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Home My WebLink About2003-07-31 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD July 31, 2003 Item 1 —CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Animal Shelter Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman Leon Hogg at 11:10 a.m. at the City of Euless Animal Control Shelter, 1517 Wespark Way, Euless, Texas 76040. The following members were in attendance: Leon Hogg Gayla Maas, D.V.M. Clyde Cullum Agapito Bernal Staff Support: Gary McKamie, Chris Barker, Ron Young, Larry James, Cynthia Daniel Visitors: Tammy Stanley and Conna Sanner Item 2 — REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2002 Leon Hogg asked if there were any questions regarding the minutes of September 19, 2002. Leon Hogg entertained the motion for approval of the Minutes of September 19, 2002. Clyde made the motion and Dr. Maas seconded the motion. Item 3 — POTENTIAL GRANT APPLICATION FOR SPAY AND NEUTER Chris Barker gave an update on grant applications, and Clyde Cullum said we would pursue a grant. Dr. Maas indicated shelter may quality for grant for elderly and low-income people who want to adopt animal. Item 4 — REVIEW FEE ORDINANCE CHANGES RELATED TO ANIMAL ADOPTIONS Clyde said the fee ordinance changes related to animal adoptions were working great and getting good results. Spay and neuter fees were discussed. ASAB Minutes of July 31, 2003 Dr. Maas said Gaines dog food did have a program for collecting labels. Larry will try to get information on the program, as it may be a way to raise funds for the Animal Shelter. Clyde passed around pictures of the donations collected by the Library for the animal shelter. There was enough food collected that Euless' Animal Shelter was able to donate 22 bags of food to another shelter that had no food for the animals. Item 5—REVIEW ANIMAL ADOPTION PROCEDURES Clyde said he would like to get some animal care tapes for people to watch who are adopting an animal. Leon Hogg asked what the cost would be for the tapes and equipment that would be needed to view tapes on. Item 6—CURRENT RABIES VACCINATION ISSUES Dr. Maas talked about a new state law that passed requiring animals to be vaccinated for rabies every three years instead of every year. There is a three-year rabies vaccine available. She stated the problems encountered with only vaccinating every three years and why she prefers to continue vaccinating every year. Tammy Stanley commented on the vaccination requirements. Agapito Bernal said he prefers yearly vaccination of animals and also explained some of the reasons why and gave reasons why there is a low incidence of rabies in Euless. Dr. Maas recommended Euless continue requiring rabies vaccination on yearly basis. Board members agreed to leave the vaccination requirements as is — on a yearly basis. Clyde introduced Kenny Sparger, a Public Works staff member who has crossed trained and passed classes so that he can be a back up employee for the Animal Shelter. Item 7 — BOARD MEMBERS OR CITIZENS REQUESTS OF ITEM OF INTEREST TO BE ADDRESSED BY STAFF AND/OR PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS Tammy Stanley asked for updates on Items discussed in the Sept 2002 meeting such as: Non-skid paint on floors — Clyde is working with Facility Maintenance who will have to get bids for work. He will check with Kyle to find out when he is getting bids. Replacement of cage doors—Larry said they will be replaced as needed. Conna Sanner asked Larry about non-skid paint on floor. Clyde will check with Facility Maintenance. Discussed floor of cages and if there is a way to get grooves out of tile as the grooves hold water and hard to get out. Conna asked if the cleaning chemicals used to clean floors would be harmful to animals where water stays in grooves. Dr. Maas said it was safe for the animals. Tammy Stanley talked about Ron's comment in the Minutes of September 2002 on upgrading shelter. Gary McKamie stated it would be at least five years before another shelter is built. Conna Sanner asked if volunteers can paint the walls. ASAB Minutes of July 31, 2003 Clyde said the floor finishing should be done by professionals, but that shelter can ask for volunteers to paint the walls. Dr. Maas discussed a Llaso dog that needed to be groomed to make him more adoptable. Volunteers are needed to groom the shelter animals. Clyde knows a staffer whose wife does grooming and he will ask if she would be willing to help groom dogs. Dog Daze event raised $325 for the Injured Animal Fund and eight dogs were adopted. Clyde said Larry James did a good job of getting Kroger's to donate snacks for the event. Tammy Stanley asked if Larry James had heard back from Krogers about holding an adoption day in the Kroger parking lot in the future. Larry said he has not heard back. Clyde was asked about mandatory registering of animals by other cities. He hasn't found any other cities that have mandatory registering of dogs. Gary McKamie said the city's attorney discouraged requiring mandatory registration. Discussed unspayed or unneutered animals that are picked up by Animal Control. Clyde said fee increases each time animal is picked up. Tammy Stanley questioned the need to have animals rabies vaccinated every year. She is against having her dogs vaccinated every year. She said only one skunk has tested positive for rabies in Euless in the last five years. She asked why Euless did not go with State and require vaccination every three years. Tammy's concerned that vaccinating every year will over vaccinate her dogs. Dr. Mass explained that as cities develop, more wildlife lose their homes and live in cities and neighborhoods. They are brought out of their own habitats and have no where to go. Agapito Bernal commented that the number of rabies cases has been reduced as a direct result of vaccinating annually. Vaccinating has reduced rabies and human death. Euless is not exempt from rabies. Need to maintain immunization level in community. People will forget to vaccinate if done every three years. Dr. Maas says there is no such thing as over vaccinating. She told story of friend's schnauzer that had a confrontation with a skunk in their backyard. Skunk tested for rabies. Dog had to be re-vaccinated six times after incident. Agapito Bernal explained that the Texas Dept. of Health did not pass this law without opposition—there was severe opposition. Community as a whole has to be looked at. Ron Young thanked Conna Sanner for painting the mural at the shelter and for volunteering. He mentioned that the Star Telegram was doing an article on the Shelter, and noted that Conna is volunteering four times a week. Conna mentioned her concern about improving procedures for animals coming into the shelter, hand washing, sanitation and the community service people coming in. She would like more fund raising for injured animals to help them get adopted. She would like shelter not to look so drab when people come in to adopt animal. Clyde asked Conna if she would be in charge of overseeing the painting of shelter. He will get the paint for her and other volunteers to use. Gary told Conna he appreciated her volunteering. Ron wants the shelter to be run efficiently, animals treated properly and humanely. Asked Conna to bring concerns to Larry's attention so they can be corrected. He wants to make the shelter better. Asked Conna to discuss with Larry any more ways volunteers can help. ASAB Minutes of July 31, 2003 Dr Maas stated that paperwork has been faxed off regarding the drug Ketanine, which is given to aggressive dogs to be euthanized to make it easier to handle the animals. Gary McKamie said to estimate the amount of money needed for renovation to make the shelter last longer; and Leon Hogg said he would discuss Animal Shelter's need for money at Budget Retreat. Ron said they have a plan to add a new shelter with the new Public Works facility. Ron Young reported that State statutes require this Board to meet three times a year. The next meeting was scheduled for September 25, 2003. Item 8 -ADJOURN Leon Hogg asked if there was other business to be considered by the Board. There being none, Agapito Bernal made a motion to adjourn and Dr. Maas seconded it. The vote was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 12:14 p.m. APPROVED: By: E- Leon Hogg, Chairma ATTEST: B /4/' ' ijazi ,cd ✓�- Y• C! thia Daniel Administrative Assistant