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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 06/21/2012gnat Care Sw"c , e City Of Corpus City of orpus Christi MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Nueces County Public Health District Education Room, 2626 Holly Rd The Minutes for June 21St 2012 Members Present: Heather Tarnoski, Harold Bennett, Dr. Nina Sisley and Dr. Barbara Whitlock Members Absent: Samantha Person and Barbara Beynon (The following staff members were present) Jesse Carreon, Cdr. Green, Buck Price and Steve Bly Guests: Cheryl Martinez and Megan Winn 1. Call to Order: Mr. Schroeder called the meeting to order at 12:30 2. Discussion and possible Approval of Minutes from May 17thh, 2012 Dr. Whitlock amended the minutes noting that Ms. Person was absent from the last meeting, Mr. Bennett made a motion to approve the minutes with the amendment, Dr. Sisley 2nd the motion all in favor motion passed. 3. Discussion and possible Approval of Absences from May 17thh 2012 Mr. Carreon asked for the approval of absence. It was noted that Ms. Tarnoski was absent from the last meeting, Ms. Tarnoski stated her absence was due to a family emergency. Mr. Bennett made a motion to approve the absence, Dr. Sisley 2nd the motion all in favor motion passed. 4. Discussion of Current Zoonosis Re art Mr. Carreon noted that the Zoonosis report was attached for viewing. 5. Discussion of Current, Shelter Report Mr. Carreon informed the committee of the shelter numbers for May as follows; a.total of 425 animals from the field; 628 animals dropped off for a total of 1,053; 31 relocated to the wild; 40 rescues; 34 adoptions; 55 return to owners;1 died in truck; 8 died in kennel; 770 euthanized for a total of outgoing animals, 102 relocated within the facility; 53 bite cases for a total of 155 shelter animals. A total of 2,698 call for the month of May with an average of 90 calls per day. Ms. Taube also added there was a total of 17citations for failure to restrain, 18 citations failure to vaccinate; 24 failure to register and 4 at failure of care and keeping of animals for a total of 63 citations. A general discussion was held on the shelter report, Mr. Bennett asked about separating the animals that come over the GCHS with the Paws and Claws program and Gulf Coast Humane Society, Mr. Carreon replied that we can update this information to show up separately. 6. Discussion of Current Clinic Report Ms. Taube informed the committee that for the month of May there was a total of 134 spay and neuters for the public and 31 shelter animals for a total of 165. 7. Discussion of change in city ordinance for immediate release of pupRies and kittens under ten weeks of age A general discussion was held on the change in the city ordinance for immediate release of puppies and kittens under ten weeks of age - Dr -- Whitlock - stated - felt - that - if - an - animal - brought in asa stray it could be an immediate release instead of a returntcown - Ly r uptiu Mme. - ._ - - - -. Martinez asked if the department could charge a fee for owner surrender, Mr. Carreon replied yes it is being done in other cities. Mr. Carreon added that if a puppy is sick or injured may be euthanized at the approval thru the supervisor. The committee decided to further discuss and review the item at the next meeting. 8. Discussion and review of City Animal Control pet registrations. A general discussion was held on the fee for the registration tags and the possible fee of $35.00 for a 1 year registration. Ms. Taube informed the committee that the current prices for pet registration for a 1 year tag altered is $4.00 and $12,00 for an unaltered animal. Those who have a 3 year vaccine they are given a choice between the 1 and 3 year tag, the fee for the 3 year is $10.00 for an altered animal and $35.00 for an unaltered animal. Ms. Martinez added that there is a program that could be utilized for pet registrations called Pet Data which would eliminate the front office in having to do these and would bring the information on this to the next meeting, Pet data does all the work to where the front office wouldn't have to do it and Pet - Data does all the work. Mr. Carreon asked if there was a fee. Ms. Martinez replied that she wasn't sure but we could look into it. Mr. Carreon asked if we would have to change the system. Ms. Marlinez replied that they shouldn't have to and would look into it. kris. Martinez added that there is a one-time fee to set it up and felt it would benefit the staff overall. Ms. Tamoski asked what the fine was when people are cited for not having a registration fee,. Ms. Taube replied that for failure to register, failure to restrain or failure to vaccinate the fee could be anywhere from $50- $2,000.00. Mr. Carreon added that there was a meeting where the officers were trained to be able to write citations and that in the past not everyone was holding them accountable, We have been assured that they will be holding them accountable. The committee decided to bring this discussion back for the next meeting for review and possible recommendation Discussion and review of the Raptor prohibition A general discussion was held on the raptor prohibition. It was noted that there are some in the area but not all of them are as responsible as Mr. Wood from the Raptor. Ms. Martinez added that federal permits allow it but the City does not and there are other cities that are allowing it It was also noted by the committee from the documentation provided by the City that Mr. Olson is not in favor of this being in place. The committee decided that there will be a lot of discussion on this matter, if we were to bring itforth would be deciding what numberwould be an appropriate amount allowable for the caretaker. Ms. Tamoski asked where he comes from. Ms. Taube informed the committee that he does a lot of educational demonstrations and his falconry that he has is also utilized in the media of television and movies throughout the United States. 9. Discussion, review and possible recommendation on the Breeders Permit ordinance A general discussion was held on the possible recommendation on the breeders permit ordinance. It was decided that the discussion for the registration fee would take precedence and come back to this discussion. 11. Public Comments Dr. Whitlock stated that with Dr. House being gone she was now filling in for the vaccination clinic and anything needed for the shelter animals. We are working on getting the DEA changed and other things necessary to take Dr. Houses' name off and hers' on. We are not doing surgeries for the general public at this time. Mr. Bly introduced himself as a part of the Police Department and has been temporarily assigned to assist with the department with changes for polfcies and procedures. I am also working with Mr. Carreon and the other supervisors along with this. Cdr. Green is now over the division. Cdr. Green added that we are planning on doing is setting up a contract basis for the surgeries until we hire a full time basis are looking into a contract position in the mean time, We have changed the 10 day quarantine period for adoption, to where we will now have 2 buildings for adoptions. We are going to be building a fence around those two kennels to where we can allow the customers to go back on their own and will have staff monitor the area With the fence in place they won't be able to go to the other kennels where the stray animals are. Dr. Whitlock added that the customers won't be able to take the animal out themselves in adoption but they wil I notify staff who they are interested in, Mr. Bly added that we will give the cat adoption tours at this time until we have something else in place, We are also going to be making a new area for the cats for adoption to where they can be free roaming but at night be in the kennels, Dr. Whitlock added that if we do this we wouldn't want to put the kittens in because of being more susceptible of infections which we don't have many of. We are also talking about the possibility of vaccin ating the animals as they co me in. We have had distemper, and with that it sometimes l ooks lik kennel cough. Distemper a Tt�mes in an adult dog is mmild "but "in a puppy mdse fatal. Dr, Whitlock added that with this felt it would - be goodif we w oufd e�ab a to the vaccinations on incoming so we can take down the percentage of this happening here. We would be looking at $7,00 per dog. Ms, Martinez mentioned Bark in the Park at the baseball game and the funds are going towards the vaccinations for the clinic. Ms. Martinez added that.a veterinarian that she had spoken with said that if we show we are having a problem they the possibility of getting emergency funding for the facility. The city won't have a budget until August for the new fiscal year. Ms, Megan Winn introduced herself and asked as a volunteer are we able to have access to keys so we can take the dogs out to socialize and promote them. Dr. Whitlock added that we should be able to assist with something. Mr, Biy added that we will figure something out for this. Ms. Martinez wanted to add that the dogs in administrative holds are here for so long and the possibility of becoming sick. If we give the shots to the dog would we be able to add that to the fee of taking the animal out if returned to its owner, Ms. Tarnoski asked what the fee was for a dog being here for quarantine because of a bite /scratch, Ms, Tau be replied that it depends on each situation. It is $6 per day of the 10 day quarantine the animal is here for; plus the fee for vaccination and registration and if the animal is altered and micro - chipped. The highest is $122 for a stray returned to its owner. 12. Identity items to be ulaced on next agenda The committee wanted the following items to be placed on the agenda for the month of July. Discussion and review and possible recommendation on the Raptors Prohibition; Discussion, review and possible recommendation on animal control pet registrations; Discussion, review and possible recommendation of change in city ordinance for immediate release of puppies and kittens under ten weeks of age; Discussion, review and possible recommendation on the Breeders permit ordinance. 13. Adjournment Dr, Whitlock made a motion to adjourn, Ms. Tamoski 2 ^d the motion all in favor motion passed.