Agenda Item Wording:
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Grant Authorization - Authorize staff to apply for the America Society for Prevention to Animals grant of up to $100,000 to fund supplies and subsidize approximately 700 Trap Neuter and Release cat surgeries and 100 large canine spay/neuter procedures for the Visalia community, and authorize appropriation of grant funds if awarded.
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Agenda Date: 06/15/2026
Prepared by: Candace Harrington, Animal Services Manager 559-713-6782, candace.harrington@visalia.gov
Jason Glick, Parks & Recreation Director 559-713-4042, Jason.Glick@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Authorize the Visalia Animal Services Department to apply for the ASPCA grant of up to $100,000 by the June 26, 2026 extension deadline to purchase supplies and subsidize cat Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) surgery fees and subsidize large canine spay/neuter for the Visalia community. Staff is also requesting to appropriate the grant funding if awarded.
Summary:
Animal Services staff is requesting authorization to apply for the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) grant for up to $100,000. $60,000 of these funds would go towards the Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) program for feral cats living in Visalia covering 700 cat surgeries. This will also cover the cost for purchasing 20 feral cat mammal boxes to house the feral cats in while waiting for surgery.
Additionally purchasing 20 humane cat traps to assist with capturing the feral cats in the Visalia community. The remaining $40,000 would go towards subsidizing the cost for spaying and neutering large canines owned by Visalia residents. These funds, in total, would help 800 animals in the community lowering the animal population. The grant funding is available to residents of Visalia within the city limits prioritizing huskies, shepherds, pitbull mixes and other large breed canines. Any leftover funds will be allocated to TNR surgery for cats living outside the City of Visalia in contracted animal services cities. The grant has to be spent within one calendar year following being awarded.
Background Discussion:
Animal Services staff was presented with an opportunity to apply for an American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Grant. The application to be submitted by staff requests a total of $100,000, which was divided between a request for $60,000 to spay and neuter 700 TNR cats and $40,000 to spay and neuter 100 large canines owned by Visalia residents.
The City was notified of the grant opportunity and has until June 26,2026 deadline to apply.
Proposed Use of Grant Funds:
This grant would be used to reduce the animal population by spaying and neutering 700 TNR cats for $54,000, along with the purchase of 20 humane cat traps for $3,000 and 20 feral cat mammal boxes for $3,000. This grant will also cover the cost for 100 large canine spay/neuter surgeries for owned animals by residents of Visalia. This will be a similar program to the Chi/Pit Program but prioritizing Husky, Shepherds, and Pitbull mixes costing $40,000 totaling the grant to $100,000. If there are grant funds left over, funds will be allocated to TNR surgery for cats living outside the City of Visalia in contracted Animal Service Cities.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs: The ASPCA grant to the City of Visalia will cover the cost of purchasing 20 humane cat traps, 20 feral cat mammal boxes and cover the spay/neuter surgery costs for 700 TNR cats in the Visalia community along with covering the cost for 100 large canine spay neuters for Visalia Residents. The total impact would help 800 animals in our community be spayed/neutered to reduce the overall animal population. The operation of this program would use current City staff and would not result in any material increase in cost to the Animal Services Fund. No General Fund money is requested for this program.
Prior Council Action: None
Alternatives: To not apply for the Grant.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move that Council authorizes staff to apply for the ASPCA grant for up to $100,000 for purchasing supplies and subsidizing both TNR surgery fees and large dog spay/neuter fees for the Visalia community; and appropriate if grant is awarded.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 06/15/2026
Attachments: Attachment A: ASPCA Grant Information
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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