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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 6, 1981 (50)SURPLUS AT MSC (ANIMAL NEEDS) PROPERTY SITE SHELTER Agenda item "t" - "Surplus property at MSC site" was introduced by City Manager Glaves who presented a report from Chief of Police, Marc Yates indicating the need to expand the Animal Shelter.. Council discussion followed with questions being directed to Staff. With the tacit concurrence of the Council, action was deferred on this matter to allow Council the opportunity to tour the Animal Shelter located at the MSC site. CITY OF LODI rom MAJITNIM 2X SM U*Sn= WM C Uh0 AA "340 cm» Kaau NOW A. GIAWS MAIC YAM CWI Man"- March 31, 1981 a"# of %I" To: Henry A. Glaves, City Manager Fran: Marc Yates, Chief of Police Subj*rt-: Animal Shelter As you requested in our discussion last week, the following information is pro- vided as to the status and possible need for expansion of the Animal Shelter. The present facility was built in 1957. At the time of its occupancy there was sufficient space, with room for expansion. The facility provided for ten dog runs, each adequately housing one large dog. in many instances of small dogs, non -fighting dogs or puppies, several are kept In one run. 1-n 1957 the population of the city was 20,100. Statistics show the average daily count in the Shelter was 6.3 dogs per day. in 1963 the daily count Increased to 10.2 dogs per day. Since 1963 the daily count has brought us to the point of overcrowding '-he Shelter. In 1980 po*u:i­ation Increa ed to 35,450 and the number of dogs increased to an average of 17.8 per day. This now requires at most times, two dogs in most of the runs. If we con- sider this to only be an average, it becomes obvious we have days when it is possible to have twenty or thirty dogs in the Shelter. The size of the runs, and animal control considerations, does not usually allow us to place more than two dogs in one run. Further problems encoun- tered are that we keep all dogs impounded a minimum of four days unless owners claim them sooner. In addition, we hold quarantined dogs for eleven days. There are also occasions where licensed animals are picked up and the owners do not respond to pick them up for several days - sometimes not at all. It has been the procedure of the Shelter to hold *hese dogs and re- contact the owner. Normally three contacts or warnings are given and the dog has to be retained for six or seven days prior to being destroyed. Many times, due to the overcrowded conditions, the Animal Control Officers are often unable to hold desirable types of animals the extra time needed to find them a home. We are therefore forced to destroy dogs which the Animal Control Officers would like to hold for prospective pet owners. ..continued.. leniy A. Gleves, Cianager March , 31, 1981 Ani Shelter Page 2 In-addltion to the dogs, we have a serious problem of housing cats. At the present lime we have four cages in which to house cats. Considering we house an average of nine cats per day, again it is apparent the number of cages is not sufficient. We have in the 1981-82 Budget Estimate requested six additional cages. We are also not sure if our present situation of housing cats in tha same room and general area with dogswouldbe considered to be-humane. The barking dogs keep the cats in such a state of nervousness Mat -separation to another room seems the appropriate thing to do. In addition to dogs and cats, the runs and cages are forced to house other miscel-igneous an.imais. In 1980 we logged ninety four such animals, Including but not limited to possum, squirrel, skunk, fox, chicken and turkey. in many of these -cases-, where it becomes evident that w114 an-imaIs-have been domesticated, they are held for a few days in the event someone wants to claim them. This also ties up a run for the time they are -housed. in considering this Information and the need to provide.. necessary and legal animal control and housing, we should consider the expansion of the Shelter wh i lar we- st i i I have room for such expans ion. 1 f cons I'der-at I on was g i ven to extension of the building to the east, we could conceiveab'°y add an addi- tional ten runs and also provide a separate hold space for cats and other an-Imals. We believe this could probably best be accomp-l_-ished by moving the room containing Euthanair Chamber, adding twenty foot of building beginning at the end of the -existing sections containing runs. At the -end of the twenty foot addition a room the same width as the existing building and ten feet deep-,-coul-d be -added - making a separate room for cats:. Aaather room:, at least ten by ten with a lift -type garage door could be- added to the south, rep -lacing the present room housing the Euthanair Chamber. The freezer in which the _dead animals are kept until they are picked up could also be located in this room. This would place the chamber and the freetsr in a location not normally usad by citizens, thus keeping these items (often felt to be distasteful) cut of public view. The proposed addition could be accomplished by extending the existing build- ing east approximately twenty feet, on property presently owned by the City. Respectfully submitted, MY:,j km