HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/12/2014 ACAB
Animal Control
Advisory Board Meeting
August 12, 2014
Called to order: 6:02 p.m.
Members in attendance: Patricia Barrington, Chris Plemons, Wendy Gunderson, Greg Darbro
Members absent: David Terre
Others present: None
Approval of minutes of May 28, 2014 meeting.
Minutes were reviewed by the board. Gunderson motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Darbro seconded the
motion. The board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the May meeting as presented.
Citizen input
None.
Update on pending/possible changes to ordinance.
Plemons presented a recently revised copy of possible/pending changes to Chapter 5 of The Colony’s Code of
Ordinances to the board, outlining proposed changes/amendments related to rescues/fosters applying for variances in
the number of animals allowed as well as changes/amendments which would allow/regulate the keeping of certain
types of swine as pets. Barrington expressed concern related to the keeping of swine due to the length of the state
required quarantine period and the fact that there is no approved rabies vaccination for swine. Darbro inquired as to
where a pig might be kept for the quarantine duration, to which staff suggested the quarantine area currently used for
dogs and cats.
Update on quarantine building project.
Plemons stated that he and city staff were working toward getting a building started in the fall. He advised the building
would be 18’ X 36’ and would contain 6 dog runs, each containing an individual drain and 4 cat bays. He stated the plans
specified epoxy floors, a sink and FRP 10’ up all walls. Darbro suggested the building’s interior walls be backed with
something more moisture resistant than sheetrock for the sake of durability.
Provide information to board about transition to use of landfill for carcass disposal.
Barrington stated that a freezer trailer was being used to store animal carcasses and remains and when full, it is driven
to the landfill and unloaded, brought back, cleaned and used for storage until the unit is at capacity. Darbro asked how
long it takes to reach capacity. Barrington clarified that the trailer had only been in use for about 6 weeks and staff had
just made their first trip to the landfill. She further stated she anticipated one trip every 4-6 weeks. Gunderson said she
felt this method of carcass disposal was good for the shelter’s image. Darbro agreed and added that landfill disposal was
the most natural method of disposal. Plemons added the cost of utilizing the landfill was significantly less than the cost
of propane to operate the crematorium.
Provide information about the transition to use of the indoor/outdoor runs for sick/injured/aggressive/unadoptable
animals.
Barrington explained that the door to the indoor/outdoor run room had been fitted with a combination lock and a blind,
obstructing view and access to the room. She said she felt this had helped ease some of the outside pressure to adopt
out animals whose behavior/tendencies create a safety issue to the public and a liability issue for the shelter. She
further explained that, this, however, also sometimes creates a space issue, as this room can’t be used to house the
overflow of animals that are adoptable as it once did. Darbro stated he felt keeping unadoptable, aggressive and
sick/injured animals out of the view of the public and the volunteer base was important.
Review year to date statistics and reports.
The board reviewed handouts reflective of year to date and comparative statistics. Darbro and Gunderson expressed
they were impressed and pleased with the euthanasia rates. Barrington explained that continued, mutually beneficial
relationships with rescues, the shelter’s Facebook page, The Colony Animal Advocates Facebook page and sheer effort
on the part of staff and volunteers was to be credited for the shelter’s adoption/rescue success. She further stated that
managing relationships with long-term rescue partners was crucial in keeping this trend.
Receive report of expenditures from donation accounts.
Plemons presented the board with a ledger from the shelter’s donation accounts. Barrington pointed out the left-
over/expired voucher fund had been moved to the general donation account. She explained the largest expenditure
was due to the treatment of a very sick dog that the shelter felt was a candidate for adoption/rescue if treated.
Discuss outdoor kennel replacement.
Barrington asked if these funds from the general donation account might support replacement of the outdoor kennels.
Plemons stated he wanted to wait until the City’s budget was finalized and approved in hopes the City could fund a
minimum of half of this project.
Discuss Project Playground.
Barrington presented a flyer about Project Playground. She explained she had communicated with The Colony Animal
Advocates and they had agreed the next fundraiser would go toward funding this project, which is aimed at placing
agility equipment for enrichment purposes in the back run. Darbro said he felt this was a good project for shelter pet
enrichment and might add positively to the shelter’s image.
Discuss recent events: vaccination clinics, sterilization clinics & special adoption programs.
Barrington provided a hand out with stats and figures of the recent vaccination and sterilization clinic. She stated that
offsite adoption events are failing and in speaking with the volunteer base, everyone agreed holding events at the
shelter on Sunday afternoons was a much more effective way of moving adoptable pets. Gunderson agreed and said
she felt as though people simply have more time on Sunday and going to the shelter was better due to a concentrated
population being available as opposed to only a few select animals being present at offsite locations.
Board to provide direction for shelter goals/future agenda items.
Terre stated he would like a report on the possible ordinance change to allow an exemption for rescues to the pet limit
ordinance once the item was reviewed by council.
None.
Adjourned: 6:52 p.m.
Prepared by: Patricia Barrington; Animal Services Division Manager/Board Chair
Patricia Barrington
The Colony Police Department
Animal Services Division Manager/Animal Services Advisory Board Chair