Animal Shelter Advisory Committee Minutes - 01/18/2007MINUTES OF THE MEETING FOR
THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC)
OF
JANUARY 18, 2007
PLACE: Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District, General Assembly Room,
1700 Third Street, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76301.
TIME: 12:15 p.m.
DATE: Thursday, January 18, 2007.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Debbie Mills, Animal Shelter Operator; Marty Maxwell,
Animal Welfare Organization Representative; Penny Miller, Citizen -
At- Large, Julie Gibson, DVM, and Susan Morris, R.S.,Chairman /LRCA/Zoonosis
Administrator.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ABSENT: None.
HEALTH DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES: Susan Morris, R.S., Chairman /LRCA/Zoonosis Administrator, and Diane
Syrus, recording secretary, both from the Zoonosis /OSSF Division.
WICHITA FALLS -CITY
COUNCIL: Linda Ammons, Councilor.
MINUTES:
I. Call to order: Susan Morris, R.S., Chairman presided. Julie Gibson, DVM, apologized
for missing the last ASAC Meeting.
II. Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the ASAC Meeting on September 21, 2006,
were distributed and reviewed. Ms. Miller made the motion to accept these minutes,
with a second by Mrs. Maxwell. Motion carried.
III. Old Business: None. Ms. Mills added that everything was going really well at the
Animal Reclaim Center. Mrs. Morris reported that she went yesterday and looked
at the quarantine areas, and everything looked fine.
IV. New Business: Mrs. Morris distributed information on the upcoming Texas
Federation of Humane Societies Conference on April 22, 2007.
Mrs. Morris reported that at the last ASAC Meeting, members wanted to look into a
Trap /Neuter /Release (TNR) Program and she has completed her research. She
reported that current media information is in favor of TNR Programs. Mrs. Morris
brought an ASPCA Humane Education/ Neighborho` REG%IVED IN
video. Members watched the video. 3 CITY CLERKS OFFICE
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Afterwards, program affirmatives that were discussed: 1) A more humane form of
control since TNR Feral Cat Colonies eventually died out in 3 years because these
cats do not get to breed; 2) Rabies Vaccinations are provided for 3 years; 3) Feral
cats control rodents, squirrels, and any nuisance bird population; 4) This is a legal
solution; 5) Local veterinarians are utilized so rabies vaccinations can be verified in
the future; 6) Complaints are less; 7) City neighborhoods are enhanced since feral
cats will not be fighting /making noises while mating and their spray smell is reduced;
and 8) TNR feral cats have been "ear- tipped or notched" for identification.
Questions that were discussed and explained by Mrs. Morris: 1) Why is
neighborhood permission required since these cats are released afterwards; 2) Does
neighborhood permission have to be in writing; 3) Dr. Gibson reported that she has
clients who bring in feral cats now; is she responsible for asking if they received
permission? Mrs. Morris explained that veterinarians are not the regulatory agency,
and have client privacy responsibilities; 4) Options for a citizen if the neighbors do not
agree for a program; 5) Current city procedures after catching feral cats; 6) Who is
trained and licensed to perform euthanasia on cats at the ARC; 7) Where does the
ARC purchase their drugs to euthanize; and 8) Whose veterinarian license is this
technician operating under?
Committee Members discussed the process for establishing a TNR Program:
1) Work on an ordinance that includes a statement that if a TNR Feral Cat Program
is in a neighborhood, permission will have to be granted from neighbors on all
sides because feral cats have a "radius" territory that includes the houses on
either side or across the street;
2) Present Feral Cat Ordinance to the ASAC Members on 2/15th &receive
approval /disapproval;
3) Present Feral Cat Ordinance to the Board of Health at meeting on 2/23rd &
receive approval /disapproval;
4) Present Feral Cat Ordinance to City Council and receive suggested amendments
and /or approval;
5) Julie Gibson, DVM, will present this program to Humane Society Board for
possible partnership program;
6) Discussed the process for completing grant application for low -cost spay /neuter
clinic. (People who want to do this program would be responsible for full
expenses and to utilize their own veterinarian to provide mass spaying &
neutering.)
7) ASAC Members will seek interested citizens who would be dedicated volunteers.
8) Committed ASAC Members will volunteer to educate interested neighborhood
groups about this pilot program & explain the benefits. Print out informative flyers
& abstracts to distribute at neighborhood meetings. (A successful program will
need excellent publicity and education.)
9) Try one program, in a neighborhood inside the city limits, each month on a
temporary basis and see how it works for a year or two. (Mrs. Morris suggested
to start with 6 -10 cat -sized colonies in populated "hot spot" areas & follow
exact stringent guidelines provided by ASPCA, and to watch & monitor response
from the affected community.)
10) Educated & interested citizens /volunteers will ask radius neighborhood for
permission;
11)If complete neighborhood agreement is gained, proceed with next step. If not,
this neighborhood stops & another neighborhood is found;
12)Find shorter How -to & Benefits Video" for interested neighborhoods;
13)Start out with 4 colonies (one per month) & monitor these colonies for a
couple of years to document a study that provides solid successful evidence that
the City of Wichita Falls needs this program. (Volunteers will be liable for
expenses and will follow strict guidelines with stated goals and instructions.) In
this program, veterinarians will identify feral cats that have completed program by
"ear- tipping" that follows the requirements of our ordinance since these cats do
not wear collars or tags.
ASAC Members agreed that it is a good time to start a TNR Feral Cat Colony
process. Mrs. Morris explained that this program will require education and fellow
ASAC Members to be advocates. Members will be called upon to educate the media
and citizens that this program is working with other communities across the nation.
Mrs. Morris reported that invitations to the Boards & Commissions Luncheon at the
MPEC on 2/7t at noon should have been received by all ASAC Members. RSVP can
be provided by email to Lydia Ozuna, City Clerk.
V. Next Meeting Date: Mrs. Morris asked about scheduling another meeting before the
Board of Health on February 23rd. Members decided to meet again on Thursday,
February 15, 2007, at 12:15 p.m., in the Parker Conference Room, at the Wichita
Falls- Wichita County Public Health District.
VI. Adjournment: Mrs. Morris asked for the meeting to be adjourned. The meeting was
adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan B. Morris, R.S., Chairman Diane Syrus
Zoonosis Administrator /L.R.C.A. Zoonosis & OSSF, Sr. Admin. Clerk