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C ECEIVED
MINUTES OF THE I CHRISTI
ANIMAL I I
Nueces JAN Public I District
Education Room, 626 oily C SECR AY'S OFFICE
The Minutes for November 19th, 2009
Members Present: Dr.Biltip Watson,Samantha Person,Helen Sterbach,Cheryl Martinez,Dr,John Buckley and Bill Schroeder
Memb ers Absent: Barbara Beynon
Staff Present: Kedli Copeland
Staff Absent: None
Guests: none
t. Call to Order Or Watson,Chairman
Dr.Watson cadted the meejong to order,at'l2•30
2. Approval of Minutes for October 15m.2009
Ms. Sterbach pointed out on pg.4 par. 7 and pg. 5 par. 1 she had not made these statements she believed
that Ms. Martinez did. Ms.Copeland replied that it was her fault, that she had listened to the tape and
transcribed most of the minutes for Ms.Taube so that I could hear what was said in the meeting. In both
sentences replace Ms. terbch's name with Ms. Martinez.
Dr. Buckley made a motion to approve the minutes, Ms. Sterbach 2nd the motion all in favor motion
passed.
3. Approval of Absences for October 1511.2009
Mr. Schroeder explained that he was out because he was sick and Dr. Watson explained that he was out
due to an emergency at the clinic.
Dr. Buckley made a motion to approve the absences, Ms. Sterbach 2nd the motion all in favor motion
passed.
4. Committee Reports
Zoonosis Report
The Zoonosis Report was attached for viewing. Dr, Buckley pointed out the report was primarily bats. Ms.
Copeland wasn't sure if this is the correct time to mention normally would do this under the shelter report..
There were recently 2 positive bats and the concern is that they came from the area of the Islander an
Ocean Drive where the restaurant uses to be. There is a big cat issue that I will discuss under the shelter
report, wanted to make you aware of the potential problem out there because the bats do go up under the
Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeling November 19`h, 2009
bridge and they are an easy reach for the colony of cats. We are working on fixing the problem with the
cats. I wanted to mention it at this time because it falls under the Zoonosis.
Dr. Buckley pointed out the item listed for wild hog hazards and from the estimates that I have heard
about 95%of them carries disease such as tape worms and Trichinosis. Dr. Buckley also added that if
you are going to cook the meat it has to be done thoroughly and if the meat is frozen is not sure it kills the
tape worms.
Ms. Copeland asked so cooking it doesn't kill the tape worms. Dr. Buckley replied that cooking will but
not sure out freezing it. Dr. Buckley added that if you have pork that is infested with Trichinosis if it is
frozen solid that will kill it but not sure if it kills the tape worms.
sheer apart
Ms. Copeland informed the committee of the monthly totals. For incoming animals the were 921 for
October which was up from last month which was 610 and also up from October 200B which was 663. For
the outgoing animals on the euthanized animals was up from last month from 506 to 730 and also up from
last year which was 560. The rescue and adoption numbers for the month was 51 or 5%which was up
from last month which was 44 and up from 2008 which was 34.The return to owners was up; last month
there were 23 and this on 38 however in October 2008 were 70. It has taken a nose dive in the past
few years.
Ms. Copeland also added that she was hoping that we will recover. The question keeps coming up to us if
we are getting a lot of owner surrenders and that is yes. Some of them are coming in with their tags on and
the owners telling us they are not going to come and get them.
Ms. Copeland pointed out the outgoing animals for October was 979 and up from last month which was 710
and for 2008 it was 832. The calls for service were 2,3811 for October which was up from last year which
was 2,596. The calls for service are down.
Dr. Buckley asked if the its other was mostly opossums. Ms. Copeland replied yes opossums mostly
some bats.
Ms. Copeland pointed out for it cases there was 62 and in 2008 there was 82.Since the numbers are
down it could be because they are being reported less so the citizens not going to the emergency room as
much.
Ms. Copeland also informed the committee the totals for altered was 124 and for 2008 there were 117.
Ms. Copeland pointed out to the committee that Mr. Noble had worked hard to get the 2 lap tops for our
vehicles. This requires for us to have what is called a Tropus Unit which is a machine to help us get
coverage when we are driving around for the internet. This was done thru MIS. Ms. Copeland asked Mr.
Noble if that was around $5,000.00. Mr. Noble added that he believes they are$5-6 thousand each;what
the tropus unit is where we see the things on the light post some of them are hooked directly into the
internet. As long as there is Tropus Unit somewhere in the area hooked up to the internet it can relay and
go from one to another. Not all of the light posts may be hooked up to the internet but if you are in range of
one then you have connectivity. With the trucks it's the same thing but it's moving around so the regular Wl-
Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting November 19', 2009
� G
FI may have a range of several hundred feel whereas with these items it makes the range up to a mile to 5
Iles. With the lap top connects to that tro unit is in the truck and the truck does what the others o
is find one. Ms. Copeland added that what she wanted to make you aware of is that Mr. Noble was able to
et MIS to get us these items for the units we have in the trucks; I was going to have to buy the rest of
them. He was also able to get acquire one for seven of the vehicles. We don't have the lap tops to go with
the we only have the Tropus itself which is 5,000.00. We are going to be putting flyers out front that
suggest about customers on tin lap lops. Mr. Noble is also getting this information out to the fire
departments for any old lap tops that they might have. If we can get these lap tops then it will help u
where dispatch is concerned. If you have seen the news the city has some budgetary issues. Dispatch is
an issue for us so if we had the lap tops in the truck will help us save some money.
Mr. Schroeder asked what PD has in their vehicles. Ms. Copeland replied that they also have the Tropus
units and lap tops. Mr. Noble added that they have the Tropus too but theirs is hooked up thru everything
and a lot of their data goes thru a trunk`system. You can look on a map at dispatch and see where
everyone is. Ms. Copeland added that we don't'have the GPS.
Ms. Copeland informed the committee of the new trial hours for the department which began on the 17th.
The Call Center had told some misinformation but was straightened out, When we opened up at 1 pm for
side gates and tours we did have a line but everyone had a good attitude about it. We are pleased with the
response. In order to save money to help us with the cleaning of the kennels because of the 1 %positions
they froze we are opening the doors at 1 pm instead of 11 am and are standing on it. If someone brings
an animal earlier you have to bring it back at 1. We have made some exceptions,we had a gentlemen
show up with a dog earlier that was dying and I'm not going to send someone away with an animal like that,
We are standing on it, it might bring some bad press but the citizens have to understand that when they
start cutting you have to cut service but am pleased to say that everyone was fine with it.
Ms. Copeland reiterated that she wanted to talk about the Islander.There is a situation where we have
some people felt like they were doing good thing in feeding cats. Feeding a colony is not being
responsible to the colony, there is a lot more that goes into it; vaccinations, altering,stabilizing the
community. That is not happening out there and those cats have multiplied, it is amazing how many there
are. They have also gotten vicious with each other. M . Martinez was out there and saw that a tom cat got
a hold of a litter of kittens and was carrying one in his mouth. The people that are going out and feeding
them about a year ago approached the owner of the property because he was going to start getting rid of
them. They had an agreement with him and that didn't turn out well so now we have had to step i . Our big
concern now is the 2 bats that came up positive in that area. That bridge is very low and I went myself an
looked at it and concerned that the cats have easy access to the bats, I am concerned that we ay end up
with a problem if we don't clear that out. We may end up with some bad press because am gelfing some
nasty emails. My belief is if you are feeding a coto y of cats then you own some responsibility to that
colony and that means to stabilize it. Technically it is illegal and will address that because we are doing
TAR and want to see this become a legal activity in the City. But it needs to be managed well. 1 was
expecting some people to show up today because there are some that have been very vocal about this. I
wanted to make everyone aware that my position is the trap alter release is a have to in the City. But it also
needs to be managed and you can't just go and feed animals and say I am managing a colony. It just does
not work that way. As much as I know these people love cats they need to take off the rose colored
glasses and look at it seriously.
Animal Control Advisory Committee k eeti g November 1 ti 20
Martinez de that she got asked to help out back in May and did help with the condition in finding
homes for the cats. Ms.Copeland and Mr. Noble knew that I was helping with this at the Islander. Mr.
Schroeder asked if it was the same area, Ms. Martinez replied yes at the Islander in fact the ones who
were putting out the food let them know that you would need to start trapping By the end of the
summer had been over there a few times and there was a lot more of them. The owner of the property was
grateful, he u t traps; he allowed me to go on to e property but wasn't allowing the others that would
feed. They were upset that I was over ere; anything that I needed the owner would supply;the owners
next door Mr. Ward had visited with him quite a bit.There are people here without permission; he said no I
did not. The cats are a nuisance.
Martinez added that there are carcasses;one of them was still warm that I had found its body was to
off of it. In the last couple of weeks we have gotten quite a few that were under a couple of pounds. It's
lot of work and they did not help any. I told them that if they wanted to go to the press, I didn't tell the press
that.Everyone knows that I love animals. This is something you don't want to see. It's a problem e
animals are feeding, I asked him if he had a place for them, he said o. Ms. Martinez added that the
animals cannot be released back there because they will just get killed. Ms. Copeland added that it is a
dangerous r a, If you sit down and pull up a street in chameleon t is near Ocean Drive or Ocean we
have picked up an enormous amount of dead cats. And these are not owned cats; they are coming from
the Islander. This is not a good situation for these cats. If it hits the news you will know what happened.
. Copeland added that she is concerned about the bats there also, Mr. Schroeder added that is o0
animal control act; if you have to define actions is that because and not to open up a can of worms if e
bats are positive, Ms. Copeland replied that we do press releases in reference to that. Mr. Schroeder
added that we are in to contain it because of the bats that were positive.
Ms. Copeland added that for me when I look at the situation I think that everything we are saying is good,
Mr. Schroeder added that the public is looking at it from the health; ey are lovers of animals if they are not
theirs. Why let them feed them when they could be causing rabid cats now. Cr. Buckley added that rabies
is a scary impact. Ms. Copeland added that it is a human issue. It is a true concern for us. Ms. Copeland
also added that we were at Yz of 1 %, but now we have 2positive bats in that area and that's a problem. Mr.
Schroeder asked if it would be advisable to do a pre-ap that's media rather than wait for it to come to you.
Then you are going to address the issue. Ms. Copeland replied that she had discussed it with Mr.Noble
and had been playing with the idea and my concern is I don't want to cause a problem for the owners of
those properties. They tried to make those individuals have pride in e e ails they sent me. To make
these people out to be bad guys and they are not.This is their property and they have a right to be upset
that the cats are in the attic and the ceiling and maybe to even sell their property.That's going to get lost in
the shuffle with the other stuff. I feel like I'm on a tight rope and don't want to cause anyone problems and
feel they have been extremely patient.Yet i need to be prepared to respond if it hits the media and wanted
to make sure you were aware of this.
. Copeland wanted to inform the committee additional information about the trailer; in regards to this was
hoping Ms. Hundley was going to be here today because I wanted to talk to her about some things. It looks
like we are going have to go out for bids in order to get the pictures. I'm not sure if you remember but we
were going to ask citizens about having pictures of their pets on the side of the truck. There is a certain
amount of money we need and trying to get a certain amount of money to get and determining the donation
half of it as well as the money the individuals going to be akin ; how the city is going to divide this up. It
is still being worked on.
Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting November 19rh, 2009
Clinic Report
Ms. Copeland reported there were 96 surgeries for the month of October.
S. Aew Business
Discussion of the Animal Control Ordinance
Ms. Copeland wanted to inform the committee of several matters,fi rst of all is the Animal Control
Ordnance. I have very definite ideas that need to happen and go over those first and then bring the to
you for you to go thru and then you can say what you like and not like to be in the ordinances. Then after
we have one that and come to an agreement then we can send it to legal for the to view. As we go
along there are things that I would like t o t alk to you about, and if anyone would like to sit in on these and
meet with us you may. Ms. Martinez has met with me once or is about this. It takes a long time and
most of the changes are good ones and wanted to touch base with you on some of these. I also need to
find out as well; I actually want to provide what we have done but I knew that there might be some business
today. I don't know that what I provide you something that Iam obligated to provide to the public. If that i
i s
the case then I don't want to draft something that everyone s going to tear up, I feel that this would be
unproductive. If we go at this slower it would be better.
Ms. Copeland passed out some information on the feral cats that Ms. Martinez and I went over. We looked
at cities thru websites that have feral cat colonies and how they are managed. Ms.Copeland read the
following.
Sec.6-XXXXX Feral Cats General requirements: (a)All feral cat colonies shall: (1)Operate in such a
manner as to not constitute a public nuisance; and (2) comply with all of the provisions of Chapter 6.151
Article IV,Animal Care keeping, is provides standards for the general care of animals (b)Any person
who provides food,water or shelter to a colony of feral cats shall be registered with the city of Corpus
Christ Animal care and control division or its designee.
Ms, Copeland added that with the situation at the Islander, anyone can call something a feral cat colony but
this is not a managed situation. This is a nuisance. I feel that this is important and that if you are going to
have a feral cat colony,there is one over at the museum, a lady that worked there had feeder boxes, had
everything fixed and vaccinated, they worked.They spent their own personal money over a period of year's
to make this happen. Those are responsible management of a colony. Those would be the people having
no problems registering,And getting a permit in having a feral pet colony; that is what we are looking at.
You just can't go feeding at communities it's not fair and these people don't even live around there and
there are houses there. You have to take responsibility.
(c)A person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars for
the first offense,with the fine for each subsequent offense increasing by an increment of fifty dollars.
Sec.6-XXXXX Managed feral cats, (a)The city of Corpus Christi animal care and control division or its
designee, in order to encourage the stabilization and reduction of the feral cat population in the city of
Corpus Christi, may (1)Trap any feral cat in a humane manner; (2) Have the feral cat surgically sterilized
and ear-tipped or tattooed by a licensed veterinarian, (3) Release the feral cat for adoption or other
disposition in accordance with the law or to a colony caretaker who will maintain the feral cat as part of a
managed colony of feral cats. (b)The city of Corpus Christi animal care and control department may
impound feral cats in violation of this chapter and dispose of the feral cats in accordance with applicable
law.Any feral cat impounded at the city of Corpus Christi animal shelter that bears an appropriate ear-
tipping or tattoo indicating it belongs to a managed colony shall be returned to its managed colony,if said
colony can be determined,unless illness or injury present an imminent danger to public health or safety.
Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting November 19'h, 2009
,,
Seriously ill or injured feral cats with no reasonable prognosis for humane rehabilitation for survival
outdoors y be humanely taize . (Ord. 7- 1 1 (part), 2007.
. Copeland pointed out that she wanted to add in the fact that with pet colonies that are becoming
nuisance there is a way to abade the situation and that is something we are going to address. When I say
nuisance which means when I have people calling and saying the cats are tearing up the garden, the car,
those things are issues and we need to be l to deal with them not wait until it starts happening.
Colony caretaker responsibilities—(a)Colony caretakers shall abide by standard trap-
neuter-retum guidelines vise y the city of Corpus Christi animal care and control or its designee
regarding the provision of food, water, shelter and veterinary r i i the managed colony. (b)A colony
caretaker shall not have ever been convicted of animal cruelty. (c)A colony caretaker shall not allow a
cat(s)which is art of his/her colony to become a public nuisance.
. Copeland added that that does touch on the situation somewhat. There is nitio of public
nuisance in our ordinances. We may not need to address that any further but we will look into it. Ms.
Copeland asked if there were any questions in reference to what has been read,
Mr. Schroeder asked if they were going to have to be registered to manage the colony. Copeland
replied yes. Mr. Schroeder also asked if of have to o out and inspect the area is suitable n within
the guidelines. Ms.Copeland replied or based on the permit. Ms. Copeland replied that will probably be
based on the permit. My problem is oin to the staffing n we have so many permits in the city
already we don't have enough staff to follow up. I do believe that if someone is going to o it right if they
are going to manage a colony they will do it right, The people over at the m, they were determined to make
difference and they did. They started out with an enormous problem.They got it down to a managed
stabilized colony. The lady who ran it moved away and passed it on to someone else.
Mr. Schroeder asked what is considered a managed colony. Ms. Copeland replied 15-20 cat colony is fair.
1 did talk to s. Martinez and we might need to say how big the area is also. You have a couple of people
over there that fed the feral cats, so there needs to be some way of balancing that out.We may have 15,
15 and 15 within a block and that may not work. There are a lot of things tot ink about so when we bring it
to you it's not going to be. Mr. Noble interjected asking if you are talking about Baker there are 3 houses in
the area that we have done.They don't notice much anymore. Ms. Copeland added that she had friends
over there and when I go places I look. It is my job I see the animals. I do see the cats, and the difference
is like night and day.When you see them they look healthier,
Mr. Schroeder asked if there was a threshold of what you are considering on complaints in the areas to
determine if it could be a managed colony. Ms. Copeland replied that is a good question. I may not like
cats and might call 6 times in a week and that's not a true complaint,not a true nuisance problem. You are
right that we might need to;we can't cover everything we might need to at least look at the situation.
Dr. Buckley asked If there will be a charge for the permit, Ms. Copeland replied yes the city always charges
for the permits, We don't want it to be cost prohibited for people;we want to be able to encourage people
to take responsibility to ana a these colonies. I feel like they need to be registered o that we know,we
know who we can go to. For example I could go to Dr. Buckley and ask him if he is aware that we are
getting complaints with the influx of cats. Then maybe we can help to trap and get them out of there. Dr.
Buckley asked with the permits are they to a group or an individual, Ms. Copeland replied they have to e
someone who is the responsible party. Dr. Buckley also asked if a group maybe they could pool together
to pay for the fee. Would you have a list of the names at are in the group? That might be useful in the
end that way there is or than one point of contact if one can't be reached. Ms. Copeland replied that
Animal Control A iso o iuee Alfeeting November 19'*. 2009
would be a good idea.Also that I understand that there is going to be additional work for us but staffing is
always an issue especially at this time of year. However I feel if we do not move in this direction the
problem will continue to multiply. It seems to a the only thing that works, I will remind you that we had the
Audubon Society contact us and they do not like it. But I did tell them that if they came up with an alternate
solution we would n it neck and neck with the TAR program n they i not come forward i anything.
All they wanted too was trap and kill and that's been proven not to work.
Mr. Schroeder added that he felt that when this is implemented that it will take a lot of uc ti for the
public to understand what this means.When you start feral cats, a lot of people know it's a cat, they may
not understand the dynamics ehin of what needs to be done. It may be a challenge; it's not just feeding
cats but a whole procedural that needs to take place. Ms.Copeland added that's true with all of animal
control in Corpus Christi. We have come up with a plan, maybe I not ought to do this but I am going to
refer to church. When you go to church and a lot of people do outreach where you pick up children in
bus and bring them to church because they want to ct the h n in their lives of the children in the
future. it never works; because they grow up and stay home and send their kids to church on the church
bus. It's a free morning for mom and a . We want to change in the lives of o families because it's
when you go and find Dad. But when you go get Daddy and you effect change in daddy's change in life and
you bring Daddy to church he brings the kids and with him. He models something to kids you
they change the way do things and it does effect change for the future. I'm looking at City hall like Daddy;
and we've been going about it all wrong.We have been going to the c Is,the r ,but we are oin
to look at City Hall like Daddy, Over the next year we have come p with a theme for each month and we
are going to hit hard the city employees about responsible owns hi ,establishing a relationship with their
local vet, about learning towalk your pet. About not letting your pet be nuisance, animal cruelly. We
have 12 themes for the next year. My goal is after the first year there will be give a ways, we will hit it hard.
After the first year we will extend those give away and education to the extended family and the friends. To
see if we can begin to make a difference ht away. Effect change by changing daddy's perception.
Because I can go to city hall and I talk to people all the time. They say I'm going to adopt a dog. I ask the
if they have h ad a dog and t say yes but it g of ran over buy a car. The same ing you hear from the
regular citizens out there, I want to e if e can change lives in the city employees,city hall itself if
we can maybe it will leak out into the public. Dr. Buckley asked if you have considered doing public
education in regards to the feral cat ordinance, adoptions, maybe a tri-fold in the utility bill to make people
aware of it. Ms. Copeland replied that we have talked doing that with a couple of things for Animal Control
and its very expensive, tti it in the fight size and printing it up. But we haven't eliminated the idea. Dr.
Buckley added that something to o on Channel 1 , but a lot of people don't watch it they will watch 6 or 3,
Copeland replied that 6 and has also been about covering stuff for us as well. However you are
right, It's not quite the same as getting it in every household. We have PA's thru Grande, we are working
on o a with a Fox affiliate. You are right getting that information into the utility bill is probably something
that we need to do there's not enough money in the budget,but something e do on a regular basis.
Copeland also added that we have been discussing ! fficer for a long time. Previously PD
had told us that they weren't going to happen. Well they have not really given us a cruelly officer however
and 1 believe our new police chief has something to do with it, but have not met him yet. We have recently
been contacted by one of the lieutenants who have requested that we make the initial contact like we have
been doing. Once we find that there is a situation going on there needs to be o a kind of legal
intervention then we are to forward it over to them where they will look into thru an officer. So this is a step
Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting November 1.0, 2009
in the right direction and will make a big difference in the number of cases that get prosecuted because
there will be an officer actually doing the foot work on it.
Ms.Copeland that we are going to include the anti-tethering law in our ordinance,but at this time we do not have the
staff to enforce it. If a dog is chained up and he's fed and watered and relatively healthy and the dog next door is not
chained and someone is starving to death that is the animal we are more concerned about.That is where we will
send ours ff to. It is the law and there is a gentleman that I was expecting to be here today. We are going to
include this in the ordinance and I don't care for chained animals more than anyone else.The of is to cause this to
stop,and need to go with this at the education point of view.This will be the way to change it.The are a large
number of dogs that are chained.We have included this so you can look at it.
Dr.Buckley asked out the notation on turtles in this,it is under section M. Ms.Copeland replied that it will be
looked into.
Discussion of the Kuranda Dog beds
Ms. MaOinez informed the committee on the Kuran Dog beds and passed out information on these.We
have met with the staff from Kuranda. Even though there are a lot of the animals are euthanized I hate
seeing them on the ground,they are here 3 days or sometimes longer we would like to see the more
comfortable If we contact the median do a press release on it would help, but people can go online and
donate and be shipped to us and will get them less expensive. These are a lot better then what has been
used. . Ms. Martinez added that she has spoken with some of the facilities that have used the and think
they are great. The amount is$50-53 per its Ms. Martinez added that you can go online and donate.
You can donate in either your name or someone else's as gift also. Ms.Martinez added that they will not
last forever but it is better then what we have.
Ms, Copeland added that there have been items donated by Pepsi and others, but that is only par t of the
kennels.We were getting the off the ground.
Ms. Martinez has people asking her if they donate how they know it will go to the bed. Ms. Martinez
advised the to go online and donate it will go towards it. Ms. Sterbach added that this is something that
could be tax deductible for,
Ms. Copeland added that there have been problems in the past with puppies that go down in to the drain.
We have had facility m maintenance come over and have installed an its where this no longer will occur.
Discussion on the Humane Legislation Network and Mutt Strutt
Ms. Martinez informed the committee in reference to the Humane Legislation and Mutt Strult. There was a
good
to out and approximately 50 vaccinations were done.There were some other groups that came and
all feed back in regards to this event was very good. Ms. Copeland added that we are hoping to see more
events like this in the community.And also possibly looking at obedience classes for people who adopt.
6. Unfinished Business
Ms. Copeland informed the committee on the'chained ordinance',which is 6-151 of the city ordinance. Ms.
Copeland apologized for not being able to be at the meeting when Cdr. Garcia was here.We had been
trying to make contact with each other and kept on missing each other. Ms. Copeland also added at she
heard that he was very upset and that he made a statement that I had written him an inappropriate letter. I
had transcribed the minutes because I had needed to hear what was said. I hadn't made copies for
everyone because I wasn't sure what I was able to do legally in case of citizen's show up. But if anyone
wants to view this I can make it available to you.
Animal Control Advisory Committee 1feeling November 1 0, 2009
My first email contact was on October 2"d with Cdr. Garcia. We had making contact via the phone and
missing each other.
The email on ct er 2nd I told you I was going to be in class most of the day and I will give you a call
around lunch time. I missed him so that on the th and apologized;gave him my cell phone and call me
here. I received voice it from him on e office line, I will almost always answer my cell phone. This is
letter that I sent Cdr.Garcia in an email and if I was offensive C didn't mean to be.
The letter is a following: Good afternoon Cdr.Garcia; T he advisory meeting is the third Thursday of
each month. That will be t r 15th, the board wanted to icu ss people who sell puppies on the side of
the road or in the parking lot. We are hoping to be able to find a solution to the problem which will work for
everyone, A former committee member and several current ones have called PD to report this type of
activity and have been upset when the PD officers arrive and tell the person with the puppies to ve on
and not issue citations. The person selling the puppies usually moves on awn the street and sets up
again. More upset with the complainant n the selling the uppies because they keep calling P
out. They usually want to see where the officer is oin to o. I have explained to the board that part of
the problem lies within the fact that the officer feels like he is responding what should be r s e by the
animal control officer. However most of these activities are on eeke and we have always had one
sometimes o in the field. There is no way that we will be attack this issue and handle the regular calls
at fall to the animal control officer. Without the help of the PD officer. Also these individuals selling the
puppies are probably otherwise law abiding citizens trying to make a dollar in a public common. Many of
the o fficers may have been in the same situation or someone they know has. It doesn't seem like an
offense worth fighting to the car. The officer doesn't see the larger implication that the board members
and animal control see, that is that these animals are being sold un-vaccinated and unaltered. The
individuals buying these puppies or may not be responsible. Many of these puppies if not most are
going to end up on the streets and having babies and adding to already an overwhelming problem. I hope
this information helps. That is the extent of the email I sent him.
. Copeland added that I know because i listened to the tape and a e it sound like I was cruel. I did
apologize for not being here, I was not sick I was invited to retreat at the last minute and I hadn't had time
off and I needed it and I took it. So I do apologize, I didn't want to cancel his being here because I failed to
et it on the meeting before and they had sent somebody already. I should have been here and taken care
of it. But that is the extent of the email. I had advised y boss as well because this complaint went all the
way up. I am trying to reach Cdr. Garcia and am hoping to en fences with him,we need Cdr.Garcia
and his staff. But I didn't want anyone to walk away from him that I had done anything inappropriate, he
was not set up. All I wanted him to do was to be able for him to hear what you all had to y and for him to
say maybe we can set some things up or maybe we can't. I offer my apologies. I am still trying to work on it
though.With that being said I have directed my staff that when we get calls to go out to write the citations
until I can work something out with Cdr.Garcia I can't promise you there is oin to be any real change
right now in how it's being handled. The upside it's cooling off and I don't think we are going to have as
any people ittin around in the parking lot selling puppies. In the its 6-151.G is where it is talked about
being illegal to sell.The animal control officers or PD officers are the ones to issue citations.
The committee continued a discussion on the issue of animals being sold. Dr. Watson said in the past
when it had been discussed became heated during those discussions and added that it was discussed
about possible making the property owner of these areas partially responsible.. r.Watson added that the
favorite places for people to use are the Wal-Mart parking lots. Ms. Copeland asked if you recall why they
didn't include the ordinance making the property owner responsible. Was that legal? Dr. Buckley replied
Animal Control Advisory Commiltee Afeeling November 19rh, 2009
we had a lot of problems and the police department told us that until the property owner does something
that they can't do much to enforce. Dr. Buckley added that there are people also selling cars on the
property and maybe the property owners can post signs up no selling of any kind on the property. Dr.
Watson added that there are a lot of those who are uneducated. Ms. Copeland replied that she thought
that what we had in the ordinance is pretty good, no complaints that maybe there be more bylaws with PD
about enforcement. I will talk to legal about this and way to approach this from the property owner.
Dr. Watson also added that in the past with PD they being understaffed too that there were higher priorities
like graffiti and Dl's. Dr. Buckley maybe we could get assistance with property owners posting signs and
point out the ramifications of the matter of no selling from the area. Mr. Schroeder added that there is no
money that the city has. Why doesn't the price be raised for those under this matter. M .Copeland replied
that already a stiff penalty. Most of the penalties run$150-5250, and sometime people negotiate them
down if they show up. Mr, Schroeder asked about the citations issued by the AC 's. Ms. Copeland replied
yes but mainly with the weekend officers and they do let us know when they write them. Ms. Copeland
added that already that the problem is the fight isn't there that the tickets aren't being written. That is one
of the issues, if we can get the tickets written then maybe it is a business expense. May we should try to
get a heftier fine. Dr. Buckley asked about ticketing the property owner. Ms. Copeland replied that this will
be looked into and in the past was whether or not we can hold the property owner responsible.
7 Rubric-Comments
No public comments were made.
8. Identify. items to be placed on the next agenda
No Items mentioned for the agenda at this time.
9 Agiqurnment
Mr. Schroeder made a motion to adjourn, Dr. Buckley 2nd the motion all in favor motion passed. 1:35prn
Aninial Control Advisory Committee Meeting Move 10, 2009