Animal Shelter Advisory Committee Minutes - 09/21/2006r...
MINUTES OF THE MEETING FOR
THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMIT"
OF
SEPTEMBER 21, 2006
RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Date
Time
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, September 21, 2006.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Debbie Mills, Animal Shelter Operator; Marty Maxwell,
Animal Welfare Organization Representative; Penny Miller, Citizen -
At- Large, and Susan Morris, R.S.,Chairman /LRCA/Zoonosis Coordinator.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ABSENT: Julie Gibson, DVM.
HEALTH DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES: Susan Morris, R.S., Chairman /LRCA/Zoonosis Coordinator, 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.
II. Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the ASAC Meeting on April 27, 2006, were
distributed and reviewed. Ms. Miller made the motion to accept these minutes, with a
second by Ms. Mills. Motion carried.
III. Old Business: Ms. Mills stated that sealant has been applied and completed on both
Quarantine areas, as well as, the Q1 -7 Quarantine's floor area was resurfaced.
Mrs. Morris asked Ms. Mills if livestock seizures have slowed down. Discussion
followed and Ms. Mills agreed that they have. Members discussed identifying pets by
micro - chips. Mrs. Morris asked Ms. Mills if the ARC is still utilizing their scanners
which could be updated? Ms. Mills said that she will contact Dr. Young to order new
models. Ms. Mills added that citizens move and do not update their address /phone
information on their micro -chip. Mrs. Morris said she would like a scanner in each
Animal Control unit/truck. Mrs. Morris said that she will work more on educating the
public about micro - chips.
Mrs. Morris asked Mrs. Maxwell if she had noticed an increase in media providing
education on responsible pet ownership. Mrs. Morris said Ms. Michelle Dixon with
Channel 3 is telephoning daily for possible stories from Animal Control. Mrs. Maxwell
agreed that media coverage has increased, but there is still room for pet owners to
feel blatant guilt to get their pets spayed or neutered. Mrs. Morris agreed to increase
media coverage on this too.
IV. New Business: Mrs. Morris stated that vicious animal media coverage seems
to have exploded in the last few months. Discussion followed on recent media
articles.
Mrs. Morris explained the process of adopting a feral cat colony ordinance.
Members discussed how spaying and /or neutering feral cats would benefit the city.
Mrs. Morris asked members if they were interested in pursuing the monitoring &
registering of colonies? Ms. Miller & Mrs. Maxwell agreed that this would be a good
"middle- step ". Mrs. Morris stated that the costs for these colonies would be up to
property owners. Members gave several examples of local citizens whom have
started their own feral cat colony. Mrs. Morris agreed by the next meeting to gather
more research on the pros and cons on feral cat colonies in Wichita Falls.
Members discussed current staffing levels at the Animal Reclaim Center and the
Animal Control Department. Mrs. Morris explained that the city's Animal Wardens
only drop off animals at the Animal Reclaim Center, and they do not work there.
She also stated that Animal Control positions are filled presently. Ms. Mills stated that
her staffing has been affected lately by sickness Ms. Mills said that she would like to
continue to serve as Animal Shelter Operator for 2007 for the ASAC.
V. Next Meeting Date: Mrs. Morris, R.S., asked ,about scheduling the next meeting?
Members decided to meet again on January 18, 2007, at 12:15 p.m., in the General
Assembly Room, at the Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District.
VI. Adjournment: Ms. Mills made the motion that the meeting be adjourned; Ms. Miller
second the motion; motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 12:47 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan B. Morris, R.S., Chairman
Zoonosis Coordinator /L.R.C.A.
Diane Syrus
Zoonosis & OSSF, Clerk III