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WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 08/22/2003r WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD PLACE: Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District TIME: 12.15 p.m. DATE: August 22, 2003 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: HEALTH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES: Susan Strate, M.D. Kathy Sultemeier, D.V.M. Diane Stewart, R.N. Gregory Stockton Beverly Stiles, Ph.D. Tom Delizio, M.D. Larry Rains, D.D.S. RECEIVED IN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Date b - aa_nD3 BY PIL Time :10 Barbara J. Clements. Director of Health Reuben A. Warren, Jr., Assistant Director of Health WICHITA CO. REPRESENTATIVE: WICHITA FALLS CITY COUNCIL: WICHITA FALLS CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: MINUTES: I. Call to order Matt Benoit, Assistant City Manager Dr. Susan Strate called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes: Moved by Kathy Sultemeier, seconded by Greg Stockton and carried by voice vote that the June 27, 2003 minutes be approved. III. Review Draft of Animal Control Ordinance Roy Ressel, R.S. Mr. Ressel briefly discussed that the present Animal Control Ordinance is outdated and has not been revised in several years. There are four major items that he would like to stress to the board at this time. He stated that last fall, the annual meeting was held involving Wichita Falls and Wichita County veterinarians. At this meeting, it was proposed that the veterinarian offices sell the City of Wichita Falls animal license tags when they vaccinate for rabies. It is felt that a greater number of animals could be registered through this program. Licensing done through the Animal Control office has been very lax. Page 1 of 5 IV. Review Draft of Animal Control Ordinance Roy Ressel, R.S. cont' The Animal Control office can enter the registration into their computer and have a better way of tracking and locating an owner if their animal is picked up. Mr. Ressel stated that he had received no opposition from any of the veterinarians to this proposal. The second item involves fee changes. The impoundment fee will remain the same to encourage people to reclaim their pets from the center. Fees for boarding and quarantine are to be increased. It is also felt that calls from citizens requesting their animal be transported to the reclaim center or to be destroyed should be assessed a fee for this service. The third change involves selling or giving away animals in parking lots, flea markets or temporary events. The concern centers on the fact that these animals may not have been vaccinated and could possibly be carriers of rabies or other contagious diseases. The final item to present concerns cat owners. In Wichita Falls under the present City ordinance, if you are a cat owner and you have a rabies tag and City license, the cat is allowed to roam at will legally. Animal Control frequently receives complaints concerning cats roaming throughout the neighborhood at large. It is presented that the cats should be confined to the owners' property comparable to the present dog ordinance. Aside from the traffic hazard loose animals present, the public considers them a nuisance. There have been requests for traps to catch a cat that is at large. Under the present ordinance, if you trap a cat that has a City tag and is licensed, the animal cannot be impounded. It must be returned to the owner. Mr. Ressel stated that he had recently met with the Texas Animal Control Board. He took a poll of cities that have ordinances concerning at large cats. He stated that 60% of those polled have a local ordinance and 40% did not. The City of Wichita Falls does not have an ordinance at the present time. Mrs. Clements stated that one other change consists of the formation of a board to review complaints concerning vicious animals. Under the current ordinance, the Health Director's role is to review the complaint for just cause. The Health District investigates the complaint and the Health Director makes the final determination of that animal. The proposed change would create a board to review all aspects of the complaint. The Health Director would then consider input and guidance from the board concerning the animal before making the final decision. Dr. Sultemeier asked if the owners' regular veterinarian provides input on the animals' disposition? She stated that most veterinarians know which dogs they are concerned about when they come in. If the animal does not have a regular vet or is not current on rabies that would indicate a lack of responsible pet ownership. The remainder of the changes are mainly grammar changes and minor housekeeping. Dr. Strate suggested that considering the length of the ordinance, a sub - committee should be appointed from the board to review the draft and present their findings to the board. Those appointed consist of Matt Benoit, Assistant City Manager; Dr. Kathy Sultemeier; Dr. Larry Rains and Roy Ressel, R.S. V. Report of Animal Shelter Inspection Roy Ressel, R.S., Dr. Kathy Sultemeier July 2003, a representative of the Texas Department of Health presented a training seminar at the Health District to Animal Control Wardens from various cities around the state. Page 2 of 5 While she was here, she conducted the annual inspection of the Animal Reclaim Center. During that inspection, she found several problems at the center. Upon her return to Arlington, she wrote a letter to Toni De Stefano, Director, Wichita County Humane Society outlining her findings and requesting a veterinarian to inspect the entire facility as required annually by the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 823. Mr. Ressel, upon receipt of a copy of the letter, consulted Dr. Kathy Sultemeier who graciously consented to conduct the inspection. Dr. Sultemeier stated that she and Mr. Ressel went to the Animal Reclaim Center for an unannounced inspection on July 25, 2003. She stated there is a standard form with very specific areas that are to be looked at for quarantines and shelters. They were looking at various things such as temperature, caging, water, and food. The Center is a very old facility and there are concerns about the age of the building and the fact that it is not being maintained. There are areas beginning to rust through and cages being chewed through that have not been repaired. The overall concern is the rodent problem. Dr. Sultemeier stated that it is actually overwhelming. As she and Mr. Ressel went through the various areas, they opened drawers and found nests of baby rats, moved items and found dead rats behind them. There were rat droppings on everything. The cages were very clean as far as urine and/or feces. The cages appeared to have been cleaned that morning, yet each and every cage had rat droppings in it. There were holes in the ceilings of the cages and insulation was found in the cages where the rats had been chewing on them. There were grease marks from the oils on their bodies along the walls and cinder blocks where they run. They seemed to be attempting to work with the rat problem but they were not being very successful. Even though they are in a `country facility' they really need to be a lot more aggressive in rodent management. The rodent situation is totally unacceptable and they did not receive a satisfactory rating. Dr. Strate thanked Dr. Sultemeier for her report and announced that the board would hear comments from the public limited to 5 minutes. Mr. Eamon Riley, Certified Canine Behavior Counselor, American Association of Dog Trainers, and Animal Behavior Society thanked the board for the opportunity to speak. He stated that Toni De Stefano had definitely been an asset to this community but that it is time for a change. Mr. Riley felt that Ms. De Stefano had been dishonest on a few points that he would like to address. The main point was the "Home Again" program. This program involves a microchip being placed subdural at the base of the dogs' neck. The microchip number is then sent in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Home Again Program. A telephone number and a secondary number are taken and keyed into the database. This is an international tracking program for dogs. If an animal is then picked up and taken to the Animal Reclaim Center, the 1 -800 number is called and the microchip number is relayed to the Home Again database so the owner can be located. Ms. De Stefano has stated that she has used this program previously but the Home Again Program stated that their database shows no calls received from the Wichita County Humane Society. Mr. Riley stated that when confronted, she stated that she is not required to call them. Mr. Riley discussed the Animal Rescue Program. This provides for an evaluation by members of the Rescue Program of animals brought to the reclaim center to determine if the animal is adoptable or not adoptable. If they determine that the animal is adoptable, they take the animal from the center, provide all medical care and place it in a foster home. Page 3 of 5 After the animal has received obedience, potty and behavioral training, they then provide these animals for adoption for a fee. Mr. Riley stated that rather than provide an animal to the rescue group Mrs. De Stefano chose to euthanize. She refused to work with the rescue groups including a local group. Mr. Riley stated that Ms. De Stefano refuses to allow for same sex adoption. He stated that she also refuses to work with any community action groups. He asked if she would allow the American Humane Society to come in and evaluate the local facility and after telling her there would be a charge, she refused. Mr. Riley expressed concern that the City of Wichita Falls is not in compliance with The Texas Health & Safety Code, Chapter.823 which states that any municipality that has a Humane Society within its jurisdiction is required to have a community action group made up of a veterinarian, an animal rights advocate, and a city official. Mr. Riley states we are in violation of this law. Dr. Strate then recognized Mr. Bruce (unintelligible) who stated that he is a 30 -year citizen of Wichita Falls. He owns two basset hounds, one of which was adopted from the Humane Society. He stated his concerns are with the management of the facility. He stated that he was refused adoption of a same sex basset hound. He chose the dog he wanted and was initially refused because it was the same sex of the dog he had. He then was allowed to adopt a basset of the opposite sex. He stated a friend had an animal that was taken to the reclaim center. She called several times, described her pet and was told numerous times over a two day period the animal was not there, that they had no Labrador Retrievers. He said that she went out there, and the Lab was there. He understood that had she waited much longer, the dog would have been euthanized. He feels that the Society is being mismanaged and that donations are not being used properly. He asks for the Board assistance in investigating the situation and solving the problem. Dr. Sultemeier asked Roy Ressel if the City of Wichita Falls had any control over the Humane Society. Mr. Ressel stated that the only involvement the City has is to contract with the Humane Society for operation of the Animal Reclaim Center. Mr. Ressel stated that the City has no control in regard to policies or method of operation for the Humane Society. She then asked if he was familiar with the 823 law that stated there is supposed to be an advisory committee overseeing the Humane Shelter. Mr. Ressel stated yes, he was. Dr. Sultemeier then asked if that committee would be helpful in resolving some of the issues of the shelter. Mr. Ressel stated that in his opinion, it would be a tremendous asset to form such a committee. Dr. Sultemeier asked if such a committee would benefit only the Animal Reclaim Center or would it extend to the Humane Society as well. Mr. Ressel said that in lieu of re- reading the provisions of the law, he felt that the advisory committee would deal with the Animal Reclaim Center and not the Humane Society. Having provided the Board with a copy of The Texas Health & Safety Code, Chapter 823.Animal Shelters, Mrs. Clements asked the Board to refer to Chapter 823.005.Advisory Committee. Mrs. Clements stated that concerning the present situation, the Health District involvement would pertain to only health and safety issues. Page 4 of 5 Dr. Sultemeier clarified that the issues presented today were mainly Humane Society issues and not Animal Reclaim Center issues. Mr. Ressel stated that is true. Dr. Strate stated that issues needed to be studied concerning the Animal Reclaim Center and the formation of an Advisory Committee. Dr. Strate appointed Dr. Sultemeier to a sub- committee of the Board of Health to examine these issues. She asked for volunteers to assist Dr. Sultemeier. Dr. Beverly Stiles and Dr. Larry Rains volunteered to assist Dr. Sultemeier and Mr. Ressel. Mrs. Clements suggested that Mr. Matt Benoit also be appointed as a representative of the City of Wichita Falls management on this committee. Mr. Riley volunteered to act as animal rights advocate with the formation of the Animal Reclaim Center advisory committee. Dr. Strate stated that his offer would be noted. Dr. Rains asked that Mr. Riley provide contact information in case the sub - committee had questions. VI. Discussion of Other Issues of Concern Dr. Strate stated that in each Board members packet, there is a copy of Impact of Budget on Health and Human Service Programs and Changes to CHIP that the members can review and discuss at a later date. The next Board of Health meeting will be October 24, 2003. VI. Adjourn It was moved by Greg Stockton and seconded by Dr. Stiles that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m. Page 5 of 5