Animal Shelter Advisory Committee Minutes - 09/06/2007RFILE COP
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COM
OF
SEPTEMBER 6, 2007
RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
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PLACE: Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District, Parker Conference Room,
1700 Third Street, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76301.
TIME: 12:15 p.m.
DATE: Thursday, September 6, 2007.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Gibson, DVM; Marty Maxwell, Animal Welfare
Organization Representative; Penny Miller, Citizen -At- Large, and Rick Wright,
Animal Reclaim Center Operator; and Susan Morris, R.S., Chairman /LRCA/Zoonosis
Administrator.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ABSENT: None.
HEALTH DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES: Lou Franklin, Public Health Director; Susan Morris, R.S.,
Chairman /LRCA/Zoonosis Administrator, and Diane Syrus, recording secretary.
WICHITA FALLS -CITY
COUNCIL: Michael Smith, Councilor.
MINUTES:
I. Call to order: Susan Morris, R.S., Chairman presided. She welcomed new member,
Rick Wright, Animal Reclaim Center Operator; Michael Smith, City Council Liaison; and
Lou Franklin, Director of Public Health. Mrs. Morris thanked Mrs. Franklin for providing
lunch today. Susan asked everyone to introduce themselves. Mrs. Morris stated at the
next meeting; we need to set -up the election of new executive officers since we did not
have an election last year.
II. Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the ASAC Meeting on February 15, 2007, were
distributed and reviewed. Ms. Miller made the motion to accept these minutes, with a
second by Mrs. Maxwell. Motion carried.
III. Old Business: The possible Feral Cat Ordinance was discussed. Mrs. Morris explained
her proposal of a Feral Cat Colony Ordinance for new members, and its benefits to
lessen disease and complaints, but at our last meeting we did not have a sponsor nor
support group. Since then, she and Mrs. Franklin have met with two ladies that are
forming a 501 C3 Nonprofit called "Miss Fannie's Feline Friends ". These ladies are
willing to organize and take the lead on this effort and work with us; Mrs. Morris asked
members if they would like to meet these ladies, members agreed. Susan agreed to
contact them and give them about 10 -15 minutes at the next meeting.
Mrs. Morris had received information on a spay and neuter grant application and had
given this information to Debbie Mills for the Humane Society. Mrs. Morris will give the
website /link or print out those documents to Mr. Wright after today's meeting, if desired.
Mrs. Morris asked for any other old business? Mr. Smith asked if there is any new
technology to assist cities or individuals, in doing something about the problem of
animal overpopulation. Discussion followed. Mrs. Franklin explained that we have been
researching different ordinances and options with Animal Control, and the progressive
fees that some cities are charging; one fee if your pet is spayed or neutered, and a
higher fee if your pet is not.
IV. New Business: Mrs. Morris reported that there are new procedures at the Animal
Reclaim Center. We have three Animal Control Officers trained to perform our
own euthanasia and the new narcotics cabinet should arrive Monday, 9 /1 0tH
When we are ready to begin; the animals that we bring in that are not accepted for
adoption from the Humane Society; will be euthanized.
She asked members if there was anything that they would like to happen with this
committee. Dr. Gibson stated that she was on the Board of the Humane Society for
a short period of time, and Red Cross asked if disaster preparedness plan? Mrs. Morris
said that she is working on that and the basic bones are in place and has been
executed twice recently; once with hurricane Katrina and with the recent floods. A new
committee needs to be put together and involve all of our partners. If members of this
committee are interested in being on this committee or if they know of interested
members, please let her know. Dr. Gibson stated that she would be interested.
Discussion followed regarding the evacuation of animals during the flood of 2007.
Mrs. Maxwell asked if there are any plans to catch wild animals in the city. She
explained how her husband used to feed foxes and raccoons from the vacant land by
his business, and one of the businesses next to him said that they saw Animal Control
out there and they were going to try to trap them. Mrs. Morris said no, she has not
asked Animal Control to trap anything. Discussion followed.
Mr. Smith wanted to mention at this point in time, as an opportunity for the city, the
humane society, this committee and whoever wants to get involved, to look at the
future, in particular a facility for Animal Control, and the Humane Society. He does not
know how this would eventually all come together, but he thinks that we have a chance
right now to build a new facility. Discussion followed on the increase in the Humane
Society contract and that their contract ends in September, 2008. Mrs. Morris said an
extension was negotiated to allow time to find alternative solutions and we now have
three trained A/C Officers who will euthanize and keep records.
V. Next Meeting Date: Members decided to meet again on Thursday, November 8, 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 1:10 p.m. A motion to close the meeting was made by Mr. Smith, and
second by Dr. Gibson.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan B. Morris, R.S., Chairman
Zoonosis Administrator /L.R.C.A.
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Diane Syrus
Zoonosis & OSSF, Sr. Admin. Clerk