HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 06/20/2002 Minutes
CITY ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District
Administration Conference Room, 1702 Horne Road
June 20,2002
Members Present: Alan Garrett,D.V.M.,Chris Cooper,Gail Hoffman,Chair,Susan Thiem,Sherry
Dunlap,Leonidas Botello
Members Absent: Denny Bales
Staff Present: Dr.Nina M.Sisley,Dr.Ardys Boostrom,JoAnn Dominguez,Terry Chapa.
Guests: Jorge Cruz-Redo
Call to Order: Gail Hoffman, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. The minutes for the May 9, 2002
meeting were approved as written.
Attendance Review: Dr. Boostrom reviewed the attendance roster with committee members. Susan Thiem's
absence*remained unexcused.All members were in good standing.
Supervisor's Report: There was no supervisor's report this meeting. Terry Chapa, Acting Animal Control
Supervisor will prepare next month's report.
Program: Jorge Cruz Aedo, Assistant City Manager and Ardys Boostrom, M.D., M.P.H., Acting
Director of Public Health presented the informative program "Animal Care and Control
Division"which outlined proposed changes in Animal Control operations.
Open Discussion: Questions were raised concerning the new Animal Control plan. Gail Hof fan questioned
whether or not the Facility is properly staffed to handle such significant changes. Mr. Cruz-Aedo pointed out that
they will be hiring 2 more Full Time Employees and one Full Time position will be opening up since dispatching
will be moved to City Hall.Angel Hernandez also raised his concerns about the employee stress levels of having to
individually euthanize animals through lethal injection. Mr. Cruz-Aedo said that it was the goal of the program to
have as many Animal Control Officers as possible certified so that the responsibility of euthanization does not fall
on just a couple of employees.The Gulf Coast Humane Society voiced their concerns that more emphasis should be
put on spaying and neutering and less on euthanization. Mr. Cruz Aedo said that although they do have $20,000
allotted for spaying/neutering euthanization is cheaper, but he and Dr. Boostrom agreed that it was a priority to
emphasize the importance of spaying/neutering. Dr. Sisley asked Dr. Garrett about the funding that was available
for spaying/neutering. Dr. Garret stated that nothing more had been done about it. There were concerns about the
funding "falling through the cracks". Other concerns were brought up of animal cruelty. The need for law
enforcement interaction was mentioned due to the number of citizens who have left their dead,or dying,animals in
front of animal control as a type of abandonment. The community needs to understand the consequences of
abandoning their animals and it is felt that the City needs to address the issue of abandonment. Other board
members were concerned that people would continue doing it anyway, despite consequences. Ms. Hoffman
mentioned possibly putting up displays about how to care for animals. Ms. Thiem stated the importance of having
enforcement if there were going to be consequences with animal abandonment. The motion was passed that the
Board would support the proposed program. Leonidas Botello and Sherry Dunlap agreed to be present at time of
presentation to the council to ask for help in enforcing animal control issues.
New Business: Mr. Cruz-Aedo visited with some of the veterinarians and raised the issue of partnering with local
vets for licensing. To have a citywide unified license to identify owners.
Old Business:None.
Adiournment: The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.The next meeting will be held Thursday,July 11,2002 at 12:30
p.m. in the Administration Conference Room of the Health Department, 1702 Home Road.