TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and all documents necessary with The Cuddly Group, Inc., dba Cuddly, of Seal Beach, CA, to partner with Long Beach Animal Care Services, for access to a web-based Community Pet Pantry to receive donations of food and other pet-related items, from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into an agreement with The Cuddly Group, Inc., dba Cuddly, to access its Pet Pantry service platform.
Cuddly, was established in 2014 to support nonprofit animal welfare organizations. Cuddly enables organizations to access its platform and create wish lists for needed supplies and monetary gifts. Currently, there are more than 140 organizations, including four in California, that use Cuddly’s Pet Pantry for in-kind donations.
Pet food insecurity is a leading cause of owners surrendering their pets to shelters. This partnership with Cuddly would be another tool to support Long Beach Animal Care Services’ (LBACS) Compassion Saves model by providing pet food to owners in need. The Pet Pantry webpage may also be used by LBACS to request donations of animal enrichment items, specialty pet products, and financial assistance for animals with medical needs.
There is no cost to LBACS to request in-kind donations through Cuddly’s platform. Should LBACS receive a monetary donation by way of a credit card transaction or digital app, Cuddly will deduct a processing fee of seven percent, plus 30 cents, to cover transaction costs.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on December 16, 2022 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on December 14, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 10, 2023, to allow for timely execution of the contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this recommendation. If financial assistance is received for animal me...
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