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Animal Shelter Advisory Committee Minutes - 02/10/2012MINUTES THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC) February 10, 2012 MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Gibson, DVM L veterinarian /Member Penny Miller, Citizen -At -Large I Citizen /Member Katrena Mitchell, Chair /Animal Services Administrator I Shelter Staff /Member Stephen Dodge, LRCA /Animal Control Supervisor [ City Official /Member Michael Smith, Councilor- District 1 Council Liaison Lou Kreidler, Director of Public Health Staff Steven Parady, Recording Secretary i Staff I. CALL TO ORDER Katrena Mitchell, Animal Services Administrator, called the meeting to order. II. REVIEW & APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER MINUTES The minutes from the ASAC Meeting on November 18, 2012 were distributed and reviewed. Mrs. Miller made the motion to accept these minutes with a second by Dr. Gibson. Motion was carried. III. OLD BUSINESS Councilor Smith inquired about the walk through of the Animal Services Center with the Contractor. Councilor Smith asked if any suggestions were made about future add -ons or designs. Mrs. Kreidler stated that they discussed issues that the Animal Services Center was having and needed to be corrected. Councilor Smith inquired about the Humane Society and the number of animals that have been taken from the city and what they could do to help with those numbers. Ms. Mitchell informed the committee that the Humane Society has had a new Executive Director for about a month. She informed the committee that in January, the Humane Society pulled about 60 animals and this month they have taken 7 dogs and a few cats. Councilor Smith asked if they were able to adopt out that many. Ms. Mitchell replied that the Humane Society adopts out about 100 animals a month and that county animals have first priority. Mrs. Kreidler advised that the Humane Society's real goal is to be a low kill no kill shelter. IV. NEW BUSINESS Mrs. Kreidler informed the committee that she took the intact ordinance to City Council and that they had some concerns with it and they wanted to try some other things before going forward and wanted the committee's feed back and thoughts on coming up with information, education and incentives on spay and neutering instead of having a permit for intact animals. Councilor Smith advised that some of the City Council members continued talking about the ordinance and were wondering if there was a way to combine all the permits at a lower fee as an incentive. Mrs. Kreidler informed the committee that some of the other ordinances she looked at when reclaiming an animal have a sterilization agreement and they have 30 days to spay and neuter after the reclaim an animal and asked the committee on their thoughts . Mrs. Kreidler went on to inform the committee that she and Ms. Mitchell were kicking around a system that if a citizen came in to get a city license and agreed to sterilization within 30 days we would refund the difference between the neutered and intact license as an incentive. Dr. Gibson asked why the City Council was opposed to the spay and neuter ordinance. Mrs. Kreidler informed that it was her understanding that it would be punitive to the owner that wanted to keep their animal intact. Dr. Gibson stated that having a law is to help with over population in the county. 9 times out of 10, people don't want to spay and neuter because they just don't want to spay and neuter. Mrs. Kreidler asked Councilor Smith if the City Council would consider a Breeder's permit. San Antonio has one and when anyone advertises in the paper the permit number has to be in there or they could be ticketed. Ms. Mitchell stated that we would also need to see how enforceable that would be. Dr. Gibson stated that the incentive is having P.E.T.S. in town. If you're talking about getting them spayed and neutered at a very low cost, that's what they've done and they are doing a great job. Councilor Smith informed that City Council is in favour of spay and neuter and maybe doing some advertisement and education. Mrs. Miller stated that every avenue we can do with education is key. Mrs. Kreidler informed that they have talked about wrapping the animal control trucks and city buses. Ms. Mitchell informed that when talking about education our target population is a different social economic culture and different neighborhoods where the problem is bigger. Councilor Smith stated keep up the good work because there is support. Dr. Gibson stated that at some point the responsibility has to be on the owner, why should the city take on the extra expense. Mrs. Kreidler informed that's where we were at with permits for those owners who want to keep their animals intact. Councilor Smith also advised that the project for the resuscitative masks was successful. All Fire stations have masks. ADJOURN Ms. Mitchell advised that the next ASAC meeting is set for Friday May 11, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Penny Miller made the motion to adjourn. Stephen Dodge seconded the motion to adjourn. Motion carried and all were in favor. n Katrena Mitchell ASAC Chairman Animal Services Administrator n Par ASAC Recording Secretary Animal Services Sr. Admin Clerk Date S- -lS - - t L, Date RECEIVED IN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE DATE: 1 5-, / 6 -1 BY: TIME: a-),w ew