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Animal Shelter Advisory Committee Minutes - 07/07/2021 THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC) MINUTES July 7, 2021 Animal Services Center 1207 Hatton Road Wichita Falls,Texas COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Nicki Bacon Animal Shelter Administrator Leslie Harrelson Public Citizen Marvin Peevey Animal Walfare Organization Angela Bakken Local Rabies Control Authority COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENCE: Bryan Wade, D.V.M Veterinarian Steve Jackson City Council Liaison OTHERS PRESENT: Lou Kreidler Director of Public Health I. CALL TO ORDER Nicki Bacon, Chair, called the meeting to order. II. REVIEW &APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY MINUTES The minutes from the ASAC Meeting from April 16, 2021, were distributed and reviewed. Mr. Peevey made the motion to accept these minutes with a second by Mrs. Harrelson. The motion was carried. III. OLD BUSINESS None IV. NEW BUSINESS Ms. Bacon continued with the shelter update and shelter numbers. Ms. Bacon procced informing the committee at the last Animal Shelter Advisory Committee (ASAC) meeting on April 16, 2021. She advised the committee that the shelter was at a 74% live outcome rate. On June 14, 2021 that was reduced to 70%, and to date the shelter was at a 66% live outcome rate. Ms. Bacon informed the committee that they saw an uptake in both kitten and puppies in spring, contributing to the live outcome numbers. Ms. Bacon praised the rescues for pulling all those animals. Ms. Bacon also mentioned that she had noticed an increase in the number of animals brought into the shelter. Ms. Bacon continued that in April's meeting, she informed the committee that the shelter brought in 511 total cats and dogs, and as of today, the shelter has brought in 1189 cats and dogs. Mrs. Bacon informed the committee that animal services had returned 25% of cats and dogs to their owners, decreasing from 33% last month. Dogs and cats transferred to rescue were 29%, increasing 4% from June. The number of adoption rose 13% from June, making the total 151. Ms. Bacon stated that she hoped that the Clear the Shelter event in August would help to improve those numbers. Ms. Bacon stated that even though the 66% isn't bad, seeing the live outcome percentage in the seventies is better. 1 THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC) MINUTES July 7, 2021 Mrs. Krielder replied that animal services had a huge influx of animals since July. Mrs. Bacon stated that animal services are so full they were putting out kennels. We have also had a lot of calls from owners wanting to reclaim their animals. Even the owners were on Facebook asking the community for help to get their animals home, and the community has responded, which is great. Ms. Bacon moves to the next item on the agenda, the discussion of emergency animal sheltering. Ms. Bacon reminded the committee that they are still working on the issue. That emergency animal sheltering is an extensive process. She informed the committee that she was working with Mr. Daniel Gonzales, the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, and they have a meeting scheduled for later in July. Ms. Bacon stated that she would get those changes done. Mrs. Krielder also informed the committee that they are working on ordinance changes and are currently working on the dog park ordinance. Mrs. Kriedler informed the committee that they have the dog park ordinance ready and will go over it today. She then advised that she wanted to set up a meeting with Mrs. Harrelson and go over the proposed ordinance changes. Mrs. Kreidler stated that the next Board of Health meeting was in September, and her plan would then be to have another ASAC meeting before the Board of Health. Mrs. Harrelson asked if it would give them enough time to rally and lobby the city council members. Mrs. Kreidler replied we could plan it that way. Ms. Bacon moved on to the next order of business, the dog park ordinance. Ms. Bacon informed the committee that they should have a copy of the proposed dog ordinance with their proposed changes. The changes included adding the animal control aspect into the dog park ordinance. It was mostly with parks and recreation and needed to have some animal control aspects included in the oversight of the park. Ms. Bacon continued that most of the changes made were verbiage. Some of the changes were dogs wearing their collars or harness, having current rabies vaccinations, the sizes of the animal, and not bringing animals to the park that has a previous bite history. Mrs. Harrelson asked you had to add that shoes must be worn. Ms. Bacon replied yes. Mrs. Kreidler stated that clarifying language was added to the ordinance and to item B on the last page. The item stated that it was a tobacco-free area. Mrs. Harrelson replied that all city facilities are smoke-free. Mrs. Kreidler replied that parks are not part of the smoke-free ordinance, and not all of the city is smoke-free. Mrs. Kreidler continued that the Health Department,Animal Services, and the Library are all non-smoking. Mrs. Harrelson asked what parts of the city were? Mrs. Kreidler replied all the rest. Mrs. Harrelson asked the Police Department, and the Fire departments are not smoke-free. Mrs. Kreidler replied that the inside of the building was smoke-free. Mrs. Harrelson replied they have designated smoking areas. Mrs. Kreidler replied yes. But like with animal services, you can't smoke, dip, chew, or vape anywhere on the property, same with the Health Department. Other city properties are not that way; for example, you can go to the Multi-Purpose Event Center(MPEC), which has a designated smoking area outside. You can go to the Memorial Auditorium and smoke outside the doors as long as it's within 20 feet. Mrs. Bakken replied I thought you couldn't smoke at the parks. Mrs. Bakken replied I thought it stated that you couldn't smoke at kid functions. Mrs. Kreidler replied that it's in any place with stands, bleachers, or where people gather. So if you are in a pavilion, those are smoke-free. Mr. Peevey replied on the back page; item A does mention tobacco. He also stated that he was glad to see that food was included. Mrs. Kreilded stated that they did take the section on dog treats out. Because you have citizens training their dogs at the park, and in the ten years that the park has been open, there has not been a single issue. Mrs. Kreilder stated that when they originally did the 2 THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC) MINUTES July 7, 2021 ordinance ten years ago, our fear was there would be dogs that got aggressive because one person had treats and another person did not, but there hasn't been an issue. Ms. Bacon stated that on page three, they did change the wording. It originally stated that if an animal bites or scratches a person or another dog, it needed to be reported within 24 hours of the incident. We have changed the 24 hours to immediately after a bite or scratch occurs. Mrs. Kreidler replied that there weren't any huge changes to the ordinance. Mrs. Harrelson replied that there shouldn't be any trouble getting the ordinance passed. Mrs. Harrelson motioned to take the dog park ordinance to the city council with a second by Mr. Peevey. The motion was carried. Ms. Bacon moved on to the next agenda item, the revision on the current animal control ordinances. Ms. Bacon stated that she, Mrs. Bakken, and Mrs. Diann Bowman, the Animal Care and Adoption Coordinator, were going back and reviewing them and comparing them to some other states and that there was some language that they have found that they liked so they will be going back and looking where they can include some of that language. Ms. Bacon stated that they decided to remove the microchip requirement for owned animals on those adopting from animal services. It was more of a barrier when it came to adoptions, and they did add the rewording for the enclosures so that it must have three solid sides, a solid attached roof with no gaps, openings, and shall have a solid floor. Ms. Bacon said we would like to review it one final time then send it to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee and the Board of Health. Mr. Peevey asked if they would ever get it passed about the dogs in the back of trucks, not on leashes more because of it being a safety issue. If a driver hits their brakes with a dog in the back of the truck, it could become a projectile and injure somebody. Mrs. Kreidler replied that the only way for that to pass is if it is in the ordinance with something more controversial and gets overlooked. Mrs. Harrleson replied that it wasn't something that she was ready to give up on and since the last ordinance in 2019, she's been collecting data because that was the biggest reason for their no, was they did have enough proof of it being an issue in town. That Mayor Stephen Santellana didn't have a problem with it, but he didn't think it warranted an ordinance change. Mrs. Harrelson informs the committee that she has about five people collecting data of animals in the backs of trucks inside the city limits. She can prove that there are around 12 animals in the back of trucks a month in Wichita Falls. I know that that's not a huge number, but that's just the data from a few of my people collecting that information. Mrs. Harrelson also stated that she has photos of the animal in the middle of summer in the heat and February during the freeze. Mr. Peevey replied I get worried because they are on Southwest Parkway and Kell, and they are driving so fast, and if I'm behind them and they fall out, I'm going to be the one to hit them or run over them. Mrs. Kreidler replied that sometimes the animals are even riding on the toolboxes. Mrs. Harrelson replied that she believed that people's mindsets have shifted regarding dogs in the back of trucks. Even the Police Association of Texas supports not having your dogs in the back of pickup trucks. The veterinarians would typically get behind it because they see the ramifications, and most dogs survive. Mrs. Harrelson continued that is another issue that since most dogs survive, the veterinarian says they do not see that much of it because those animals that do die are on the street and are not getting taken to their clinic. We will just have to try to combat some of the naysayers. We will just keep trying. Mrs. Bacon replied I think the good news is that the overhaul that we did on the ordinances in 2019 was a lot and the ordinances are even more stringent than a lot of other cities in Texas. Mr. Peevey asked how the 3 THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC) MINUTES July 7, 2021 responsible pet ownership classes were going. Ms. Bakken replied that they had a class yesterday, and three people showed up. Mrs. Kreidler asked if they were writing citations when people didn't show up. Ms. Bacon replied yes, but it's for running at large. Mrs. Kreidler replied that they were told they could write them because they had proof that they were supposed to be at class because of the sign-up sheets. Ms. Bacon replied for the class. Mrs. Kreidler replied yes, but we can revisit that. Ms. Bacon replied that she had sent a couple of tickets over for people not showing up to class, and they got sent back. Ms. Bacon informed the committee that they are also billing them their original fees if they do not show up since they were given reduced fees. Mrs. Harrleson replied that's understandable. Mrs. Kriedler stated they should be issued a citation too. Ms. Bacon replied for the class. Mrs. Kreidler replied yes, they were mandated to come to class and failed to show up. Ms. Bacon replied that's true. She then asked the committee if they had any additional questions. ADJOURN No date was set for the next meeting. Mrs. Harrelson made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Peevey seconded the motion to adjourn. The motion carried all were in favor. Nicki Bacon Date ASAC Chai man Aniervice'A ministrator -- —' Steven Parady Date ASAC Recording Secretary Animal Services Sr.Admin Clerk 4