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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 04/17/2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY MEETING Nueces County Public Health District Conference Room,2626 Holly The Minutes for April 17,2014 Members Present: Dr. Barbara Whitlock, Cheryl Martinez,Harold Bennett, Megan Winn,Barbara Beynon,Janet Strawn,Laina Shonefeld Members Absent: None City Staff: Heather Hedrick,Joseph Brice,Danni Alcantara,Edward Cruz,Dr. Melissa Draper, Jennifer Sotelo Guests: Chuck Pendnishok,Jody Campbell,Veronica Lanford, Kayla Canales,Laura Anderson, Steven Pituch,Mischelle Bourgeois, Christina Davis,Linda Smith, Stephanie Orona,Mark Phillips, Tami Brucer Romero 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Dr. Barbara Whitlock at 12:33pm. 2. Discussion and Possible Approval of Minutes from March 20,2014 Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked to table the minutes and Janet Strawn requested to discuss the format. Cheryl motions,Janet seconds, all approve. 3. Discussion and Approval of Absences from March 20,2014 No absences were noted. 4. Discussion of Current Texas Department of State Health Services Region 11 Zoonosis Report Dr. Whitlock inquired if we received a current report. Danni Alcantara noted we have not received a current Texas Zoonosis Report. 5. Discussion of Texas Parks and Wildlife report Barbara Beynon asked if the disposal required was a deceased possum. Danni Alcantara noted that was correct. Barbara Beynon also noticed that a possum came up as quarantine on the report. Edward Cruz said that the animal ID was incorrect. Barbara Beynon asked which animals were the top 5 rabies carriers. Danni Alcantara stated that bats,foxes,raccoons, skunks, and coyotes were the top fire carriers. Barbara Beynon asked why a raccoon was relocated if it is one of the top fire rabies carriers. Danni stated that the raccoon was relocated because there was no exposure. 6. Discussion of the Current Shelter Report Danni Alcantara pointed out adoptions were up 155 this year compared to only 88 last year,cats adoptions were less this year at 33 compared to 41 last year,return to owners for dogs were up 57 to 41,cats remain the same between both years at 1,only 7 dogs were placed into foster and 1 cat(these are foster to adopt). Danni Alcantara also noted that a group of puppies were taken home by staff to foster until they were old enough to go up for adoption. Danni Alcantara stated the EU rate decreased drastically: 99 dogs this year compared to 178 last year and 32 cats this year compared to 145 last year. Barbara Beynon asked why cat intake is only 95 compared to only 213 last year. Danni Alcantara said it was because only trapped cats brought in through the side gate or city owned traps in the field with cats were being impounded. Danni Alcantara also noted cats used to be housed in the back bay area of the facility,but we no longer do this. Cheryl Martinez noted 4 heads for labs. Edward Cruz stated 1 was a cat and 1 was a puppy;the cat was already in quarantine so it had to be sent to lab. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if we had submitted any bats or other animals that were positive for the month of March. Edward Cruz noted there were none. Barbara Bevnon asked for the lab turnaround time. Edward Cruz and Danni Alcantara stated 2 or 3 days. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if the specimens were shipping by bus. Danni Alcantara said they are shipped to Austin,Texas by Greyhound Bus. Cheryl Martinez asked why there were only 5 citations issued for code 6-151: Failure to Provide Food,Water and Shelter,when numerous calls come in for this complaint. Edward Cruz stated that it varied by situation;he said sometimes it's the neighbors complaining that the animal is not getting fed,but they don't see the owner feeding. Edward Cruz noted that most of the calls are closed out with assess the situation that don't require citations;the ones that are bad receive citations. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if a dog is outside while the owner is at work,if it requires water. Edward Cruz stated yes,water is required. Danni Alcantara said shelter means a garage or access under a house;if all items are prodded there's no violation. Cheryl Martinez asked about animals that are tied up. Edward Cruz said they can be tied up outside between certain hours on a trolley system. Edward Cruz noted this violation was under 6-151,but there are other violations under this code. Cheryl Martinez asked about other violations. Danni Alcantara said roosters and turtles were in the sub categories. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if there was a time limit for an animal to be tied up. Edward Cruz said they cannot be tethered where they get tangled and need to be on trolley system. Dr. Barbara Whitlock noted the State has a tethering law but Corpus Christi does not; she asked if Corpus Christi enforced the state law. Edward Cruz noted it was enforced. Cheryl Martinez asked that tethering be added to the agenda. Heather Hedrick stated in the new ordinance tethering is addressed and that the revised ordinances are with the City Manager for approval. 7. Discussion of the Current and Previous Clinic Report Dr. Whitlock noted January and February spay/neuter numbers were available and asked if we were doing targeted spay neuter. Dr. Melissa Draper was unavailable at the time to comment. 8. Discussion of the Status of Rachael Ray Grant Funds Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked city staff where the process stands. Danni Alcantara said they were in the process of mapping out target areas; she noted the city is targeting apartment complexes for cats and said an initiative to target homeless animal owners was to begin the following week. Barbara Beynon inquired on the status of humane cat housing. Danni Alcantara said they are looking at cat condos to showcase cats with special needs or Pet of the Week in the front area. Danni Alcantara stated quotes are on file and the order will be placed soon. Dr. Melissa Draper said she is sending the information to city GIS for an updated version on the target areas. Dr. Melissa Draper noted the grant would corer about 536 surgeries between dogs and cats. 9. Discussion,review and possible recommendation for a billboard concerning animal cruelty Dr. Barbara Whitlock noted that Linda Smith asked for this item to be added to the agenda;Linda brought up the dog Petev being badly abused and wanted a billboard to be posted similar to one in Odessa,TX. Dr. Barbara Whitlock noted she wasn't certain how much the billboard would cost. Cheryl Martinez said the city would have to determine if thev incur the costs. Cheryl Martinez said she will look into the costs. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if the money should be donated or if the city would pay. Dr Whitlock opened the floor to public comment. Mark Philips: If the city won't fund this,I would like the board to look into a partnership with a local citizenry that would be interested in paying for it. I think it's something important enough for some of us to donate funds. Chuck Pendnishok : Where would this billboard be located?What geographic area? Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated it would likely be placed on I-37 or SPID where everyone can see it. Item will be tabled for next meeting. 10. Discussion and review of the number of days Animal Care Services is not in-taking side gate drop-offs Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if anyone intakes on Sundav when no one is here. Danni Alcantara said on occasion they will take in an animal if it's sick or injured; she also noted the shelter was closed on March 30th due to staff training. 11. Discussion of By-laws Cheryl Martinez motioned to table for the next meeting,Janet Strawn seconds, all approve,none oppose,none abstain. Buck Brice wanted to make it clear that the by-laws were to be approved by the board and to look over them and note any changes. 12. Discussion,review,and possible recommendation for alternatives to shutting down Facility Bite Case Building 3 Cheryl Martinez noted that building 3 -was for an overflo-w of quarantine dogs and that the entire building Would need to be shut down if one quarantined dog was placed there. Heather Hedrick said any overflo-w of quarantine animals is no,,N-going to a veterinarian. Barbara Beynon asked if a rash of bite cases came in that are not eligible for home quarantine,-would the cite have a problem-with sending them to a veterinarian. Heather Hedrick said-we currently have more than 5 out at the moment;they are being sent to their o-,N-n personal veterinarian. Barbara Beynon asked ho-w long the quarantine period-was. Heather Hedrick stated 10 days or 240 hours. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asked if the owners were paying for this. Heather Hedrick noted they-were. Barbara Beynon asked if the city charges for boarding when an animal is quarantined. Heather Hedrick stated the city charges $50 for the quarantine board. Danni Alcantara said there-was room for 20 dogs and 6 cats to be quarantined. 13. Public Comments Kayla Canales stated her zip code it is overloaded-with strays; she called about getting a rescue dog neutered With Animal Care Services and the representative said it ,N-as not a target area. Kayla Canales asked if 78407 ,,N-as a target zip code. Dr. Barbara Whitlock noted that Dr. Melissa Draper -was currently researching this. Kayla Canales also noted that people have their dogs chained 24 hours a day and asked if there is something that can be done. Dr. Barbara Whitlock said it was illegal if they-were tangled, tied to neighbors property or if they're able to reach public access. Heather Hedrick said it-was legal from 10-6. Steve Pituch: On item 9, something to consider-would be a digital billboard by channel 3, they may give you a couple of minutes for public sen-ice. Maybe not for free but ,N-ould still have to pay for marketing. Tami Brucer asked hovN- animal control officers prove tethering 24/7 and ,N-hat needs to be done to prove tethering 24/7. E&N-ard Cruz stated that ,N-hen an officer goes out initially to investigate and sees the animal being tethered, then a violation notice ,N-111 be issued. EdvN-ard Cruz continued by stating that if the ovN-ner complies ,N-hen the officer goes back out, no violations ,N-111 be issued but if ovN-ner contact is not made and the dog is still in the same scenario, and then violations ,N-111 be issued. Tami Brucer asked if the public can help by documenting tethering ,N-ith video that includes a date/time stamp. E&N-ard Cruz noted it is. Tami Brucer asked what the repercussions are if someone is in violation of tethering. EdvN-ard Cruz stated he could not ans"N-er. Dr. Barbara Whitlock noted it's determined by the courts. Tami Brucer inquired where restitution goes. Heather Hedrick responded that it goes to the State. Buck Brice stated Municipal Court handles animal control citations and that funds go back to the city general fund. Tami Brucer asked ,N-hat organization corers dog stores and breeders. Heather Hedrick states ,N-e have a commercial permit that regulates this; every store that sells animals or animal products has to be inspected. Tami Brucer asked if the commercial permit also corers private breeders. Cheryl Martinez replied that the Texas Dept of License and Regulations corers it. Heather Hedrick noted that it does not corer private breeders but ,N-ould be good for legislature to look into. Barbara Beynon stated that under the USDA:APHIS, if they're selling through the internet or shipping an animal vN-ithout the ovN-ner coming to them,they have to be licensed through the USDA. Michelle Bourgeois asked: ,N-ith the population of our city,do ,N-e have as many animal control officers as other cities or are ,N-e short staffed? Heather Hedrick noted that no studies have been done in this cite. Michelle Bourgeois stated she is on Facebook and sees numerous posts of animals in danger and asked ,N-hat can be done to get more Control Officers. Barbara Beynon and Janet Stra,,N-n recommended she contact her City Council representative. Mark Phillips: Back to the billboard,item 9,can vN-e tie this in vN-ith the rescue groups? It can appeal to local businesses as a tax deductable donation if it goes through a non-profit organization. 14. Identify items to be placed on next agenda 05/15/14 Meeting: add Discussion and possible Approval of minutes from March 20,2014, add Discussion and possible Approval of minutes from April 17,2014,Re-add items 1: Call to Order,3: Approval of absences, Texas Department of State Health Services Region 11 Zoonosis Report,Texas Parks and Wildlife report, Current Shelter and Clinic reports,Discussion on the status of Rachel Ray grant funds,Discussion, rev ievN-and possible recommendation for a billboard concerning animal cruelty,Discussion,rev ievN-and possible approval of by-lavN-s,Discussion and possible recommendations of tethering ordinance 15. Adiournment Chenvl Martinez motions for adjournment,Harold Bennett seconds, all approve,none oppose, and none abstain. Meeting closed 1:27 p.m.