10A
Date: May 20, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John La Rock, Community Services Director
By: Edwin Ohanian, Administrative Analyst | [email protected] Subject: Community Services – Approve Recipients of DocuPet Licensing Donation Funds.
Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that the City Council approve the recipients of DocuPet Licensing donation funds.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
The City utilizes DocuPet to issue pet licenses and collect fees related to licensing. As part of the customer transaction, users can voluntarily donate to the Safe & Happy Fund. The fund is intended to support Torrance based animal service non-profit organizations. In 2024, the donation fund accumulated $10,000 and is held in deposit by DocuPet.
At the April 9, 2025 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Commission unanimously approved a recommendation to the City Council that the 2024 donation funds be evenly distributed among five recipients: four Torrance-based nonprofits focused on rescuing and rehoming pets (Rover’s Retreat, Rescue Bae, SCLRR, and Dharma Rescue), and the City’s Animal Control Donation Account, which supports shelter fee assistance for residents.
Staff recommends that Your Honorable Body approve the five donation fund recipients. The donation fund distribution will be an annual activity under the DocuPet service agreement and will be presented annually to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council for approval.
ATTACHMENT
1. Torrance Recipient Detail
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Torrance Recipient Detail
1. Rover’s Retreat
• Headquarters: 4216 Pacific Coast Highway 1447, Torrance, CA 90501 (EIN 47-2021245).
• Overview: A 501(c)(3) all-volunteer dog rescue founded in 2014, focusing on rescuing, fostering, and adopting out stray, abandoned, or homeless dogs, including from high-kill shelters and international locations. They provide medical services and foster care until permanent adoption. • Transparency: Moderate—Website (roversretreat.org) outlines mission; financials require direct inquiry or IRS Form 990 (Charity Navigator rates 1/4 stars, 53%, but this may be outdated).
• Effectiveness: High—Places numerous dogs in loving homes, reducing shelter strain in Torrance, as seen in testimonials and Petfinder listings. • Alignment: Strongly benefits licensed dog owners, enhancing local pet welfare by reducing strays.
• Social Media: Facebook: ~9,600 followers; Instagram: ~29,500 followers.
2. Rescue Bae
• Headquarters: 1818 W 253rd St, Torrance, CA 90501 (EIN 87-2366840). • Overview: Rescue Bae, led by Shaland Leach, is a Torrance-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehoming dogs in need, focusing on the unwanted, abandoned, sick, injured, old, and young animals. The organization provides veterinary care, fosters animals until adoption, and prioritizes matching each dog with its ideal forever family, ensuring thorough vetting and care before adoption.
• Transparency: Moderate to High—Website (rescuebae.com) outlines mission, adoption process, and contact information; financial transparency may require direct inquiry or access to IRS Form 990, but the website enhances visibility. • Effectiveness: High—Rescues dogs from high-kill shelters or dire situations, providing medical care and foster homes until adoption, reducing Torrance’s stray population. Social media and testimonials indicate successful adoptions and community impact.
• Alignment: Strongly aligns with Torrance’s licensing goals by placing rescued dogs in responsible, licensed homes, enhancing local pet welfare and reducing strays.
• Social Media: Facebook: ~346 followers; Instagram: ~12,700 followers.
3. Southern California Labrador Retriever Rescue (SCLRR) • Headquarters: 24325 Crenshaw Blvd. 137, Torrance, CA 90505 (EIN 33- 0788621).
• Overview: A 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit since 1998, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming Labrador Retrievers in Southern California, operating foster-based with adoption applications and home visits. • Transparency: High—Website (sclrr.org) details mission and outcomes; IRS filings accessible via Guidestar.
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• Effectiveness: High—Rescues and rehomes numerous Labs, reducing shelter intake for a popular breed in Torrance, as noted on their site and Petfinder. • Alignment: Strongly supports Torrance’s licensed pet owners, reducing strays and enhancing pet welfare.
• Social Media: Facebook: ~13,300 likes; Instagram: ~3,276 followers.
4. Dharma Rescue for Cats and Dogs
• Headquarters: 24325 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505 (EIN 80- 0266821).
• Overview: A 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit rescuing special-needs cats and dogs, providing medical and holistic care, and facilitating adoptions through foster-based care.
• Transparency: Moderate—Website (dharmarescue.org) outlines mission; financials less public but accessible via IRS Form 990. • Effectiveness: Moderate to High—Saves at-risk pets, addressing a critical need in Torrance, as seen on adoptapet.com.
• Alignment: Aligns with Torrance’s licensing goals by aiding vulnerable pets, potentially benefiting licensed households, though broader focus on cats and special-needs animals.
• Social Media: Facebook: ~3,200 likes; Instagram: ~1,726 followers.
5. City of Torrance Community Services Animal Control City Donation Account • Purpose: Funds would support Animal Control Officer supplies and equipment, facility maintenance, kennel supplies, a reserve fund for Los Angeles County Animal Shelter fees for individuals unable to afford retrieval costs, and potential other efforts to support the community and the Animal Control Office mission.
• Transparency: High—City financial reports and budget documents are publicly available, ensuring accountability.
• Effectiveness: High—Directly enhances Torrance Animal Control’s ability to enforce licensing, reduce strays, and assist pet owners, aligning with city goals. Funds could address critical needs like equipment upgrades, facility repairs, and fee assistance, reducing shelter strain.
• Alignment: Strongly aligns with Torrance’s licensing and pet welfare goals, supporting Animal Control’s mission to maintain public safety and pet health. 3