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HomeMy WebLinkAboutANI 2000-08-31 Minutes Present: Absent: ITEM Call to Order Approval of Minutes: OS/25/00 Meeting Statistics Report, IR-00-12 NORTH RICHLAND HILLS ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD MEETING August 31, 2000 Pam Burney Warren Cox Mary Ann Townsend Don Sharp Lyle Welch Carey Parrack Director, Environmental SeNices Executive Director, SPCA of Texas Animal SeNices Public Awareness Officer SupeNisor, Animal SeNices City Councilman Secretary, Environmental SeNices Joe Metcalf, D.V.M. Davis Boulevard Animal Clinic DISCUSSION ACTION TAKEN Meeting called to order at 6:40 p.m. Motion to approve the minutes from May Approved 25, 2000 meeting by Lyle Welch, second by Don Sharp. Animal Shelter Board members and staff reviewed the Statistics Report. The statistics are as follows: RETURN TO OWNERS June-Aug. 2000 Total RTO 188 City Tags: Microchip: 17(AII dogs) 3( 1 Cat, 2 Dogs) June 88 RTOs Microchips Licenses 2 Dogs, 1 Cat 12 Dogs July 66 RTOs Licenses 3 Dogs August(As of 8/29/00) 34 RTOs Licenses 2 Doqs ITEM Feral Cat Project, IR-00-13 PetsMart Training Program, IR-00-14 DISCUSSION SEE ATTACHMENTS: QUARTERLY SHELTER VISIT COUNT and MONTHLY REPORT After reviewing the reports, Warren Cox suggested that North Richland Hills contact their microchip supplier to see if they would be interested in donating microchips which would be implanted at a free clinic hosted by North Richland Hills. Mr. Cox also recommended that Animal SeNices start plotting to see where the "problem" areas are throughout the city, if they are not doing so already. Pam Burney reported that she would be meeting with Angie Thomas of Kitty-Co Rescue and Kent Roberson of SPCA of Texas, to discuss implementation of a Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) pilot program. Pam relayed that Kitty-Co Rescue works with SPCA of Texas to provide traps, neutering, vaccination as well as colony management. The pilot program will target a specific area, track by TNVR, which controls the feral cat colony population that will eventually dwindle out. Types of complaints for the target area will also be tracked. Pam Burney announced that if the program works, we would then consider proposing an ordinance change to accommodate ferals in North Richland Hills. Pam Burney reported to board members that the PetsMart manager of the new store in Hurst, Russ Brown, contacted her about North Richland Hills Animal SeNices Center being the host shelter for a new program they are starting which uses positive re-enforcement and virtually eliminates choke chains, pinch collars and all negative training methods. Pam Burney explained that trainers use shelter dogs to teach the new training methods. Durinçt the six - week proçtram period, ACTION TAKEN ITEM Humane Network.com, IR-00-15 DISCUSSION NRH Animal SeNices staff will be able to learn the new training methods along with the PetsMart trainers. Pam Burney also stated there were both advantages and disadvantages to allowing PetsMart to do their training at the NRH shelter but the advantages by far outweigh the disadvantages. A few of the advantages are that (1) our shelter dogs will receive obedience training which will make them more adoptable; (2) NRH Animal SeNices staff will learn how to do positive training; (3) PetsMart will give discount coupons to anyone who adopted their pet from North Richland Hills' Animal Shelter; (4) NRH Animal SeNices can stock and sale training items at the shelter. The only real disadvantage Pam Burney could see is that PetsMart trainers would be "under foot" during the program training period. Pam Burney stated that NRH Citicable will be asked to film part of the training and shelter activity. Warren Cox recommended that NRH Animal SeNices contact the local newspaper and let them know about the new program and North Richland Hills involvement in that program, as well as the Feral Cat program. Mr. Cox also suggested that NRH Animal SeNices staff start asking everyone who adopts a dog or cat if they have an internet e-mail address. Pam Burney conveyed the new license applications will have a space for an e- mail address. Pam Burney reports that Humane Network.com asked North Richland Hills if they would be one of four municipal shelters to advise and assist in the development of their website. The website is being designed to assist animal shelters in fund raisina activities, provide a shared -'---------- ACTION TAKEN ITEM DISCUSSION buying network, facilitate adoptions, promote shelter wish lists and donations. Humane Network.com's plan is to bring together all aspects of the pet community such as veterinarians, groomers, trainers, shelters, pet product sales, etc. and make them accessible via the web. Pam Burney told board members the website developers have arranged for ID tag dispensers to be placed in each of the four shelters with 20% of sales rebated to the shelter as well as, personalized collars and leashes which will be provided free of charge. North Richland Hills will seNe in an advisory capacity with the developer until the website is ready for public use. At that time, North Richland Hills will decide whether or not to participate fully. Critter Connection, IR-00-16 MaryAnn Townsend presented board members with Critter Connection adoption information. The data covers an eleven- month period which ended 08/29/00. Total Critter Connection Adoptions: 208 (Open 24 days) Cats: 87 Dogs: 121 Returns: 11 Reasons for returns ranged from didn't get along with other pets, allergies, pet's behavior, wasn't good with human baby to animal wasn't a purebred. Total Critter Connection Volunteer Hrs: 932 Warren Cox was impressed with the fact that 208 animals were adopted at an off site facility and only 11 were returned. Mr. Cox then asked for the combined number of adoptions for the Animal Shelter and Critter Connection during the eleven-month period. MaryAnn Townsend reported that there have been a total of 698 animals adopted. Warren Cox then determined that 30% of the total adoptions were from the Critter Connection. ._.._~.~-~,.._.~"'._...,.~_..~.._,,_.._~-~-"'-_.._~~~-- ACTION TAKEN ITEM DISCUSSION Pam Burney announced that MaryAnn Townsend will be leaving the City of North Richland Hills in order to spend more time with her family and, that since MaryAnn is "such a driving force" in the Critter Connection's success, approval has been received to contract with MaryAnn to manage the Critter Connection. The contract fees will be paid from revenue from sales at the Critter Connection, and since MaryAnn's focus will be solely on the Critter Connection, sales should increase which will offset cost. As manager of the Critter Connection, MaryAnn will be in charge of adoptions, sales, volunteer training and scheduling. Pam Burney said that with MaryAnn managing the Critter Connection, approximately 20 hours per month will be freed up for the next Public Awareness Officer. Pam Burney then provided board members with 1998/1999 Critter Connection Revenue information which includes donation jars, spay/neuter fund, and Critter Connection sales. Total Revenue: $98,891.00 ($48,086.00) $50,805.00 Total Expenditures: Profit: Pam Burney told board members that revenues were up in 1998/1999 due to selling Beanie Babies, which North Richland Hills is no longer allowed to sell and, that the 1999/2000 revenues are more in line with what they should be. Adjournment ACTION TAKEN Motion to adjourn meeting by Warren Cox, Approved second by Don Sharp. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.