Animal Shelter Advisory Board

Animal Shelter Advisory Board Minutes January 8, 2014 STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF TARRANT § CITY OF BEDFORD § The Animal Shelter Advisory Board of the City of Bedford, Texas, met in regular session at 4:30 p.m. in the Training Room of the Bedford Police Department, 2121 L. Don Dodson Drive, on the 8th day of January, 2014, with the following members present: Eric Griffin Deputy Police Chief (Staff Liaison) Mark Bellinghausen Animal Control Supervisor Dr. Becky Purchase Chairman Dawn Orr Vice - Chairman Sandy Osburn Board Members Connie Ziegler-Stout constituting a quorum. Board Member Rick Nash was absent from the meeting. Also present: Michael Boyter Council Liaison (The following items were considered in accordance with the official agenda posted on the 2nd day of January, 2014.) CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dr. Becky Purchase called the meeting to order at 4:48 p.m. ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Consider approval of the following Animal Shelter Advisory Board Minutes: a) November 6, 2013 regular meeting: Chairman Dr. Purchase proposed one amendment to the November 6, 2013, minutes. Recommended amendment included a correction in Section 3.b of the sentence “If the colony caretaker cannot be located then TCAP would offer to have a volunteer to pick up the cat and return it in the general area where it was picked up.” Sentence amended to read “If the colony caretaker cannot be located then a volunteer would pick up the cat and return it in the general area where it was picked up.” Vice-Chairman Dawn Orr made the motion to approve the minutes of the November 6, 2013, Board meeting as amended. Board Member Connie Ziegler-Stout seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as amended. No opposition was recorded. OLD BUSINESS 2. Discussion on Shelter Statistics. The October and November 2012 and 2013, monthly statistic reports were distributed to Board Members for review. Animal Shelter Supervisor Mark Bellinghausen advised that the line item Impounded Domestic Animals that are Adoptable was not tracked in 2012; the total column will show a zero. Council Liaison Michael Boyter stated that there was dramatic difference in city licenses issued from year to year. Mr. Bellinghausen explained that possibly more animals were adopted from outside of the City that did not require licenses or for November license renewals may not have been sent out on time and were not counted until the next month. Council Liaison Boyter also noted that temperament euthanizations were up for October year to year. Board Member Ziegler-Stout suggested that possibly some of the temperament euthanizations numbers could be reduced by having volunteers work with some the animals to help determine if the animal is just fearful in the Shelter setting and not aggressive. Chairperson Dr. Purchase stated that she is looking at a dog for her parents from a Shelter in Kentucky. This Shelter operates with three Animal Control Officers and two kennel technicians. The technicians split the responsibilities of working with animals on behavior and basic obedience training, cleaning, and veterinary services to the animals. She asked if the Bedford Shelter was required to have all personnel as Animal Control Officers or would it be feasible to have kennel staff to handle back room activities such as cleaning, taking care of animals, and spending time getting to know animal personalities, health, training and obedience. Mr. Bellinghausen advised that it is not State mandated that all personnel are Animal Control Officers. He stated that there are other shelters, such as North Richland Hills, that do have kennel staff. Chairperson Dr. Purchase stated that having kennel staff would potentially give Animal Control Officers more time in the field and financially might be something to look into. Board Member Ziegler-Stout suggested that it would be a good idea to research other shelters especially ones that have good live release numbers to see how they operate and bring the best ideas back to our Shelter. NEW BUSINESS 3. Introduction of new Staff Liaison, Deputy Chief of Police Eric Griffin. Council Liaison Boyter introduced Deputy Chief Eric Griffin and stated that the Board is very fortunate to have him as Staff Liaison. Deputy Chief Griffin stated that he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve with the Board. 4. Introduction of new Board Member, Rick Nash. Board Member Rick Nash was unable to attend tonight’s meeting and will be introduced at the next Board meeting. 5. Chairperson Dr. Epps Purchase – Discussion on the Direction of the Board for 2014. Chairperson Dr. Purchase advised that the workshop with City Council for TNR is scheduled for January 18, 2014. She added that a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for 2014 will be voted on at the next Board meeting. She also requested that discussion of the 2014 goals for the Board be added to the next meeting agenda. Board Member Orr was asked to share some of the goals that she would like to see happen in 2014: • Come up with a plan of action by the next Board meeting to set and implement a training schedule for Shelter staff and volunteers to help them better evaluate the temperament and behavior of animals. This would help animals get adopted quicker and hopefully not be returned. • Offer free behavior classes every other month for people who have adopted from the Shelter. The number one reason animals are returned is due to behavioral problems. • Every other month offer Bedford residents a free dog walk. Residents would bring their dogs and learn how to walk them properly and meet other dogs for free socialization. • Come up with a 3 to 5 minute video to place on the Bedford website for residents on health, feeding and what you should do when you get your animal home for those who do not want to attend a class. Chairperson Dr. Purchase stated there was a question on whether there could be an Open Forum during the meeting. Council Liaison Boyter advised that you could only have an Open Forum if it is on the agenda. He stated that if the Board has an interest in having an Open Forum as part of the agenda he could present it to City Council for approval. The Board authorized Council Liaison Boyter to go before City Council and request approval to add Open Forum to the agenda. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Dr. Purchase motioned to adjourn the meeting and Vice - Chairman Orr seconded the motion. There was no opposition and the meeting was adjourned at 5:23 p.m.