SR 10-10-2017 3M
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: October 10, 2017
Agenda Item: 3.M
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jacqueline Seabrooks, Police Chief, Police Department
Subject: Donation of Two Horses Retiring from Police Department Mounted Unit
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the donation of two horses to Karen
Schaffner, Teresa Foote, and Jodie Sailor as individuals. Through this donation, the City
would be retiring these two horses and providing them with a good home whereupon
the horses would receive proper care and housing.
Executive Summary
The Police Department Mounted Unit currently consists of six horses, two of whom have
become unfit for duty and thus reached the end of their service life. Staff is requesting
authorization to donate these two horses. Due to the age and physical limitations of
these horses, they are not suitable for any role besides pet or companion animal. One
horse is estimated to be valued at $0 and the other horse at less than $1,000. Mounted
Unit Police Department staff reached out throughout the network of horse owners and
other Mounted Units for potential private owners willing to adopt one or both of the
horses. A willing group of three individuals were recommended by the Police
Department’s veterinarian. These three individuals together would accept ownership of
the horses, including responsibility for the proper care, housing, and medical needs of
the horses. This is an excellent and rare opportunity for these horses to retire together
with new owners who come recommended highly by our veterinarian. These two
specific horses have worked together for 15 years, and have been long-term stall
mates. Housing them together in the same location, as this proposed adoption would
ensure, is highly desirable for their future health and wellbeing. There are currently no
plans to replace these two horses on the Mounted Unit.
Background
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The Police Department Mounted Unit is utilized to provide specialized high visibility
patrol at special events and in areas of high crowd concentration. Two of the current six
horses that make up the Mounted Unit are ready to be retired.
In 1999, the Police Mounted Unit purchased a seven-year-old quarter horse named
Spiderman to use as a mounted patrol horse. During the past year, the horse began to
show signs of aging. This included losing weight, requiring feed to be available 24 hours
a day as well as additional supplements added to maintain his current weight. Due to
the loss of weight/muscle as part of the aging process, the horse is fit for light riders
only and no longer fit for mounted policing.
In 2002, the Police Department Mounted Unit purchased a four-year-old Percheron
Quarter Horse Cross named Barney to use as a mounted patrol horse. During the past
two years, the horse began to show signs of aging including lameness in both of his
front lower limbs. The lameness has become chronic and has been diagnosed as
advanced arthritis of the distal interphalangeal (coffin) joint (both limbs). This condition
causes moderate to severe lameness, making the horse unfit for mounted policing.
Additionally, the horse requires medication to be administered twice daily (morning and
night) for pain relief.
Discussion
These two horses are surplus City property, and thus require Council authority to
donate. In the past, the Police Department has sold young horses and donated aging
horses. Due to the condition of the horses, attempting to sell these horses would not be
feasible. The estimated dollar value of the horses would place them in what is
considered to be the slaughter market price range. Trainers, riding stables, and private
owners are not interested in purchasing a lame or old horse, even at a low price.
Staff initially contacted a nonprofit equestrian youth program; however due to their age
and physical condition, the horses were not considered to be suitable for these
programs. The proposed private party is the only group which could still utilize the
horses as a pet or companion animal, as well as care for their medical needs. The
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Police Department’s veterinarian has cared for the horses in the Mounted Unit for more
than 10 years. In addition to his strong recommendation that the group made up of
Karen Schaffner, Teresa Foote, and Jodie Sailor are qualified to adopt these horses
and care for them, the Police Department Mounted Unit also followed up and spoke with
the three individuals to confirm they had a full understanding of the horses’ conditions
and needs and that they could provide for their care going forward. The three
individuals, collectively, have expressed the desire to adopt the horses and accept
responsibility for the care and housing of the horses. Through this donation, the City
would be providing the horses with a good home whereupon the horses would receive
the proper care and housing.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared By: Nicole Bustamante, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council