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Applicable To:  All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief Richard J. Pennington

Signature:  Signed by RJP

Date Signed:  4/3/07

1.               PURPOSE

To establish guidelines for the Atlanta Police Department to accept donations of horses and dogs from private donors and to dispose of horses and dogs once their usefulness has ended.

2.               POLICY

The Atlanta Police Department will select, accept, and account for horses and dogs to be used for police assignments and will dispose of those which are no longer suited for police assignments in the most practical and humane manner.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              The SSD commander will solicit, receive, screen, and evaluate bids from professional horse traders to assist the Department with identifying horses to be donated and to take horses that are retired from service.  The SSD commander is responsible for the formal acquisition and inventory of horses and dogs.

3.2              The Mounted Patrol Squad commander will inspect, advise the chain of command and train all donated horses.

3.3              The SSD and FOD commander will select horses and dogs for use by the Police Department.

3.4              The Airport and Red Dog Unit commanders will notify the SSD commander through their chain of command when there exists a need for animals to be acquired for use by the Department and will designate canine trainers.

3.5              The canine trainers will inspect, advise the chain of command and train all donated dogs for the Airport and Red Dog Unit.

3.6              The Property Control Unit will inventory all horses and dogs donated to the Department and dispose of those that are no longer useful for police assignment.

4.               ACTION

4.1              Horses

4.1.1           The SSD commander will receive notification of owners who have horses to donate or will advertise through local equestrian groups, local and national publications, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture of the need for horses to be donated to the City for use by the Mounted Patrol Squad.

4.1.2           When a horse has been identified for possible donation to the City, the Mounted Patrol Squad commander or assistant commander along with the City-approved veterinarian will inspect the animal and together make a judgment as to the physical condition of the animal for police assignment.  They will forward their assessment through the chain of command to the SSD commander.

4.1.3           Once the animal has been cleared for acceptance by the SSD commander, an inventory will be completed by the Property Unit; a value assigned to the horse by the owner; and the proper release of liability forms completed and signed by the Mounted Patrol Squad commander or assistant commander.  The Mounted Patrol Squad and Property Unit will keep copies of the forms, and the originals will be mailed to the donor.

4.1.4           Upon arrival to the City stables, the horse will be put through a training program by mounted patrol personnel.  Upon successful completion of this training, the horse will be placed in active status.

4.1.5           In the event that during any phase of the process, the horse is found to be unsuitable for police assignment, the owner will be offered the animal back.  If the owner does not want the animal, the horse may be considered an asset and be offered for sale by the SSD commander to a City-approved list of horse traders.

4.1.6           When a horse is designated for disposal/sale by the Mounted Patrol Squad, the horse trader identified by SSD through the bid process will be notified by the SSD commander.  A price will be agreed on between the SSD commander and the trader as to the monetary worth of the animal.  The value will be at a minimum $350.00.  Once the price has been determined, mounted patrol personnel will immediately advise the FOD and SSD commanders if the trader has another horse or supplies that the City can use equal to the value of the horse.  Any difference between the value of the horse sold and goods received will be accepted in cash by the City and forwarded to the City Finance Department.

4.1.7           In the event that a replacement horse is needed and the trader does not have one suitable for Department use, SSD will be notified in writing of the need for a horse.

4.1.8           In the event that a horse is not suitable for police assignment and after consultation with the horse trader adoption by a private citizen is considered the best alternative for the animal, then the following conditions must be met:

1.      The adoptive family must pass a screening by the Mounted Patrol Squad and be approved by the SSD commander.

2.      The adoptive family must sign a contractual agreement with the Atlanta Police Department not to sell the horse.

3.      The adoptive family is responsible for transporting the animal.

4.      The adoptive family must sign a disclaimer of responsibility by the city for lameness, sickness, or injuries perceived to be a result of training by the Atlanta Police Department.

4.2              Dogs

4.2.1           The SSD commander will receive notification of owners who have dogs to donate to the City or will advertise in national canine publications or with local organizations for dogs to be donated.

4.2.2           When a dog has been identified for potential adoption by the Department, a dog handler will inspect the dog and make a recommendation in writing to his/her section commander on its usefulness to the Department.  If the Department can use the dog, custody of the dog will be taken immediately by the dog handler, who will see that the owner signs a Donation Certificate releasing the do to the City and releasing them of any liability.  The Donation Certificate will be approved by the SSD and FOD commanders, with copies of the certificate retained by the Property Unit, the section receiving the dog, and the original going to the donor.

4.2.3           Once the dog has been accepted, the animal is entered into a two month training program.  After successful completion of the training program, the Property Unit will complete an inventory on the dog and the City approved veterinarian will conduct a physical check of the dog.  If during training the need for a physical check becomes apparent, the veterinarian will perform the check at that time.

4.2.4           In the event that during the training process or veterinarian check, the animal is found to be unfit for police assignment, the owner will be given first option to reclaim the dog.  If the previous owner does not claim the animal, every attempt will be made to find a good adoptive family for the animal.  Once the animal is placed in a good environment, the proper forms will be completed by the new owners releasing the City of all liabilities and cost associated with the dog.  If a suitable home cannot be found for the dog, it will be given to the Atlanta Humane Society.

4.2.5           When a dog is no longer useful to the City for police assignment, the dog will be offered to the dog handler.  If the dog handler does not desire to take the animal, every attempt will be made to find the dog a good home.  In the event that all efforts fail to place the dog in a good home, the animal will be taken to the Atlanta Humane Society.

5.               DEFINITIONS

N/A

6.               CANCELLATIONS

APD.SOP.1.10 “Donated Horses and Dogs”
     

7.               REFERENCES

Atlanta City Code 11-2027