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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-25 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD JANUARY 25, 2007 ITEM 1 — CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Animal Shelter Advisory Board was called to order by Leon Hogg at 11:00 A.M. at the City of Euless Animal Control Shelter, 1517 Westpark Way, Euless, Texas 76040. The following members were in attendance: Leon Hogg Gayla Maas, D.V.M. Clyde Cullum Michelle Benton Staff Support: Larry James, J. T. Ackerman, & Cynthia Daniel ITEM 2 - REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2, 2006 Leon Hogg asked if there were any questions regarding the minutes of November 2, 2006. Dr. Maas made a motion to approve the Minutes of November 2, 2006 with one correction. Larry James distributed the handouts regarding mandatory registration not Dr. Maas. Clyde Cullum seconded the motion. Motion approved. ITEM 3 - MODEL ORDINANCE FOR MANDATORY REGISTRATION (CONTINUE DISCUSSION) Dr. Maas would like to see the City of Euless model their ordinance after Colleyville's. She would like the registration fee to cost more for animals that are not spayed/neutered. Michelle explained Colleyville's policy. If she receives a complaint or an animal is impounded, she will check to see if the animal has a city license, if not, the owner must get one. If she goes door to door on a complaint and the animal is not registered, she will give the owner of the animal a 72 hour notice to get a city license. They must come into the shelter to get the license and show proof of rabies vaccination. The animal must be current on rabies vaccination to get a city license. A citation will be issued if they don't comply. Registration is yearly. Colleyville's city license fee is $3 but fee will go up to $5 this year. The fee is the same for spayed/neutered animals and those not spayed/neutered. Michelle sends reminders out every month. She orders ASAB Meeting Page 2 January 25, 2007 tags from the same place veterinarians order tags. She can look in the computer data base to find who the owner is. She changes the tag color each year. Registration goes yearly from date registered not calendar year. Michelle said she ordered 800 tags this year and has sold 700. She said it takes about six weeks to get the tags from date ordered. If an owner doesn't respond to her license renewal letter, she will leave them a door notice that she sent them a reminder or a friendly call giving them 48 or 72 hours to comply before issuing a citation. Board discussed whether to make registration yearly or a one-time registration and how many license tags to order. Dr. Maas suggested animal control officers check to make sure an animal is registered when going out on complaint. Clyde is opposed to yearly registration, would prefer one time registration. Dr. Maas suggested that the city could make it a one-time registration for spayed/neutered animals and a yearly registration for animals not spayed/neutered. It was also suggested that if an animal control officer goes out on a complaint more than once to make it a yearly registration for that animal. Clyde will discuss with Ron Young on Monday. Leon asked that staff have a draft ordinance ready for the Board to review at the next meeting. Dr. Maas would like to start registration at Dog Daze in May. Board agreed to start voluntary registration at Dog Daze even if ordinance is not in place by then. An ordinance and fee change will be needed. ITEM 4 - NEW 5-YEAR FACILITIES PLAN (SHELTER) Clyde said that Gary McKamie and Loretta Getchell looked at the existing shelter building and think it may work with some remodelling rather than build a new shelter. Leon will know more after the council has their winter retreat. Will see what the architects recommend as well as staff recommendation. ITEM 5 - VETERINARY SERVICE PROVIDER (CONTINUE DISCUSSION) Shelter staff are still receiving complaints about Heritage Veterinary Clinic tacking on charges, overbilling, and unnecessary charges without permission. Board ASAB Meeting Page 3 January 25, 2007 discussed the various types of complaints they have heard about Heritage. Leon mentioned his personal experience with Harwood Oaks Crossing and was pleased with them. Leon recommended changing vetinerary services for the shelter. Clyde suggested we start using Harwood Oaks on an emergency basis while in the process of changing service providers. Clyde will ask Ron Young if the shelter can start using Harwood Oaks on a trial basis. Dr. Maas still wants shelter to collect the spay/neuter fees up front and take the animal to the vet. Shelter staff can let people adopting an animal know that any additional services from Heritage or Harwood Oaks are optional. ITEM 6 - REVIEW STATE INSPECTION OF ANIMAL SHELTER Need drain covers in place before next inspection. Clyde thinks he can get caps for drain from Home Depot and can slot a couple of drain holes in them so that if they get clogged they can be pulled out to clean. ITEM 7 -ANIMAL CONTROL RESPONSE TO SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS & PROHIBITED ANIMALS Clyde said that it is against city ordinance to slaughter animals except those slaughtered for table fare such as chickens. Leon said the city's working on the complaint. ITEM 8 — CUSTOMER SERVICE REPORT Dr. Maas commented that total calls for service this quarter were fewer than the same quarter last year. ITEM 9 — BOARD MEMBERS OR CITIZENS REQUESTS OF ITEMS OF INTEREST TO BE ADDRESSED BY STAFF AND/OR PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS Board discussed a letter received from Bio Company Inc. Clyde asked if there was any interest in their services. The company buys euthanized cats and sells them to high schools for biology and anatomy classes. Board does not object to cats being used for this purpose; but Dr. Maas would not want the cats picked up at the shelter to be sent back here to local high schools in case a cat was recognized by a student. Clyde will call the company and then talk to Ron Young. Dr. Maas asked if the company could put something in the contract that would prevent or safe guard the cats from coming back here. ASAB Meeting Page 4 January 25, 2007 Board discussed recent barking dog court case where judge found the owners of dog guilty even though they pleaded not guilty. Discussed a statement made by the judge after finding defendant guilty. She basically said that everyday another complaint is filed it is another offense that basically automatically went into the guilty pot. Dr. Maas raised the concern that now that citizens can file their own complaints, what do you do about a neighbor that doesn't like you, or your dog or big dogs and they go file a complaint everyday and this is considered another offense and another $150 fine. Concerned that every complaint is a separate guilty offense. How do you deal with a chronic complainer? Clyde commented that each complaint has to be re-filed and go back to court each time and prove the case each time. Clyde noted that he had received his administration certification. ITEM 10 —ADJOURN Dr. Maas made the motion to adjourn and Clyde seconded it. The vote was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 11:53 A.M. APPROVED: By: i Leon Hogg I ATTEST: By: O C this Daniel Administrative Assistant