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What's Being Proposed
The Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee is recommending that the Los Angeles City Council approve a second amendment to a contract with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The amendment would authorize the ASPCA to continue operating the spay and neuter clinic at the Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center for one year, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, for up to $350,000.
Why This Matters
The spay and neuter clinic provides important veterinary services to help control animal population growth and improve public health. Rather than requiring the city to operate these services directly, the contract outsources the work to the ASPCA, an established animal welfare organization with expertise in these services.
Key Details
Contract amount: Not to exceed $350,000 Duration: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 Location: Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center Funding source: Animal Sterilization Trust Fund (no impact on the General Fund) Committee vote: 2 Yes votes (Jurado, Hernandez); 1 Absent (Nazarian)
Impact
This contract ensures that low-cost spay and neuter services remain available to Los Angeles residents, supporting animal welfare goals while the city avoids the direct operational costs. The funding comes from a dedicated trust fund specifically designated for animal sterilization services.
What is Being Proposed?
The City is seeking to extend its contract with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to continue operating the spay and neuter clinic at the Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center in South Los Angeles. Specifically, the City Administrative Officer recommends authorizing a one-year extension of the existing contract from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, for a maximum amount of $350,000.
Why?
The City's Animal Services Department has relied on this partnership to provide accessible spay and neuter services to shelter animals and low-income Los Angeles residents. Although the City employs veterinarians and veterinary technicians capable of performing these surgeries, staffing limitations and the high volume of animals needing care make it more practical to contract with ASPCA. This arrangement also helps facilitate pet adoptions by ensuring animals are sterilized before release to new owners and supports the City's discount and free sterilization voucher programs for residents.
Key Details
Location: Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center (1850 West 60th Street, South Los Angeles) Duration: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 (final one-year option; this is the second amendment) Cost: $350,000 maximum for this year; total contract value reached $1,750,000 across the original three-year term plus two one-year extensions Funding: Animal Sterilization Trust Fund (supported by licensing fees, adoption fees, and donations—no General Fund impact) Services: Spay/neuter surgeries for dogs, cats, and rabbits; includes pre-adoption, post-release, and discount/free programs for residents
Impact
This extension ensures continued access to affordable sterilization services for adoptive families and low-income Los Angeles residents, supporting animal welfare and adoption outcomes. The contract has operated successfully since June 2021 with full compliance with City requirements and professional standards.
What is Being Proposed
The City is requesting authorization to extend its contract with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) for one additional year to operate the spay and neuter clinic at the Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center (1850 W. 60th Street). This extension would run from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with a maximum payment of $350,000.
Why This is Needed
The ASPCA has been providing spay/neuter and related veterinary services at the Chesterfield Square facility since July 2021 under an original three-year contract. The first three-year term is expiring, and the City is exercising its contractual right to extend the agreement for one additional year. The contract includes an option to renew for up to two more one-year terms, and the City intends to proceed with this extension to continue providing these services to the community.
Key Details
Total contract value: The amendment brings the cumulative total to $1,400,000 (original $1,050,000 plus this year's $350,000) Funding source: Animal Sterilization Trust Fund (Fund No. 842), which is supported by city budget appropriations, licensing fees, adoption fees, and donations Services included: Spay/neuter surgeries for dogs, cats, and rabbits; pre-surgical exams; vaccines; microchipping; and support for various City programs (pre-release, post-release, pre-adoption, and community cat programs) Staff requirements: The ASPCA must maintain minimum daily surgical minimums (10 dogs, 5 female cats, unlimited male cats, 2 rabbits) and operate at least four days per week Discount: The ASPCA provides a 50% discount on City animal surgeries and contributes 1% of gross revenue from other services back to the City
Impact
This extension ensures continued access to affordable spay/neuter services for Los Angeles residents and shelter animals. The program directly benefits pet owners using discount coupons or free certificates, newly adopted animals, shelter operations, and the community cat program. The contract includes quality control measures, performance evaluations, and comprehensive insurance requirements to protect both the City and the public.
What is Being Proposed?
The City is recommending that the Los Angeles City Council authorize the Department of Animal Services to enter into a three-year contract with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to operate the spay/neuter clinic at the Chesterfield Square Animal Service Center. The agreement would run from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, with two optional one-year extensions, for a total cost not to exceed $350,000 annually ($1,050,000 for the initial three-year term).
Why This is Needed?
Los Angeles Municipal Code requires that all animals adopted from city shelters be spayed or neutered before release. The Department of Animal Services lacks sufficient in-house capacity to perform all necessary surgeries. By contracting with ASPCA, the city can augment its ability to provide these services to both animals being adopted from the shelter and to qualifying Los Angeles residents who bring their own pets for sterilization. The ASPCA was selected as the first qualified respondent on a pre-approved vendor list.
Key Details
Location: Chesterfield Square Animal Service Center, 1850 West 60th Street, Los Angeles Services: Spay/neuter surgeries for dogs, cats, and rabbits; includes physical exams, vaccinations, and post-operative care Reimbursement rates: Range from $30-$125 per procedure depending on animal type and funding source (discount coupons, free certificates, or direct reimbursement) Minimum surgeries: 10 dogs, 5 female cats, 2 rabbits per day of operation Funding source: Animal Sterilization Trust Fund (no General Fund impact)
Who This Affects
This contract benefits Los Angeles residents by expanding access to affordable spay/neuter services through the city's program, which serves both adoptable shelter animals and pets owned by qualifying residents. There is no fiscal impact to the city's General Fund, as costs are covered entirely by the dedicated Animal Sterilization Trust Fund.
What is Being Proposed?
The Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare Committee recommends that Los Angeles City Council authorize a three-year contract with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to operate the spay/neuter clinic at the Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center. The contract runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, with an option to extend for two additional one-year periods.
Background and Rationale
The Department of Animal Services established an on-call list of qualified spay/neuter service providers in September 2020, following a competitive Request for Qualifications process. The ASPCA was selected from this list through a formal Task Order Solicitations (TOS) process. This contract is part of the city's cost containment efforts to maintain spay/neuter services at animal shelters, similar to an earlier agreement with ASPCA for the West Los Angeles Animal Services Center clinic.
Key Financial and Operational Details
The contract is valued at $350,000 annually, totaling $1,050,000 for the initial three-year term. Importantly, this expenditure will have no impact on the city's General Fund, as funding comes entirely from the Animal Sterilization Trust Fund. The Committee reviewed the proposal on May 19, 2021, and voted to recommend approval (with support from Council members Koretz and Bonin; Harris-Dawson was absent).
Impact
This contract ensures continued spay/neuter services at a major animal facility, supporting animal welfare initiatives without burdening the city's general budget. The agreement must still be approved by the City Attorney and the full City Council before taking effect.
What is Being Proposed
The Department of Animal Services is requesting City Council approval to execute a three-year contract with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to operate the on-site spay/neuter clinic at the Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center. The contract includes two optional one-year extensions at the Department's discretion, with an effective date of July 1, 2021.
Why This is Needed
This contract is part of a cost containment protocol authorized by the Mayor's Office on March 16, 2021. The Department completed a competitive process by establishing an "on-call" list of qualified spay/neuter service providers in September 2020, following a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). ASPCA was identified as the selected provider through a Task Order Solicitation (TOS) process completed on March 30, 2021. Spay/neuter services are essential for animal control and welfare operations.
Key Details
The contract will be funded entirely through the Animal Sterilization Fund—which is supported by licensing fees, adoption fees, annual budgetary allocations, and donations—not the General Fund. Rates will be established by the Animal Services Commission. The ASPCA is already a current contractor operating the South LA spay/neuter clinic (contract expires 12/31/2020).
Impact
This arrangement allows the Department to outsource clinic operations to an experienced nonprofit organization, improving service efficiency while maintaining no cost to the General Fund. Residents and animals in Los Angeles will continue to have access to spay/neuter services, a critical public health and animal welfare service.