Denton County's Office of Emergency Management is asking commissioners to accept a $15,000 grant from the ASPCA aimed at helping the county handle household pets and service animals when disaster strikes. Commissioners take up the request when they meet Tuesday morning, Oct. 20, at the Administrative Courthouse in Denton.
The money comes from the ASPCA Disaster Capacity-Building Grant program. In a memo to the court, Emergency Management Director Samantha Taylor wrote that the money is meant to build up how the county gets ready for, handles and bounces back from emergencies in which household pets and service animals are caught up.
The grant requires no local match. Activities would run through the 2027 fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. Any equipment or supplies bought with it would be maintained by the emergency management office, and later operating or maintenance costs would be folded into its annual budget as needed.
The memo does not list specific purchases. Commissioners approved applying for the grant July 28.
A fire engine, paid for by a utility district
Commissioners will also consider buying a Pierce custom pumper truck for Denton County Fire Rescue from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group for $1,420,292.79, through a BuyBoard cooperative contract.
