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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/19/2011 ACAB Animal Control Advisory Board Meeting December 19, 2011 Called to order: 6:00 p.m. Members in attendance: Wendy Gunderson, Patricia Barrington, Chris Plemons, David Terre, Greg Darbro Members absent: None Review results of recent special events Save a Life Express Adoption: Holiday Edition: The event was held at the shelter on December 17, 2011. A total of 18 animals (dogs, cats, ferrets and birds) were adopted as a result of this event and staff's efforts. Low Cost Vaccination Clinic: This clinic was held in conjunction with the Save a Life Express Adoption: Holiday Edition. 78 pets were vaccinated as a result of this clinic. Upcoming events Save a Life Express Adoption is set for February 18, 2011 from 10 a.m. to noon. A location for this event has not been selected at this time. Patricia assured members she will let them know once a location has been selected and secured. Lots of Love Spay & Neuter Clinic is set for February 21, 2011. This is a joint effort between The Colony Animal Shelter and Texas Coalition for Animal Protection. Pets must have an appointment and must be dropped off at the shelter between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the 21St. All pets will be transported by TCAP to their Denton clinic for surgery and returned to the shelter for pick up between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. 5th Annual St. Paddy's Pooch Party & 5K Mutt Strut is set to take place on March 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patricia advised locations are being reviewed as the shelter is hoping to find a smaller venue than Stewart Creek Park to hold the festivities to insure vendors are highly visible and concentrated. Expenditures from donation account Captain Plemons suggested the board be involved in approving large expenditures from the shelter's donation account and asked for input related to the cap on routine expenditures not requiring board approval. Suggestions were made and the board agreed that any purchase exceeding $500 should require board review and approval. Patricia asked if an emergency arose, such as a necessary veterinary service, would she be able to acquire approval from the board via email. The board agreed that would be appropriate and acceptable. Councilman Terre asked that ALL donation account expenditure receipts, regardless of amount, be presented to the board at each meeting for review. Closed circuit video monitoring of shelter Captain Plemons explained that there is some usable equipment available that might be of benefit to the shelter by way of monitoring certain areas of the shelter via closed circuit video. He asked if the board might see the installation of this equipment as a valid use of donated funds. Councilman Terre suggested Patricia Barrington and Captain Plemons explore resources within the city, such as the Fire Department and the Technology Board to see if costs could be cut by having some of the installation work donated. Dr. Darbro mentioned he felt video monitoring would be a benefit to the shelter staff as it would be a deterrent for customers who tend to get out of line with animal shelter staff. Wendy Gunderson suggested if "dumping" pets at the shelter during non-business hours was an issue, a camera monitoring the r parking lot/shelter entrance might help manage that issue efficiently. The board agreed they would like cost estimates and information regarding camera locations brought to the next meeting for further review. Activity reports January 2011- November 2011 activity reports were presented to all board members. Patricia Barrington indicated the current euthanasia rate for the shelter, year to date, is 30%, with the largest number of euthanasia occurring in June and the least euthanizations taking place in July. Year to date 1297 animals have been sheltered, 193 have been adopted, 123 have gone to rescue organizations, 470 have been reclaimed by owners and 391 have been euthanized. Councilman Terre asked if the euthanasia numbers reflected all animals sheltered or only those that were "adoptable". Patricia indicated the numbers presented reflected all animals housed and the euthanasia rate didn't differentiate between adoptable and unadoptable animals. Goals for 2012 Patricia advised the board that a meeting with the shelter staff had resulted in a few goals she felt attainable in 2012. Those goals included: reducing euthanasia rate by 4%, offering community outreach programs on a more consistent basis and set up a "rescue only" day/time each week in an effort to make shelter pets more easily available to rescue organizations. Councilman Terre suggested animals be designated as adoptable or unadoptable so that an animal that is, for example, too aggressive to be adopted to the public or sent to rescue and must, therefore be put down, doesn't impact the shelter's euthanasia rate. Patricia and Captain Plemons agreed that this might be a necessary measure and agreed to look into this for the 2012 statistics. Patricia said that the new community sign system is aiding in shelter programs and events occurring on a more consistent basis. Save a Life Express Adoptions are set to be held on the 3rd Saturday of even months throughout the year. This schedule was set due to the cost of the magnetic signs and the shelter's budget not such to accommodate signs for random events. Additionally, Patricia said that she feels rescue relationships are not what they once were and she feels this is partially due to having no set schedule for euthanasia. She suggested that adoptable animals that are available be made available to rescue only every Tuesday from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. and a set day for the euthanasia of adoptable be Wednesday morning each week before 10 a.m. Wendy Gunderson stated this was a good idea, as rescue organizations knowing they have a time frame and being able to come in one day a week and take 3 dogs instead of making 3 trips a week to acquire 3 dogs works better for most people. She also suggested the rescue only time be moved to the evening so that people can visit the shelter after work instead of taking time from work to do so. All members present agreed. Patricia said the shelter will attempt to implement this program in January 2012 and will update the board on the effectiveness of this system. Adjourned: 6:39 p.m. Prepared by: Patricia Barrington; Animal Services Division Manager All members have reviewed the December 19, 2011 minutes and approve the content. Electronic mail approval acknowledgement from each member attached. Patricia Barrington The Colony Police Department Animal Control Division Manager r