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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 02/21/2008 J; dmsd care City of C Chns w, i i `jot norpusafirlsil 4 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Nueces County Public Health District Education Room,2626 Holly Rd The Minutes for February 215, 200 Members Present: Dr William Watson„ Bill Schroeder, Pauli, Reynolds, Kendal Keyes, Sharon Massad and Pam Rhyner Members Absent: Dr.John Buckley Staff Present., Kelli Copeland Staff Absent: none Guests: none 1 Cali to Order: Dr-Watson„Chairman„ 12:33 pm . Approval of January 17th,2007 Minutes Ms.Rhyner made a motion to approve the minutes,Ms...Keyes second the motion all in favor,motion passed. . Approval of Absences for January 17th,2007 Ms. Keyes made a motion to approve Ms, Rhyner's and Mr,,Schroeder's absence.Ms.Massed 2^d the motion,all in favor motion passed. . Committee ReR2rts (A) Zoonosis Report The Zoonosis Report was attached for viewing. Mr,Schroeder inquired if the percentage of tests were in comparison in previous years.Ms.Copeland replied that she was not sure but she had been told they are within their percentage. Dr,Watson pointed out the difference was the cat that had rabies which you don't see very often.Ms. Copeland also added that a good pad of that is it was bat rabies and an isolated incident- (B) Shelter Report Ms.Copeland reported to the committee with the reports for the month of December and the Yearly Totals. • s.Rhyner inquired in reference to the December totals in comparison to the yearly totals was almost double. Ms.Copeland replied that is from the intake of animals for surgery,a card is made. When the owner picks up this animal we do a return to owner,so this is the reason.Nis,Copeland was unsure why it hadn't showed up until the month of December and would be looking into this, Ms.Copeland also pointed out that in the January numbers will be skewed because of the"Pomeranian"situation.Ms.Taube added that she would have the totals available for the next meeting for yearly totals for Daily Visitors,Side Gates and Community Service. Aninval Control pfdvisory Committee blceting Pebnmry ll",2008 • Ms.Copeland pointed out that a survey has been in process both online and customers coming into the facility. Ms.Copeland added that has been pleased with the response of how pleased everyone is with the service they are receiving. Ms.Copeland also added that we are sending some of the staff for Customer Service classes this includes the Field Staff too. Ms.Copeland gave an example that" s.Smith"has 49 is and the officer has dealt with Ms.Smith and the neighbors who have complained the officer the officer may get an attitude that can roll over to others. Ms.Copeland added that we are addressing the situation. • Ms.Copeland added that the Call Center is being addressed on how they respond to the citizens calling in with unusual complaints.Then the customer would not have a response,"we don't do that". Ms.Copeland added that we are educating them on what the proper response would be and that way the customer feels their situation has been addressed. • Ms.Copeland informed the committee that Animal Care is receiving an intern on January 21 S1. Ms.Copeland added how excited she was that the City is including Animal Care in the rotation of the intems. Ms. Copeland added that she is assigning the intern with working on the grants.One of the grants which are a TAR program and also a grant to help with the Spy/Neuter Clinic as well. Ms.Copeland added that one program would like to see is the facility receiving a van,which would go into the community to help with low- cost vaccinations with fixed income. The intern will also be working on the Volunteer Program. • Ms.Copeland pointed out that our Senior Volunteer program is ready to go,job descriptions are being put into place and someone is needed to coordinate this program. • Ms.Copeland informed the committee of a new program at the facility with incoming animals receiving antibiotics;this will be introduced into the water system. Ms.Copeland added that she hoped this will help reduce the incidents of kennel cough or other things that animals are exposed lo.This will also help animals going into the adoption program or animals that are picked up by their owners. Ms.Copeland added that the ones are euthanized it would not matter,but it is more cost efficient to treat everyone.Ms.Copeland added that they have already received the first two bottles;this is an antibiotic that farmers use on pigs.dr.House and Ms.Copeland discussed the situation and weighed the pros and cons of this and decided to run a 3 month trial at this time.Ms.Massad asked what the name of the medicine was. Ms.Copeland replied that it is an antibiotic with an Albon concentrate.Ms.Copeland added that we didn't necessarily have a lot of complaints from customers with animals being sick,but it does happen. • Ms.Copeland informed the committee of a change in fees at the facility.Ms.Copeland added that this will not include the fees for rabies/parvo-distemper or for spay and neutering. Ms.Copeland added that there are license fees,kennel fees,guard dGg fees,service fees;these items need to be revisited.Ms.Copeland added that there are medications that the vet is using sometimes on the animals that come in may have an owner or wearing a tag and is injured.This would be coming out of tax payers'pockets and we are looking at the cost per dose and setting fees for these situations also. The owners would be responsible if they choose to pick up their pet. Ms.Copeland also ed that there are items as splints,we have had a few donated by local vets. • Ms.Copeland described a situation where an owner had a horse in pasture.The horse was old and he couldn't get a vet to come out,we had several calls about the horse.Animal Care sent our Vet out and was being asked out how much we charge the customer. Ms.Copeland replied quickly$25.00,which would be unheard of. Ms.Copeland added that we will look at situations like this with the vet what would be charging or if after hours for procedures because the owners are responsible as it was reported in the news the owner of the Pomeranian's had a huge bill. The City negotiated that bill down and she ended up paying$8,500.00, Ms.Copeland added that she was told we still hadn't charge her enough. • Ms.Keyes'asked what the original total was.Ms.Copeland replied almost 1k;the fees included housing fees,security and overtime. • Ms.Copeland informed the committee that there will be a recognition ceremony by the City of Corpus Christi for the staff who responded to the seizure for the Pomeranian's.Priscilla Casas,Kennel Master was here all Amnia!Control Advisor,Committee Uming Febmary 21",2008 the time with me,there is several others that will be recognized which are local groomers that came in. Ms. Copeland added that Ms.Massad will also be recognized,it was not what I can do but Ms.Massad jumped in and did it. Ms.Massad was here many days 10-12 hours;if I was here Ms.Massad was here.Ms.Copeland added that there were many others that pitched in but it was their job;but with Ms.Casas and Ms.Massad they really cared about the animals. Mr.Noe asked why Ms.Copeland was here so much;Ms.Copeland replied to him that she needed to be here and the staff had never had such an intake. ® s.Copeland informed the committee that she was interviewing Kennel Master to replace Mr.Luna and also interviewing for ACO II to replace Mr.Steven Bly who will be leaving in 2 weeks.Ms.Copeland also added will be interviewing to replace Jake Jacobson ACO I went to County as an ACO II. Ms.Copeland also added that soon will be interviewing for the Health Officer,which will free up some of my time.The position will work With the schools, C.C.Unleashed,Team Corpus Christi where after the education process we send two officers in for pick up and citations.The position will also be helping with the volunteer program. ( ) Clinic ReRort Ms.Copeland informed the committee that the clinic has lost another vet technician.The employee didn't inform us;he had gotten food poisoning and didn't show up.Ms.Copeland added that we made contact,he got better came back and said he was sorry,he worked a few more weeks and then didn't show up again. Ms.Copeland added that the employees are thru Unique Staffing and asked to have them look again.Ms.Copeland added that we still haven't filled the part-time position.The gentleman had applied for the pad-time but offered him full time;at this point we will be looking for both positions. • s.Copeland pointed out that the Clinic had their first complaint about his CaL There was a customer that picked up there cat when it was still very sleepy. It was his girlfriend who picked up the animal and this was explained to her but not clearly enough. The friend called him thinking her cat was dead;it was an uncomfortable situation and didn't like the way dr.House responded to him.Ms.Copeland added that she did apologize to him and talked with him about the situation,he was very nice about the whole situation.Ms.Copeland added that if I had gone thru what he did I wouldn't have been so nice.The customer wanted us to know how he felt and when Ms, Copeland talked with Dr.House he added that he didn't realize that he was gruff but was tired. Ms.Copeland added that she felt it was a series of errors that occurred;we will learn from it and correct it. Ms. Copeland added the same would be for the "Pomeranian"situation;we sat down and went over everything that we did.We discussed what went wrong and what went right,most things went right. . Discuss.te viewing of Open Meetings Tape Ms.Copeland asked the committee if everyone had received there certificates. Ms.Keyes replied that she had not Mr.Reynolds advised that you could put the code in from the end of the video to do it yourself and mentioned that we were suppose to have one so he made a copy Ms.Copeland advised that the City had been sending them over and then she passed them out Ms.Copeland added that she would be watching the video herself. Ms.Copeland informed the committee of the change in the format of the agenda. Ms.Copeland added that she had received an email;that we could no longer call it New Business or Old Business and haven't been able to do that for a long time. Ms.Copeland also added that we put the points of discussion and had asked legal if it would help if I were to view the tape myself then it would help to understand more with no response,. The committee replied that they did not feel it. Ms.Massad pointed out that several years ago there were members that would meet so there would be no quorum. Ms.Massad added that it should have been viewed back then. 6. Discuss Proposed Volunteer EMqrarn Ms.Copeland pointed out that we do have our intem that will be working with the Volunteer Program but she is only here for a few months;we are looking for someone that could work on a permanent basis. Ms. Keyes replied that she would not be able to do this herself but she could ask around Ms, Keyes replied that she needs a Volunteer Coordinator. This would be coordinating who comes when and what they would be doing. It would also be beneficial to have a volunteer team to help with adoptions;this would make the process go more quickly. The staff moves slow Animal Control Advisory Committee Mceting Febniary°21',2008 L ` in the fact that they are so divided in what they do. They have pet registrations,adoptions,spay/neuter,side gates, Community rvice workers. Ms. Massad added that the lady from the TV that used to work the cats might be interested in working with this. Dr.Watson added that he deals with her in his office and could get her information for Ms.Copeland. Ms,Copeland added that without a volunteer program to assume the duties of the adoption program ri 1 increase advertisement to get everything in order. Mr.Reynolds pointed out that maybe a PSA could be done to advertise for the Volunteer. Ms.Massad then added that maybe she would like to be the volunteer herself. Ms.Copeland pointed out that Ms.Becki Jones was great in getting everything started but does not want to head it up. Ms.Copeland also added that with the intem coming in she will be able to get the job descriptions done and the relationship going with the Senior Volunteer Program. It could be thru this avenue that we would be able to find someone. . Public Comments No public comments were made. . Adjournment Ms.Massad made a motion to adjourn,Mr.Reynolds second the motion all in favor,motion passed.1:30 Animal Control Advisory C'c mpninee kleetin F°ebruar) 21" 2008