Animal Welfare Committee

Approved: 082715 M&C Nagro Gardiner Animal Welfare Committee Minutes Davis Hall, City of College Park July 23, 2015 Term Exp. Members Present Absent 2/28/2018 Taimi Anderson X 4/30/2017 Suzie Bellamy X 05/26/2015 Nick Brennan X STAFF Vivian Cooper X 7/31/2018 Lois Donaty X 6/30/2017 Betty Gailes X 2/28/2017 Patti Stange X 3/31/2016 Dave Turley X 3/31/2018 Christiane Williams X STAFF Laura Salers (Contract Secy) X Mr. Brennan called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: To approve the June 25, 2015 Animal Welfare Committee meeting minutes. Moved: Ms. Gailes Second: Ms. Bellamy Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 II. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: Committee Chair Brennan introduced new member Ms. Donaty and invited everyone to introduce themselves. University of Maryland journalism grad students Rachel Bluth and Troy Jefferson and undergrad Alexus March were in attendance as observers for a class assignment. III. ACO REPORT: Animal Control Officer Cooper left on a call so her report was presented by Chairman Brennan. Finances: The current balance in the AWC fund is $10,850. FY 2015 vet services expenditures totaled $4,301. Animal Control Cost Recovery totaled ($3,595) as of June 30, 2015. Intake: Annebelle, Scoobi, Dew Drop & Jasmine, Mz. Independence & kittens (Red, White & Blue), White mom & two kittens. Adoptions: Adoptions from PetSmart are Teddy (dog) and Annabelle (cat) Transfers: Griswold to Fancy Cats, 4 kittens to Laurel Cats via Spay Now. Shelter: Gabby & Alexia, Jasmine & Dewdrop, White Mom & 2 kittens (stray hold) Petco: Sir Emerald, Mz. Independence & 3 kittens Foster: Pretty – Chris Nagle, 2 brown tabbies – Taimi, 2 Grey/Brown tabbies – Pat Hall Lost in Care: Scooby IV. SHELTER/ADOPTION PROCESS: The shelter/adoption process was briefly discussed. A suggestion was made to create a tracking system so the length of stay in each phase could be monitored to provide the best care for the animals. It was suggested that the AWC set up a foster family pool of volunteers to be called upon when needed. 1 V: OUTREACH: The AWC was present at the Downtown Farmers Market. Chair Brennan thanked Ms. Gailes and Ms. Anderson for volunteering. The AWC received $5.00 in donations, blankets, towels, and a bag of cat toys. ACO Cooper has resource materials and handouts in her office and she will make them available to volunteers to distribute at future events. Chair Brennan will pick them up from ACO Cooper, gather handouts from Chris Nagle and take inventory of what is available to the committee. The AWC was unable to host a table at the Hollywood Farmers Market due to lack of volunteers. Chair Brennan will email the committee members and schedule volunteers for upcoming markets. The goal is to represent the AWC at both farmer’s markets, once per month. VI: REVIEW OF COMMITTEE CHARGE: Committee reviewed their goals and brainstormed action items. Possible action items for the AWC include: -presenting a workshop for residents relating to proper handling of wildlife and City regulations regarding wildlife. - educating the community by distributing resource materials at local events such as the farmers markets and College Park Day. -hosting a pet first aid class for the community. - creating a City Guide for pet owners to be distributed with the annual College Park City Guide. Topics would include proper licensing, care and feeding tips, regulations, contact information for local agencies. -create a foster care pool, signing up volunteers at the farmers markets, distributing volunteer applications. -work with the University of Maryland’s Office of Community Engagement to educate students on the responsbililites of pet ownership and consequences of abandoning pets after the semester/graduation. -present a workshop at local elementary schools to educate children on proper pet care and dealing safely with wildlife in their neighborhoods. ACO Cooper joined the meeting at 7:30pm. -work with the City to discuss its position on the issue of TNR,(trap, neuter, release) which would help the city with the feral cat problems, possibly hosting a TNR clinic with funds from the AWC account. Ms. Gailes will gather resource information on TNR in our immediate area. VII: FACEBOOK/LIST SERVES: Ms. Gailes is managing the AWC Facebook page for publicity well as a means to sign up volunteers and fosters. In order to grow the list of volunteers, Chair Brennan will research using UMCP student list serves to reach students needing service hours or who would like to foster/adopt a pet, and to distribute educational information about pet ownership/responsibility. Ms. Gailes will post a flier that advertises joining the AWC, which would increase the pool of shelter volunteers. VIII: OTHER BUSINESS: -Ms. Gailes asked if the committee still subscribed to a shelter magazine. ACO Cooper said it is available in the shelter on a shelf. -ACO Cooper shared information from Days End Farm Horse Rescue regarding a workshop titled “The Link Between Animal Abuse & Human Violence” taking place on November 18, from 10am – 2pm in Woodbine, VA. The AWC will cover the $20 fee. Members interested in attending should contact ACO Cooper. -The next meeting of the AWC will take place on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 7:00 pm in Davis Hall. IX. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Gailes, with second by Ms. Bellamy. Meeting adjourned at 8:27 pm. 2 Ms. Gailes motioned to reconvene the meeting for one item of business, with a second by Mr. Turley. AWC approved an expenditure of $74.20 to reimburse Ms. Gailes for charges incurred printing AWC brochures. Meeting immediately adjourned after an unanonmous vote to approve the motion. Minutes prepared by Laura Salers 3