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Animal Shelter Advisory Committee Minutes - 02/08/2013 RECENED IN CITY CLERKS OFFI0- M I N U T E S DA.I � f, 3 IMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC) v TIME_ February 8, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: G veterinarian/Member Holly Hoffman, DVM Jan Herzog, Citizen-At-Large citizen/Member Katrena Mitchell, Chair/Animal Services Administrator ❑ shelter staff/Member Stephen Dodge, LRCA/Animal Control Supervisor ❑ City official/Member Michael Smith, Councillor-District 1 ❑ Council Liaison Lila Arnold, Animal Welfare Organization Rep. r1 Rescue Rep/Member Lou Kreidler, Director of Public Health rI staff Steven Parady, Recording Secretary c staff I. CALL TO ORDER Katrena Mitchell, Chair, called the meeting to order. II. REVIEW & APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY MINUTES The minutes from the ASAC Meeting on November 9, 2012 were distributed and reviewed. Mrs.Arnold made the motion to accept these minutes with a second by Mr. Dodge. Motion was carried. Ms. Mitchell welcomed the new members: Dr. Holly Hoffman who replaced Dr. Gibson as Veterinarian on the board and Mrs. Jan Herzog who replaced Mrs. Penny Miller as Citizen At-Large on the Board and thanked them for taking time to serve on the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee. III, OLD BUSINESS Ms. Mitchell asked Mrs. Kreidler if she would please update the board on the restraint ordinance. Mrs. Kreidler informed the committee that while she was getting ready to present the ordinance to the Council Planning Strategic committee, she was researching other cities and their ordinances. Knowing there would be some resistance, she wanted to present other options to council. She advised that what she found was that many cities had banned the chaining or tethering except when the owner is in physical presence of the animal. She also advised that it also addressed some concerns from the Board of Health. She stated with the option for the ordinance she also gathered facts about the harm of chaining animals and statistics gathered from Animal Services. Mrs. Kreidler advised that she still hadn't heard from Mr. Leiker at that time to move forward. Ms. Mitchell stated that she sent information over to Mr. Scott who is the City's Attorney to start working on the ordinance. Councilor Smith thanked Mrs. Kreidler and Ms. Mitchell for doing the research and finding the information to help with researching the information for the ordinance. IV. NEW BUSINESS Mrs. Herzog advised the committee that she, along with Karen Hamlin and Leslie Harrelson, had spoken with Mayor Barham who stated his concerns about citizens who couldn't afford a fence and didn't want them to feel they needed to give up their animal. She advised the committee they informed him that they have been thinking of a solution to that situation and did some checking to see what other cities came up with that already have the restraining ordinance.An option that they could probably come up with is getting grant money to buy fencing material and then have people that would donate to a fund to help buy fencing material. She stated that he was very interested in that idea. She also informed the committee that dog houses were already provided through the PETS Clinic to people who don't have shelter and cannot afford it. This would just be an extension to that program. Mrs. Arnold advised that she had seen a group on Facebook that came in and provided a chain link kennel with straw and a doghouse in another part of the country. Mrs. Herzog stated that they already have their volunteer grant writer working on it and inquired about the size of the enclosure. Mrs. Kreidler stated that it is in city ordinance and asked Mr. Dodge if he could please retrieve that information. Ms. Mitchell asked Dr. Hoffman if she has had any experience with dogs being on chains or tethered for long periods of time. Dr. Hoffman replied that she had one come in this morning that was poorly socialized, had never been to a veterinarian and was extremely difficult to deal with because it had never been anywhere but its own back yard. Mrs. Herzog stated that they see that all the time at P.E.T.S. as well that the animals even had chains that wouldn't come off because they were wired or locked on their necks. Mrs. Kreidler advised that if you let Animal Control know because that is part of the ordinance they can currently enforce. Mr. Dodge stated that he did retrieve the size information and they were just the minimum size requirements, for large breeds over 50 pounds, 4 x 6 feet or 25 square feet. Medium breeds 36 to 50 pounds 4 x 4 feet or 20square feet. Small breeds should be 3x3 or 12 square feet. Councilor Smith states that that even though size is a concern, remember the message is to get away from chaining and to do away with chaining. Councilor Smith also advised that the minimum size requirements could be amended later if it becomes an issue but not to lose focus on the issue which is the chaining of animals. Councilor Smith asked Mrs. Kreidler if the committee should make a recommendation based on the new changes to the proposed ordinance. Mrs. Kreidler stated that it would be nice for two reasons; one because of the two new board members and the second is to show the support for the new version of the chaining ordinance due to the first version not getting enough support. Mrs.Arnold made a motion to support either recommendation for a total ban on chaining or no chaining except when the owner is present. Mrs. Herzog seconded the motion and it passed with all in favor. Councilor Smith asked Mrs. Kreidler if she was going to take the new version of the ordinance to the Board of Health. Mrs. Kreidler advised that she would be taking the new version to the Board of Health. Ms. Mitchell then passed out the mock up for the wraps for the animal control trucks so the committee could see what they view what they may look like. Ms. Mitchell explained that each truck would have a spay and neuter message and a license or adopt. Ms. Mitchell also advised the committee that there would be a new truck in the spring that would also be wrapped. Lila Arnold asked if there was any funds to improve the dog park because there's no seating, no water, no real activities for the dogs. Mrs. Kreidler informed the committee that when the park was planned it was under the understanding that other than the land and getting it ready there would be no financial support from the city due to lack of funds in the budget and all the planning took place when the economy was bad. Councilor Smith advised that the $2000.00 dollar grant is supposed to place water fountains for the dogs as well as the citizens. Ms. Mitchell stated that there is a boy working on his Eagle Scout badge that was going to do the work. Mrs.Arnold asked if there were any grants through the city that Wild Bird Rescue could apply for since they do handle wildlife situations. She also informed the committee that Wild Bird Rescue was financially struggling. Mrs. Kreidler suggested that maybe Animal Services could do a contract with Wild Bird Rescue as they do with the Humane Society and maybe they could fit it into the annual operating budget and see if it would get approved and asked Mrs.Arnold to get a proposal together and send it to her. Councilor Smith asked Mrs. Arnold how many birds she thought they M processed a year. Mrs.Arnold stated anywhere between fifteen to seventeen hundred birds plus now they have included birds of prey. She also advised the committee that for every fifteen birds that get dropped off only one person leaves a donation. Councilor Smith stated that he believes that there would be support for the contract on the council. Ms. Mitchell gave the statistics for January 2013. Ms. Mitchell stated that Animal Services had taken in 300 animals, 46 of those went to the Humane Society, 29 were sent to rescue, 58 were returned to their owners and 135 were euthanized; out of 135 that were euthanized 10 of those were different kinds of wildlife. Ms. Mitchell also informed the committee that since they hadn't had any positive rabies cases in twelve to thirteen years show up in racoons,Animal Services decided that they wouldn't be putting to sleep any racoons that seem to be healthy. She also stated that she received a notice the week before that Dallas, Texas had a big distemper outbreak in racoons. Dallas picked up 49 racoons with distemper so for the safety of our local pet community,Animal Services had began euthanizing all raccoons that are picked up due to they can carry canine and feline distemper. ADJOURN Ms. Mitchell advised that the next ASAC meeting is set for Friday May 10, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. Mrs. Arnold made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Dodge seconded the motion to adjourn. Motion carried and all were in favor. 10 IAA mu., ffldtKW Katrena Mitchell _T Date ASAC Chairman Animal S dministrator S arady Date ASAC Recording Secretary Animal Services Sr. Admin Clerk