SR 05-22-2018 3K
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 22, 2018
Agenda Item: 3.K
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Cynthia Renaud, Chief of Police, Police Department
Subject: Donation of One Horse Retiring from Police Department Mounted Unit
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the donation of one horse to Rubina
Wolf Isagolian. Through this donation, the City would be retiring this horse and providing
him with a good home whereupon the horse would receive proper care and housing.
Executive Summary
The Police Department Mounted Unit currently consists of four horses, one of which has
become unfit for duty and thus reached the end of its service life. Staff is requesting
authorization to donate this horse. Due to the age and physical limitations of this horse,
it is not suitable for any role besides pet or companion animal. Mounted Unit Police
Department Staff reached out throughout the network of horse owners and other
Mounted units for potential private owners willing to adopt the horse. An individual was
recommended by the Police Department’s veterinarian, who is willing to accept
ownership of the horse, including responsibility for the proper care, housing, and
medical needs of the horse. The department recently purchased a horse to replace the
retiring horse.
Discussion
The Police Department Mounted Unit is utilized to provide specialized high visibility
patrol at special events and in areas of high crowd concentration.
In 2005, the Police Department Mounted Unit purchased an eight-year-old Percheron
Draft Cross horse named Bert to use as a mounted patrol horse. During the past two
years, the horse began to show signs of aging including lameness in his hind limbs. The
lameness has been diagnosed as advanced arthritis of the right hind fetlock. The
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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.
The horse is surplus City property, and thus requires Council authority to donate. Due to
the condition of the horse, attempting to sell the horse would not be feasible. The
estimated dollar value of the horse would place him in what is considered 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.
The proposed private individual has agreed to utilize the horse as a pet or companion
animal, as well as care for its medical needs. The Police Department’s veterinarian has
cared for the horse in the Mounted Unit for more than 12 years. In addition to the
veterinarian’s strong recommendation that the individual, Rubina Wolf Isagolian, is
qualified to adopt this horse and care for him, the Police Department Mounted Unit also
followed up and spoke with the individual to confirm she had a full understanding of the
horse’s condition and needs and that she could provide for his care going forward. The
individual has expressed the desire to adopt the horse and accept responsibility for the
care and housing of the horse. Through this donation, the City would be providing the
horse with a good home whereupon the horse 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
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Prepared By: Neela Patel, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council