Animal Shelter Oversight Committee Meeting

City of Norman Animal Welfare Oversight Committee Norman City Hall 201 West Gray Street Monday, April 19, 2021 6:00 p.m. It is the policy of the City of Norman that no person or groups of persons shall on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, place of birth, age, familial status, disability, retaliation, or genetic information, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in employment activities or in all programs, services, or activities administered by the City, its recipients, subrecipients, and contractors. In the event of any comments, complaints, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aides and services regarding accessibility or inclusion, please contact the ADA Technician at 405-366-5424, Relay Service: 711. To better serve you, five (5) business days’ advance notice is preferred. Virtual meeting w/Committee members Co-Chair Bean, Fairbanks, Hall, Co-Chair Howery, Moore-Furneaux and Wicker will be appearing via video conference. https://zoom.us/j/93339642734?pwd=b3NNdHpRT0R2dU56dkZlZGhzanltdz09 I. Call to Order and Roll Call……………………………..............… Mark Howery / Rebecca Bean II. Discussion & Approval of the February Meeting Minutes.............. Mark Howery / Rebecca Bean Action needed: Motion to approve or reject minutes Action Taken: _____________________________ III. Monthly Statistics, Division Updates .................................................................… Mark Bechtel Previous Business Updates: - Status of the Owner Relinquish Wait List - Purchases Made from the Donation Account - Recent Personnel Actions – new hires, transfers, departures - Update on COVID Precautions – opening without scheduling visits Action needed: Acknowledge Presentation IV. Discussion and Selection of Volunteer of the Year ……………………………….…………. All Action Needed: Discussion and Vote Action Taken: __________________________ V. Update on Recent Events/Investigations …………………………….Mark Bechtel/Trey Amrein - Animals of Rock Creek - Shooting of Dog at Norman Dog Park Action Needed: Acknowledge Presentation VI. Follow-up Discussion of Memorial for Henry Baskeyfield ……...Kim Fairbanks/Mark Howery Action Needed: Discussion VII. Discussion Animal Welfare Division Emergency Response Plan…………….………….…. All Action Needed: Discussion VIII. Discussion of Annual Reports to City Council/Mayor …………….……….….…. Mark Howery Action Needed: Discussion IX. Future Events and Call for Agenda Items for Next Meeting........... Mark Howery / Rebecca Bean X. Miscellaneous Comments................................................................ Mark Howery / Rebecca Bean XI. Adjournment…………………………………….............................Mark Howery / Rebecca Bean Action needed: Motion to adjourn meeting Action Taken: ________________________________  Animal Welfare Oversight Committee February 22nd, 2021 The Norman Animal Welfare Oversight Committee of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met virtually and in the Multi‐purpose room at the Norman Animal Welfare on the 22nd day of February, 2021 at 6:00PM. The notice and agenda of the meeting were posted at the Norman Animal Welfare on 3428 South Jenkins on the 18th of February, 2021. The meeting was also posted on the City of Norman website at www.normanok.gov. I. Call to Order and Roll Call Co‐Chairperson Mark Howery called the meeting to order at approximately 6:09PM Members Present: Co‐chairperson Mark Howery Co‐Chairperson Rebecca Bean Kim Fairbanks Rod Hall, D.V.M Kristy Wicker MEMBERS ABSENT: Sandy Moore‐ Furneaux OTHERS PRESENT: Major Jamie Shattuck Mark Bechtel, Norman Animal Welfare Manager Trey Amrein, Norman Animal Welfare Supervisor Jeanne Snider Assistant City Attorney II. Discussion & Approval of the September Meeting Minutes Rebecca Bean asked if the minutes could be amended to reflect that the tethering ordinance that had been discussed had been a temporary exemption.  Kim Fairbanks asked a follow up question regarding the Kurunda bed discussion and if the shelter had been signed up for Kurunda bed donations. Mark said that the shelter is signed up and is posted online. Kim asked if it could be re‐shared. A motion to approve the minutes as amended was made by Kristy Wicker. Seconded by Kim Fairbanks. The motion passed. III. Monthly and Annual Statistics, Division Updates Mark Bechtel said that the owner surrender list sat at about 49 people. During the cold weather in the previous week there were four tethering exemption requests made, and all four were denied. Of those four three made room in their homes for the dogs and the fourth made room in their horse barn for the dog. Mark Bechtel said the donation requests were put on the consent docket for February 23rd Council meeting. This included the kennel grate replacements, window tinting for the cat adoption, audio system, and replacement of doors in dog adoption. Regarding the x‐ray machine for the shelter. Mark said the shelter has only had to send animals out for x‐rays probably twice in the last four months. Most of the time our donated x‐ray machine has been sufficient. Mark Howery said that that letter of approval that he wrote on behalf of the oversight committee for the council did not include the x‐ray machine because of the large expense but did include the chain link fencing item. Mark Howery said that there were several months of statistics and asked whether there was anything Mark Bechtel wanted to point out or committee members would like to ask about. Mark Bechtel spoke about the length of stay for shelter animals being up over the last few months, but the live release rate has remained high. Cats were getting adopted fairly quickly, but our dog adoptions have been slow. Rebecca Bean commented on the overall intake numbers being down for 2020. Mark Bechtel said that is the trend industry‐wide. Other shelters both in‐state and nationwide are seeing a 25‐30% drop in intakes from last year. Kristy Wicker asked how confiscated animals are brought into the shelter. Trey Amrein gave an example in December of an owner who went to the emergency hospital and had no family; she had seven animals that we cared for over a month. Those were returned to her after she made it home. Other times it is owners who are arrested, and their animals would be brought in under protective custody until they or a family member could reclaim them. Rebecca Bean asked how the shelter is triaging the owner surrender list. Mark Bechtel said that the shelter is still taking in owner surrenders that are emergency situations. When staff are calling people back, they usually try to make contact with  them two or three times before they are moved to a different spreadsheet off the active owner surrender list and assumed to have resolved the situation. IV. Discussion of Solicitation of Nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Award Mark Howery said he would like to do a 2020 Volunteer Award now and a 2021 Volunteer award in the fall. There will be a press release and it will shared on social media again. Rebecca Bean asked that shelter staff submit their nominations as well. V. Update on the Status of Shelter Foster Program and Process for Adoption of Animals at the Shelter More than 30 Days Mark Bechtel said that staff are working on building up support for fosters and working with apps like GroupMe and Maddie’s Fund to help with communication with fosters. Hands Helping Paws is hosting a foster webinar for their fosters that will be available to Norman Animal Welfare fosters as well. For animals who have been at the shelter longer than 30 days, we have continued to waive their adoption fee. The shelter is also currently utilizing the Mabel Bassett training program for dogs that are high energy or have been at the shelter for an extended period of time. Mabel Bassett’s training program usually lasts 30 days and then they come back to the shelter to be adopted if they haven’t been adopted from their time at Mabel Bassett. Rebecca Bean asked if there was a line item in the budget for foster supplies. Mark Bechtel said that there isn’t one. Foster food supplies come out of our food budget, while other supplies like warmers, scales, or bottles come out of the general items budget. VI. Discussion of Potential Memorial for Henry Baskeyfield Kim Fairbanks suggested a memorial of some kind for Henry Baskeyfield, the animal Welfare Officer who passed away in January. She proposed a cement slab and bench underneath the tree next to the shelter entrance. She asked for estimates of the cost before she set up a fundraiser for the project. VII. Information Item ‐2021 Animal Welfare Expo March 13th, 2021 Kim Fairbanks said that this year’s Animal Welfare Expo will be a limited program beginning Saturday, March 13th at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. They will have  an art display with an online auction as well as a foster orientation webinar for both HHP fosters and NAW fosters to participate in. The following day on Sunday March 14th they are hosting Spayway for a cats only spay/neuter clinic. VIII. Discussion of Annual Reports to City Council/Mayor Mark Howery has a draft of the oversight committee annual report and will send it out to committee members. This topic will be revisited during the April meeting. IX. Discussion of Calls/Activities During Recent Polar Weather The city offices were closed from Monday through Wednesday during the recent polar weather. Shelter staff came in to take care of animals and welfare officers worked through the weather as well. Starting on February 8th, officers responded to 57 welfare checks during the week of below‐freezing weather and numerous rechecks. They also responded to 24 “trapped” or contained animals, 18 at large calls, and four vicious calls. There was a situation where the pipes burst and flooded an apartment, and the shelter took in 5 cats temporarily. Officers did take in one animal that had been left outside on a balcony and didn’t have proper shelter from the cold. Cruelty charges have been filed against that owner. There was also a horse that had gotten stuck in a frozen pond, and welfare officers were able to rescue the horse with the help of the fire department. Kim Fairbanks asked about the animals that had been trapped, and Supervisor Amrein explained that it is just coded as trapped in the system; it just means that someone has contained an animal to be picked up by welfare officers. Rebecca Bean said that OKC animal welfare had unofficially been asking for straw and dog jackets for OKC officers to hand out to people who needed them for outside dogs. Did the Norman shelter need anything like that? Supervisor Amrein responded that every citizen they spoke with had taken the initiative to prepare their dog shelters with straw. Rebecca bean asked if we are able to ask the owners to bring the dogs inside. Amrein said that the officers always ask. Some people will say that they are providing everything required of them according to the ordinances, but some will bring them inside. X. Future Events and Call for Agenda Items for Next Meeting Topics that could be discussed during the April meeting would be the Animals of Rock Creek zoo, the volunteer of the year award, the memorial for Henry, the annual report, and an Emergency Response plan.  Norman Animal Welfare Monthly Statistical Report February 2021 IN SHELTER ANIMAL COUNTS 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Beginning 46 52 98 38 7 45 (53) -54% Ending 46 27 73 36 21 57 (16) -22% ANIMAL INTAKES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Stray at Large 80 29 109 51 34 85 (24) -22% Owner Relinquish 18 16 34 9 24 33 (1) -3% Owner Intended Euth 2 0 2 3 0 3 1 50% Transfer In 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Other Intakes* 4 0 4 1 6 7 3 75% Returned Animal 9 4 13 3 1 4 (9) -69% TOTAL LIVE INTAKES 113 49 162 67 65 132 (30) -19% *Confiscate, Protective Custody, Born in Shelter, and all other infrequent entries OTHER STATISTICS Comparisons 2020 Total 2021 Total Difference Percent Wildlife Collected (DOA) 9 9 2 2 (7) -78% Dog Collected (DOA) 4 4 0 0 (4) -100% Cat Collected (DOA) 3 3 1 1 (2) -67% Wildlife Transferred 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Horses 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Cows 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Goats 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Sheep 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Rabbits 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Pigs 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Other 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! TOTAL OTHER ITEMS 16 16 3 3 (13) -81% LENGTH OF STAY (DAYS) 2020 2021 Dog 12.7 13.3 Puppy 10.5 4.5 Cat 11.1 7 Kitten 6.7 2 OWNER SURRENDER PENDING INTAKE Canine Feline Other Total Animals 28 9 0 37  Norman Animal Welfare Monthly Statistical Report February 2021 LIVE ANIMAL OUTCOMES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Adoption 51 42 93 35 28 63 (30) -32% Return To Owner 41 0 41 24 7 31 (10) -24% Transferred Out 13 28 41 4 10 14 (27) -66% Returned in Field 0 0 0 0 4 4 4 #DIV/0! Other Outcome 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! TOTAL LIVE OUTCOMES 105 70 175 63 49 112 (63) -36% OTHER ANIMAL OUTCOMES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Died in Care 0 1 1 0 0 0 (1) -100% Lost in Care 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Shelter Euth 4 3 7 2 2 4 (3) -43% Owner Intended Euth 3 0 3 3 0 3 0 0% TOTAL OTHER OUTCOMES 7 4 11 5 2 7 (4) -36% TOTAL OUTCOMES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Total Live Outcomes 105 70 175 63 49 112 (63) -36% Total Other Outcomes 7 4 11 5 2 7 (4) -36% TOTAL OUTCOMES 112 74 186 68 51 119 (67) -36% SHELTER EUTHANASIA DATA Canine Feline Other Total Percentage Medical - Sick 3 1 0 4 57% Medical - Injured 1 1 0 2 29% Behavior - Aggressive 1 0 0 1 14% Behavior - Other 0 0 0 0 0% TOTAL EUTHANASIA 5 2 0 7 MONTHLY LIVE RELEASE RATE 2020 2021 95.6% 96.6% Live Outcomes / (Total Outcomes - Owner Int Euth)  Norman Animal Welfare Monthly Statistical Report March 2021 IN SHELTER ANIMAL COUNTS 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Beginning 46 27 73 36 21 57 (16) -22% Ending 19 12 31 38 16 54 23 74% ANIMAL INTAKES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Stray at Large 68 22 90 83 33 116 26 29% Owner Relinquish 10 13 23 39 26 65 42 183% Owner Intended Euth 3 0 3 1 0 1 (2) -67% Transfer In 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0% Other Intakes* 4 1 5 8 2 10 5 100% Returned Animal 10 3 13 10 2 12 (1) -8% TOTAL LIVE INTAKES 95 40 135 141 64 205 70 52% *Confiscate, Protective Custody, Born in Shelter, and all other infrequent entries OTHER STATISTICS Comparisons 2020 Total 2021 Total Difference Percent Wildlife Collected (DOA) 1 1 4 4 3 300% Dog Collected (DOA) 2 2 0 0 (2) -100% Cat Collected (DOA) 5 5 2 2 (3) -60% Wildlife Transferred 4 4 0 0 (4) -100% Intake Horses 0 0 1 1 1 #DIV/0! Intake Cows 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Goats 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Sheep 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Rabbits 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Pigs 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Intake Other 1 1 1 1 0 0% TOTAL OTHER ITEMS 13 13 8 8 (5) -38% LENGTH OF STAY (DAYS) 2020 2021 Dog 11.7 14.4 Puppy 7 4.1 Cat 10.1 7 Kitten 4.6 2.6 OWNER SURRENDER PENDING INTAKE Canine Feline Other Total Animals 39 5 0 44  Norman Animal Welfare Monthly Statistical Report March 2021 LIVE ANIMAL OUTCOMES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Adoption 59 31 90 67 35 102 12 13% Return To Owner 41 1 42 38 3 41 (1) -2% Transferred Out 13 20 33 32 26 58 25 76% Returned to Field 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 #DIV/0! Other Outcome 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! TOTAL LIVE OUTCOMES 113 52 165 137 65 202 37 22% OTHER ANIMAL OUTCOMES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Died in Care 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Lost in Care 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 #DIV/0! Shelter Euth 5 2 7 2 4 6 (1) -14% Owner Intended Euth 3 0 3 1 0 1 (2) -67% TOTAL OTHER OUTCOMES 8 2 10 3 4 7 (3) -30% TOTAL OUTCOMES 2020 2021 Comparisons Canine Feline Total Canine Feline Total Difference Percent Total Live Outcomes 113 52 165 137 65 202 37 22% Total Other Outcomes 8 2 10 3 4 7 (3) -30% TOTAL OUTCOMES 121 54 175 140 69 209 34 19% SHELTER EUTHANASIA DATA Canine Feline Other Total Percentage Medical - Sick 0 4 0 4 57% Medical - Injured 0 0 0 0 0% Behavior - Aggressive 3 0 0 3 43% Behavior - Other 0 0 0 0 0% TOTAL EUTHANASIA 3 4 0 7 MONTHLY LIVE RELEASE RATE 2020 2021 95.9% 97.1% Live Outcomes / (Total Outcomes - Owner Int Euth)  Monthly Service By Assignment January 2021 to March 2021 Norman Animal Welfare Volunteers (ALL) Jan 2021 Feb 2021 Mar 2021 Total Place Assignment Hours Hours Hours Hours Norman Animal Welfare Center Community Services-NAWC 264:00 159:05 112:00 535:05 NAWC-Bather / Groomer 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 NAWC-Beautification Volunteer 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 NAWC-Cat Socializer 27:30 23:57 41:50 93:17 NAWC-Community Outreach Volunteer 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 NAWC-Dog Handler 18:54 29:49 54:28 103:11 NAWC-Foster Program 0:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 NAWC-Kennel Assistant 0:00 0:00 4:35 4:35 NAWC-Laundry 2:11 3:30 1:06 6:47 NAWC-Lobby Greeter 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 NAWC-Orientation 0:00 14:00 8:00 22:00 NAWC-Photographer 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 Other Volunteer Services 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 Veterinarian Assistant Tech 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 To t a l 312:35 231:21 223:59 767:55 Grand total 312:35 231:21 223:59 767:55 Printed 04-06-2021 9:31 am Page 1