DATE: August 20, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Public Works Department
TITLE: RESOLUTION INCREASING ANIMAL SERVICES LICENSE RATES AND FEES
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution increasing animal services license rates and fees for the City in conjunction with the services provided by the San Diego Humane Society and S.P.C.A to provide animal control services for the City.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The North County Humane Society began providing animal control services to the City in 1963, and after a merger in 2010, the San Diego Humane Society and S.P.C.A. (“Humane Society”) began providing the services in its place. The Humane Society has demonstrated the competence and professional qualifications necessary to perform all manner of professional services and duties required through the existing Professional Services Agreement (“Agreement”) between the City and the Humane Society, which was entered into by the parties on July 1, 2025. The Agreement is for a three-year term and is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2028.
The last increase to the dog license and impoundment rates and fees occurred in June 2023. A detailed list showing current and proposed rates and fee adjustments is attached as Exhibit 1. The following are a few of the rate increases that are shown on Exhibit 1: Dog Adoption - increasing by $25 (from $150 to $175); Cat Adoption - increasing by $25 (from $100 to $125); Dog Licenses for unaltered, 3 year - increasing by $10 (from $140 to $150). The Humane Society is requesting a rate increase to align with industry standards. Revenues associated with licenses and fees are used to help off-set the cost of providing proper, humane and efficient regulating of the handling, ownership, treatment and disposition of dogs, cats and other animals, and to ensure the enforcement of laws, ordinances and regulations.
The proposed rates are based on the increase in animal control costs and an alignment by the Humane Society with the fees for animal services throughout the County. Only the specific fees listed are proposed to be adjusted; all other fees will remain the same. The State of California Health and Safety Code and the California Food and Agriculture Code establish animal care and control regulations that require intake, sheltering, and veterinary care for stray and abandoned animals, as well as provisions for rabies control licensing. The proposed rates are the same rates to be charged in all cities under contract with the Humane Society and the fees collected provide some cost offset for the provision of animal services. The proposed rates will become effective no earlier than September 1, 2025. All revenues generated from the fees collected are retained by the Humane Society as part of the animal control Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
All revenues generated from the fees collected are to be retained by the Humane Society.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
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Prepared by: Candice Diaz, Property Agent
Reviewed by: Hamid Bahadori, Public Works Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Resolution
3. Exhibit 1