Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton - Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Award
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by Public Health Services for approval to accept from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) grant funds in the amount of $80,000, with no required match, for the 2025 National Shelter Initiative Grants - Animal Outcomes.
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Background and Discussion:
In October 2025, Harris County Public Health's Veterinary Public Health division applied for the 2025 National Shelter Initiative Grants - Animal Outcomes program. This grant provides funds for animal shelters to improve access to veterinary care in their communities as well as improve animal outcomes and animal psychological health. HCPH is seeking the court's approval to formally accept the $80,000 award to address pet overpopulation and increase access to veterinary care in Harris County.
Expected Impact:
Harris County Pets faces ongoing strain in managing pet overpopulation in Harris County, including the costs of providing lifesaving care to animals and facilitating successful pet adoptions. The National Shelter Initiative Grant funds will be used to expand affordable access to veterinary health services, including spay/neuter surgeries, microchipping procedures, and preventative animal health. Funds will also help subsidize fees for harder-to-adopt animals such as large breed dogs, senior pets, and those requiring significant medical care. These activities will aid in increasing the number of pets successfully adopted by Harris County residents, reducing strain on the shelter's housing capacity, as well as decrease the number of unwanted dog and cat litters annually in the County. Finally, the award will support community engagement and outreach to equip families with resources to continue housing their pets rather than surrendering them to the shelter. Collectively, these actions will save more lives, support struggling pet owners, and build a healthier community where people and animals thrive together.
Alternative Options:
The court could opt not to accept the award. However, that would limit resources to address the ongoing pet overpopulation challenges impacting the animal shelter. It would also impact veterinary health care access and affordability, which in turn might deter residents from adopting pets and could increase animal intake numbers.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N: Improve the health behaviors of community members.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Anticipated Court Date: 3/19/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 3/19/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Corey Steele, Director of Veterinary Public Health, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Grant Notice of Award