Animal Welfare Committee

Approved: 042516 M&C Somers Gardiner Animal Welfare Committee Meeting February 25, 2016 Davis Hall Term Exp Members Present Absent Staff Vivian Cooper X 2/28/2018 Taimi Anderson X (arrived 7:35pm) 4/30/2017 Suzie Bellamy X 5/26/2018 Nick Brennan X 7/31/2018 Lois Donaty X 2/28/2017 Patti Stange X 3/31/2016 Dave Turley X 11/23/2018 Kathy Rodeffer X Guests: Christiane Williams, Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary Mr. Brennan called the meeting to order at 7:05pm. 1. Reviewed the January 28, 2016 minutes. There are a few names misspelled which Ms. DeWalt stated she will fixed. Ms. Bellamy made a motion to accept the minutes with the impending changes. Mr. Turley seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 2. Mr. Brennan introduced two women from Laurel Cats: Helen and Diana. Their organization has a comprehensive program to address the cat population in Laurel. They are a non-profit, volunteer run program. Originally things were done on an ad hoc basis, but within the past three years they have become the organization they are today. They have 400 people on their email list, about 35 active volunteers, and approximately 10-12 people physically do the work needed. There are no shelters in Laurel for cats. Laurel Cats will help with TNR on the feral cat population; they assist feral cat caretakers with proper information and documentation; they lend out traps; they help with foster families; they transport the cats to the vet, to name some of their services. They receive no financial support from the City of Laurel or the three counties Laurel covers, but they did receive a grant from the Department of Agriculture. They rely on donations from the community. The first recommendation is to find a vet that will work with your organization and purchase traps. The Laurel Cats website has several different kind of traps that are recommended. Documentation, once the cats are spayed or neutered, should be given to the caretakers. Of course, the vet keeps a copy on file. Minimum age for TNR is eight weeks; the bulk of TNR is done between January – April.  If Laurel cats finds a pregnant female cat, the pregnancy will be terminated. If a cat appears to be sick, testing will be done. Any member of the AWC is welcome to go along with Laurel Cats and see “them in action.” 3. Ms. Cooper reported that there is a balance of $11,147 in the AWC fund. Vet expenses are $2066. Cost control recovery expenses are $2210. 4. There are no animals in the shelter. There were four cat intakes and three were adopted. Once was returned to the Washington, DC Humane Society. Two dogs were found; one was returned to the owner and the other was impounded with Howard County. Miss Independence was finally adopted at Petco. 5. The Hollywood Farmer’s Market will be opening on April 23rd. AWC will have a table at the market. Homemade animal treats can be sold. Further discussion and planning will be done at the March meeting. 6. HB494 update which is the bill on Animal Shelters Uniform Standard or Operation and Care. The overall point of the bill is admirable, wanting to ensure that shelters are properly maintained and animals are care for in a safe and humane manner. It appears to be geared towards large county shelters. However, if the bill passes, many shelters may have to shut down because they will not meet the minimum standards set in this bill. PAWS and the ASCPA is in opposition of the bill. Ms. Cooper is waiting to hear from her contact at the ASCPA on the final decision of the bill. 7. We will discuss at the March meeting the need for spring cleaning the shelter. Ms. Bellamy made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Turley seconded the motion. The motion was approved and the meeting ended at 8:15pm.