In-kind Donation / Articulating Horse Mannequin / Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team (SMART) Training Operations / Lange Foundation / Department of Animal Services
Council File 26-1086
Under review — the City Council is waiting on a committee to approve accepting a $20,000 horse mannequin for animal rescue training. It's a donated gift that just needs the formal legislative green light.
Brief
The Department of Animal Services is accepting an in-kind donation of an articulating horse mannequin from the Lange Foundation for use in training the Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team (SMART). The Mayor initiated the file on August 6, 2026. The matter is currently pending in the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee, where it was referred on August 7, 2026.
Full summary
The Department of Animal Services is asking the City Council to formally accept a $20,000 articulating horse mannequin donated by the Lange Foundation. The mannequin will be used by the City's Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team (SMART) to train for large animal rescue scenarios. City administrative code requires Council approval for any donated property worth more than $5,000, which is why this gift — already physically received by the department on October 13, 2025 — now needs a formal legislative sign-off. SMART was established in 2009 and is staffed by Animal Control Officers and Veterinary Technicians. The team responds to emergencies involving residents' pets and livestock, operates under emergency declarations, and assists neighboring jurisdictions through mutual aid agreements. Training exercises can involve rescues across rugged terrain and swift-water environments. The horse mannequin is designed to simulate large animal rescue scenarios, and training sessions can also include personnel from the Los Angeles Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue Unit and Air Operations Section. The Board of Animal Services Commissioners approved forwarding the donation to the Mayor and City Council on January 13, 2026. General Manager Gabrielle Amster transmitted the recommendation to the Mayor, who forwarded it to the Council on August 6, 2026. The file was referred to the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee the following day, where it currently awaits action. The department notes there is no cost to the General Fund.
Activity (2)
- 2026-08-07 Department of Animal Services document(s) referred to Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee.
- 2026-08-06 Document submitted by the Mayor, Department of Animal Services report dated August 3, 2026.
Documents (1)
- 2026-08-03 Report from Mayor · report