DATE: March 3, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Joe Prado, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Application and Agreement with ASPCA
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Department of Public Health’s previous submittal of a grant application to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the 2025 ASPCA California Wildfire and Disaster Preparedness Fund;
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Agreement with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the 2025 ASPCA California Wildlife & Disaster Preparedness Fund effective November 21, 2025 through June 30, 2027, total not to exceed $50,000;
3. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health, or designee, to be the signatory on behalf of the Board of Supervisors on associated grant agreement documents, expenditure forms and reports; and
4. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2025-26 revenues for the Health Special Deposit Fund 0080, Org 1152 in the amount of $50,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will authorize the retroactive submission of a grant application to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) for the 2025 ASPCA California Wildfire and Disaster Preparedness Fund to help supply the County’s animal shelter with a mobile trailer filled with supplies to mobilize a temporary in-field emergency shelter to be used during disaster relief efforts throughout the County. In February 2025, Department staff received notification from ASPCA regarding the grant opportunity; an application was submitted on June 30, 2025 contingent upon the Board’s approval. On October 10, 2025, the Department was notified of the ASPCA grant award and the final recommended agreement was received on December 5, 2025.
Approval of the second recommended action will allow the County, through its Department of Public Health (Department), to utilize the ASPCA grant funding to build capacity for animal-related disaster relief and shelter. Approval of the third recommended action will allow the Department of Public Health Director, or designee, to submit required grant items and reports, excluding budget or contract amendments, on behalf of the County. Approval of the fourth recommended action will allow the Department to correctly recognize appropriation and revenue source adjustments. Although the animal shelter is located in District 1, this item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. If the Board does not approve the recommended actions, the County will not be able to utilize awarded grant funds to expand ability and capacity to provide animal disaster relief services throughout the County.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to November 21, 2025. ASPCA provided the revenue grant agreement to the Department on December 5, 2025 and the item was prepared for your Board in accordance with the agenda item processing deadlines.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The first three recommended actions will allow for a grant award in the amount of $50,000 to be accepted and available to be expended during FY 2026-27. The fourth recommended action will increase revenues in Org 1152 ($50,000) during FY 2025-26. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department currently oversees the County’s Animal Control Program, which includes operations at the County’s animal shelter located at 1510 W. Dan Ronquillo Drive in Fresno, California. The County’s Animal Control Program is also responsible for providing disaster relief and shelter services for animals during periods of a disaster within the County. Current capacity allows the County to establish an emergency animal shelter at a predetermined site, however, there is limited cache of emergency animal shelter supplies and no immediate mechanism to be able to mobilize the limited supplies that are available (fencing, livestock panels, etc.). This includes any limited supplies directly available through the Fresno County Animal Shelter.
In February 2025, Department staff received notification from ASPCA regarding the grant opportunity and an application was submitted on June 30, 2025. This grant would allow for the procurement of temporary animal sheltering supplies and a dedicated trailer to mobilize these resources for in-field emergency deployment (wildfires, floods, etc.).
On October 10, 2025, the ASPCA notified the Department of the grant award and requested information to complete the grant agreement package. On December 5, 2025, the Department received the grant agreement for processing.
Recommended Action No. 4 will increase the Org 1152 revenues by $50,000 to account for the recommended ASPCA grant award. Appropriate Operating Transfers Out from the Special Revenue Fund and appropriate expenditures will be included in the Department’s FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget.
The Department received the grant agreement on December 5, 2025 and began processing it according to the appropriate deadlines. If approved by the Board, the ASPCA grant funds will be used to purchase a cargo trailer for necessary disaster-relief supplies to assist with keeping animals safe during a disaster. The grant requires that we do not house or move animals in the trailer.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Grant Application with ASPCA
On file with Clerk - Agreement with ASPCA
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution (1152)
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald W. Alexander