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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 02/20/2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY MEETING Nueces County Public Health District Conference Room, 2626 Holly The Minutes for Februaiv 20,2014 Members Present: Cheryl Martinez,Dr. Barbara Whitlock,Megan Winn,Harold Bennett,Barbara Beynon, Laina Schonefeld, Janet Strawn Members Absent: None Citv Staff: Buck Brice,Heather Hedrick,Edward Cruz,Kellie Duncan,Danni Alcantara Guests: Robin Moore, Jack Gordv, Johmii-French 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Dr. Barbara Whitlock at 12:32 p.m. 2. Discussion and Possible Approval of Minutes from January 16,2014 Dr. Barbara Whitlock advised that item 10,line 4, "bordatella"be replaced with correct spelling of"bordetella". Cheryl Martinez motions to approve the minutes with the noted changes,Barbara Beynon seconds,all approve, none oppose, and none abstain. 3. Discussion and Approval of Absences from January 16,2014 Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated that Janet Strawn was absent due to illness. Cheryl Martinez motions to approve, Megan Winn seconds,all approve, none oppose, and none abstain. 4. Discussion of the Previous and Current Texas Department of State Health Services Region 11 Zoonosis Reports The Zoonosis reports for October,November,December, and Januaiv were unavailable as per Leticia Tamayo. 5. Discussion of the Current Shelter Report Danni Alcantara stated the January shelter report showed a decrease of 89 animals which is due to ACS no longer seivicing animals caught in private traps. She also noted animals adopted show a decrease but when you factor in the foster to adopt animals it will show as an increase. Damn stated these animals that were fostered to adopt were actually waiting to have surgery for spay/neutering when they are of age. She stated 4 animals died in the kernel. Danni Alcantara noted 3 of animals were dogs that came in together,two were ill when they came in,and the third was an elderly dog and died due to condition and age. She also stated the fourth animal was a cat and noted it could been a kitten that was fostered out too young or a cat awaiting euthanasia. Damn Alcantara stated the euthanized excluding wildlife from last year was 311 compared to this year of 163 put the ACS live release rate at 67.5%. She noted this is a high goal for ACS since we wanted to reach 70%by the end of the year. She also stated bite cases have increased compared to last year and have confirmed one positive bat. Damn Alcantara noted she did not know the street location of where the bat was found: on h-that it was found on an outside door frame and had no human or animal contact. Dr. Barbara Whitlock quested if the significant increase in the bite cases could be due public education and the bites being reported or more animals coming into contact with people in the sheets. Heather Hedrick responded by stating it is both public education and the officers reporting. She stated the officers are better trained on how to properly report and educate the community on bites. Heather Hedrick also noted it is a combination of proper staff training and making sure the information is getting entered correctly and making sure local doctors have the proper forms and know that reporting the bite is mandated by the state. 6. Discussion of the Current Clinic Report The clinic report for January and February 2014 was unavailable. 7. Discussion of Rachael Rav fund Timeframe Danni Alcantara noted the fiords need to be used by September 30,2014. Laina Schonefeld asked if$5,000 was going to TNR, $2,000 for cat housing, $23,000 to target spay and neuter: she also inquired if the finds were available to spend. The board unanimously stated"yes". 8. Discussion of Current Polio Concerning Pick-up of Trapped Opossums Heather Hedrick noted the current city practice of picking up trapped opossums. This practice is asking the public to utilize shelter traps to pick up wild life. We are no longer seivicing personal traps for opossums. We will still pick up the 5 rabies carrying species. Dr.Barbara Whitlock inquired about the 5 rabies carrying species. Heather Hedrick responded with"Bats,foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and skunks". Cheryl Martinez stated we could have educated the public regarding how to prevent wildlife and inform them of the policy change in advance with an insert in their utilit-v bill. Edward Cruz stated this information is available on the website. Damn Alcantara also stated 2-3 months prior to the policy change C-notes were given to any traps picked up. Darmi Alcantara also stated the officers were educating repeat trappers and side gate drop offs how to prevent wildlife and informed them of the policy change and the date. Dr. Barbara Whitlock presented a flyer from the Texas Dept of State Health Seivices regarding Maurine Typhus. Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated the disease is spread by fleas carried by cats and opossums, and rats. Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated as long as certain pests such as rats and feral cats have harbor or shelter they will be a problem. 9. Review of Animal Control Advisor`,Board's Policies Concerning Public Comment Both for Agenda Items and at the Conclusion of the Meeting Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated the committee voted and passed a time limit of 3 minutes on public comment for both discussions of an item and at the end of the meeting.Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if 3 min was still acceptable. The board responded"yes". 10. Discussion on the status of Leg Trap Ordinance recommendation passed by the board last year and possible vote to bring it before Cite Council as soon as possible Dr. Barbara Whitlock tabled the Leg Trap Ordinance discussion for next month. There are no objections. 11. Public Comments Jack Gordy presented a news release by Commander Green. Jack Gordy stated animal pick up before January was no problem. He also stated he has not heard a reason,just an excuse, as to why the city is no longer picking up private traps. Jack Gordy questioned where the fiords are going if the city can no longer afford to pick up the private traps. He stated the news showed ACS releasing opossums in Flour Bluff that have been picked up from somewhere else. Jack Gordy referred to the memo and stated the opossums are released 10 miles from where they are picked up. Jack Gordy 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.He also questions the city's expectation of having the citizens bring in the traps in their own vehicles when the opossums carry diseases. Jack Gordy expressed concern regarding the risk of catching these diseases during transport and recommend the citizens sue the city if they were to get sick. He also stated if the city is no longer euthanizing the animals and just relocating them,the problem is not getting solved just moved. Jack Gordy stated he could buy the same trap for$19 rather than rent a trap for 7 days for$10. He asked if the board can recommend going back to the previous policy if the cit-v cared about the health and welfare of its citizens. Chervl Martinez stated she understood Jack Gordv"s concern and asked if he understood that ACS is vein short staffed and not able to fill open positions due to lack of firnding. She stated the biggest problems are bite cases, which are a danger to the community, and strays. Cheryl Martinez also stated there is not enough staff to handle the bite cases,which is why ACS has to prioritize. She also noted rabies is the main concern of ACS. Jack Gordy questioned if the firnding was cut from last year. Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated a one-time$80k was given to hire one person to pick up traps. She also questioned the effectiveness of trapping and removing opossum. Dr. Barbara Whitlock noted the removal of the animal's food source and their hiding place will rid of the problem. Othen ise, another opossum will just take its place once it has been removed. Cheryl Martinez offered to give Jack Gordy information of an Urban Wildlife specialist. She also stated if the city was aware of the firnding spent on trapping, staff and euthanizing,the city would have stopped the program long ago. Cheryl Martinez noted there are only 5 cities in Texas that currently nor a trapping program. Johrmy French stated he posted a forum piece in the newspaper regarding the trapping program. He stated the city itself may not be able to handle the opossum problem and suggested getting help on a state level. He, again, requested the City Council put this issue on their agenda. Johnny French requested the ACS make the same recommendation to the city and bring in an expert, on the state level, in regards to the trapping program to study the conditions of our city and come up with a mutual assistance program. He stated he has taken the recommended preventative measures and still caught 140 animals. Johnny French noted a poll which shored a ratio of 4 to 1 in favor of finding this program. He stated the trapping program can be successfirl,if done properly. Johnny French also stated if you can bring dorm level of possums that are carnving disease,to the point where they cannot reproduce before they are caught,the Maurine Typhus epidemic will be defeated. Cheryl Martinez stated Jolumy French had some good points. Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated the committee will not be able to make the recommendation to the city,but requested the committee discuss and decided whether or not to place this recommendation on the agenda for next month. Barbara Beynon questioned if the committee failed to recommend finding the program to city council,will this matter end. She also questioned if City Council will take action without ACS taking action or is it better for ACS to make a recommendation and let the City solve the problem. Susan Thorpe stated she has spoken with Jack Gordy and Johnny French on other issues related to ACS and understands their concerns. She also stated she has been working with ACS staff, such as Heather Hedrick and Commander Green,to fty and come up with alternatives and solutions. Susan Thorpe stated she will be talking to state experts regarding Zoonosis to determine the risk in the city and if the solutions proposed by Jack Gordy and Johnny French will be effective. She stated these issues should be explored by the ACS staff and not placed on the City Council agenda. Susan Thorpe also noted she will be taking a comprehensive look at the current practice of the trapping program and determine if the program has any real health risks, short comings,and meets all the needs of the community. Robin Moore questioned the 32.47%noted in the shelter report. She interpreted the number of dogs and cat brought in to ACS 163 were euthanized which should equal to a rate of 37.56%because there were a total of 434 dogs and cats brought in. Robin Moore stated the 32.47%includes the 68 wildlife and is confiising because it is taking the percentage of cats and dogs over a total percentage of wildlife. Danni Alcantara stated these opossums do come in to the facility and we intake just as we intake animals from the side gate. She also clarified Robin Moore's question and stated the euthanized just excludes wildlife and the other statistic includes anything other than cats and dogs such as snakes,rabbits,bird,any other wildlife or any other companion animal. She also noted to look at the euthanized statistic of 164,which includes, 115 dogs,48 cats,and 1 other,and divide it by 534 to get a total of 30.71%. Damn Alcantara stated this new percentage still meets the ACS goal of 70%. She stated the 2%difference could be a roll over from December. Barbara Beynon questioned if the relocated to the wild statistic include the relocated opossums that do not come into the facility. She also questioned if the opossums are picked up and then released in the field. Danni Alcantara stated the opossums that do come in get input into the system so ACS can keep track of hors many come in,the locations of where they are picked up,identify the frequent trappers,and hors many are released. Danni Alcantara also stated the majority of the opossums are brought back to the facility and the night time officer will release them back into the field in one trip. 12. Identift items to be placed on next agenda Update from staff concerning the current practice of picking up opossums in private traps. Updated information from the staff regarding hors the Rachael Ray fiord is being spent. The Advisory Board taking a group tour of the shelter. 13. Adjournment Cheryl Martinez motions for adjournment,Harold Bennett seconds, all approve. none oppose, and none abstain. Meeting closed 1:31 p.m.