capacity and suggested the Committee may wish to consider whether it wants to give specific direction to staff as suggested by Councillor Holmes. Ms. Jones recognized it is a challenge and indicated that the City spends $2M/year on animal control issues. Staff would continue to encourage responsible pet ownership to try and reduce the numbers and she hoped a means could be found for those who cannot afford it. Staff would do what they could to work with them and also with the Humane Society to promote the program.
Councillor Holmes decided not to put forward any direction, but indicated her interest to work with Ottawa Community Housing with regards to tenants and their ability to afford a pet. She suggested the OCH could distribute a questionnaire in some of their housing to see if there is a need for this or to see if this is an insurmountable problem.
That the Community and Protective Services Committee
recommend to Council
that:
1.
the Spay/Neuter Clinic By-law, attached as Document 1, which provides for
its fees and charges, be enacted to take effect January 1, 2008; and,
2. the Spay/Neuter Clinic be
open to provide pet sterilization services on Fridays in addition to the current days of
Monday to Thursday inclusive, to commence the first Friday in January 2008, and
that the Draft 2008 Operating Budget be adjusted accordingly.
CARRIED