Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 01/16/2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY MEETING Nueces County Public Health District Conference Room, 2626 Holly The Minutes for Januaiv 16,2014 Members Present: Cheryl Martinez,Dr. Barbara Whitlock,Megan Winn,Harold Bennett,Barbara Beynon, Laina Schonefeld Members Absent: Janet Strawn Citv Staff: Buck Brice,Heather Hedrick,Edward Cruz,Kellie Duncan,Darni Alcantara,Monica Martinez, Sam Mullin,Nick Bustos, Christina Brown,Erma Ybara,Will Rhodes, Aaron Otero Guests: Keren Costanzo, Johuuii-French,Jack Gordv,Maiv Ann Kelli- 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Dr. Barbara Whitlock at 12:30 p.m. 2. Discussion and Possible approval of minutes from December 19,2013 Dr. Barbara Whitlock advised that item 9,line 3,have a period following the statement"had been approved" and that the verbiage"and if additional help was need"be omitted. Cheryl Martinez motions to approve the minutes with the noted changes,Laina Schonefeld seconds, all approve, none oppose, and none abstain. 3. Discussion and Approval of Absences from December 19,2013 Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated that Megan Winn was absent the previous two meetings.Megan Winn stated she was absent in November due to her dog being ill while she was in San Antonio and noted her absence in December due to work related reasons. Cheryl Martinez motions to approve,Laina Schonefeld seconds,all approve, none oppose, and none abstain. Dr. Barbara Whitlock noted Harold Bernett's absence was work related. Chervl Martinez motions to approve,Laina Schonefeld seconds,all approve, none oppose, and none abstain.Both absences are excused. 4. Discussion of the Previous and Current Zoonosis Reports The Zoonosis reports for October,November, and December 2013 were unavailable.Damn Alcantara noted no rabid bat cases. 5. Discussion of the Current Shelter Report Danri Alcantara stated that intakes were down 100 animals due to staffing. Damn Alcantara noted that adoptions increased by 157,missing memo increased to 24 due to clearing up the kernel inventory in Chameleon,and euthanasia decreased by 58 when comparing this year to December 2012.Chery1 Martinez inquired if the 55 were foster to adopt.Damn Alcantara responded that there was a foster to adopt kernel and a foster kernel:both were together and this depended on the number of animals returning for surgery that were too young.Dr.Barbara Whitlock inquired about the surgery complete and surgery cancelled figures on the shelter report and that those numbers are inconsistent with the vet clinic figures.Dr.Barbara Whitlock recommended that these two line items be removed from the shelter report. Barbara Beynon inquired if the 3 animals that died in the kernel came in ill. Dr. Melissa Draper stated it could have occurred in foster care, on the truck,or in our custody. Damn Alcantara noted that the Head for Lab used to be under eutharnzed and now there's a kernel in Chameleon to keep track of this. Barbara Beynon inquired if the 3 Head for Labs were bats. Darni Alcantara stated that number included one dog that was picked up.Edward Cruz noted that the violation summary was lower than the previous year's,but this was due to short staffing during the holidays. Dr.Barbara Whitlock inquired if there were any questions on the Bite Case or Calls for Seivice Summaries. No questions or comments. 6. Discuss revision of Shelter Report statistics No comments made regarding revisions. 7. Discussion of the Current Clinic Report The clinic report for December 2013 was viewed without any questions. 8. Discussion and possible approval of Proposed Fee chanties Heather Hedrick noted this item was still in progress:Buck Bryce is working on it. 9. Discussion and possible approval of chanties to Citv Ordinances Heather Hedrick noted this item was still in progress:Buck Bryce is working on it. 10. Discussion on the status of vaccination upon intake Dr. Melissa Draper noted that Sam Mullin and Nick Bustos were vaccinating in the morning. Dr. Melissa Draper advised that vaccination training would take place on January 3 V 2014.Barbara Beynon inquired on the type of vaccinations that will be administered.Dr.Melissa Draper replied that routine core vaccines such as distemper, DHPP(non Leptospirosis),and Bordetella will be administered to animals 4 weeks of age and older. Dr.Barbara Whitlock noted that Animal Control officers were not administering rabies vaccinations. 11. Discussion and possible approval of Rachel Rav fund distribution Buck Brice noted that the first reading to City Council was Tuesday, January 14, 2014 and the second Council reading will pass the ordinance. Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated that the Rachel Ray firnds were allocated for humane cat housing,targeted spay/neuter,and TNR. Laina Schonefeld asked the board to add their opinion on recommendations.Heather Hedrick stated the decision was left to the board for input. Cheryl Martinez noted that with the upcoming bond that humane cat housing will be implemented in a year and a half. Cheryl Martinez expressed that TNR would be a good solution.Dr.Melissa Draper suggested that perhaps local Veterinarians can help with TNR. Dr. Melissa Draper suggested that for$50 local Veterinarians would be more receptive to doing a portion of surgeries,excluding larger dogs. Cheryl Martinez stated to take into consideration the timeline when firnds need to be used. Darmi Alcantara said that at$50 per surgery, 600 surgeries could be complete with$30,000. Dr. Barbara Whitlock expressed that$5,000 could go to free roaming cat target areas and$23,000 could go to target spay/neutering for dogs and cats. Cheryl Martinez motioned to distribute the Rachel Ray firnds as$23,000 for target spay/neutering of dogs and cats, $2,000 for humane cat housing,and$5,000 for free roaming cat target areas.Harold Bennett seconds the motion,all approve.none oppose, and none abstain. 12. Public Comments Jack Gordy stated he brought five cats to the facility and was told by staff to take them back home or somewhere else. Jack Gordy left the box at the facility and staff came out and wrote his license plate number down. Jack Gordy expressed that his main reason for attending the meeting was to address the issue of picking up private traps:he noted that if he has a personal trap and his neighbor has a rented trap,it wouldn't cost any more money to pick up his trap. Jack Gordy expressed that all he has heard were excuses and that he has not heard a reason w by it's been changed. Jack Gordy said the opossum is the most infected animal and to have citizens bring the trap to the facility was ridiculous. Jack Gordy requested the Committee add the discussion of traps to the next agenda to have the procedures go back to the way it was. Mary Arm Kelley noted that the failure to pick up opossums in privately owned traps was a health issue. Mary Arm Kelley stated that at the Robstown Livestock Show she was approached by a woman that said her fiend ended up in the hospital diagnosed with AIDS and had typhus.Mary Aim Kelley said this was a health issue not having traps available. Mary Aim Kelley suggested that fluoride is not necessary in water:that it is hazardous to ingest,and that those firnds should be applied to trapping of opossums. Mary Arm Kelley noted that she pays taxes and that she should not have to bring the trap to the facility. Regarding cats,Mary Arm Kelley noted the problem houses were the ones that had 5 cats that were not fixed,did not wear bells,and took birds out.Mary Arm Kelley inquired how to know if these cats are feral or free roaming.Dr. Barbara Whitlock responded by stating that a cat's ear is tipped if it's feral and fixed.Dr.Barbara Whitlock suggested that a complaint can be filed about free roaming cats not sterilized. Johrmy French cited a 1998 Zoonosis report that stated that 149 opossums in 18 days were studied and 25%of opossums trapped tested positive for Mu fine typhus. Johnny French noted that in 1996-1998 that Animal Control had been euthanizing over 6,000 opossums per year and in 2012 began releasing them live. Johnny French noted that if a quarter of those opossums were carriers of Murine typhus,this was depraved indifference to human life. Johrmy French stated that Murine typhus was a potentially fatal disease to those particularly young,old,and individuals with diabetes. Jolumy French noted that trapping and bringing the opossums to the facility while getting bit by fleas was inappropriate and that Animal Care Seivices was helping distribute this disease by putting them somewhere else in the county. Jolumy French cited a study in 2007 by Driscoll Children's Hospital that 8-14%of kids tested positive for Typhus. 13. Identifv items to be placed on next atienda Discuss Rachel Ray firnd time frame,recommendation on City Council concerning the pickup of opossums in privately owned traps,proposed that items 8. 9.and 10 be removed 14. Adjournment Cheivl Martinez motions for adjournment,Megan Winn seconds,all approve. none oppose, and none abstain. Meeting closed 1:25 p.m.