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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - July 8, 2008 SSCITY OF LODI INFORMAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING "SHIRTSLEEVE" SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2008 An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, July 8, 2008, commencing at 7:02 a.m. A. ROLL CALL Present: Council Members — Johnson, Katzakian, and Mayor Mounce Absent: Council Members — Hansen and Hitchcock Also Present: City Manager King, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Johl B. TOPIC(S) B-1 "Lodi Animal Advisory Commission Presentation" City Manager King briefly introduced the subject matter of the Lodi Animal Advisory Commission. Special Services Manager Jeanie Biskup introduced the members of the Lodi Animal Advisory Commission. Rose Hilliard provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding lifesaving shelter programs. Specific topics of discussion included lifesaving strategies, reducing shelter intake, increasing lifesaving, lifesaving model, feral cat program, spay and neuter, rescue groups, volunteer foster program, comprehensive adoption programs, pet retention, medical and behavioral rehabilitation, public retention and community involvement, volunteers, compassionate shelter director, and the need for change immediately. In response to Mayor Mounce, Ms. Hilliard stated some of the ten suggested programs are being completed by volunteers, although to a lesser degree than is necessary through an organized program. In response to Council Member Johnson, Ms. Hilliard stated there are three bona fide 501(c)(3) organizations in Lodi including the Cat Connection, Animal Friends, and People Assisting the Lodi Shelter (PALS). In response to Mayor Mounce, Ms. Biskup stated the City transfers animals to PALS for adoption purposes and the animals are then pulled fom PALS by Animal Friends, Cat Connection, and the city of Sacramento. She stated staff contacts and works with approximately 15 different facilities. In response to Council Member Johnson, Ms. Biskup stated the city of Sacramento pulls adoptable dogs, of which 89% are directly adopted through the City as well. Ms. Biskup stated in general Sacramento has the same issues with cats as Lodi and other communities. Linda Castelanelli spoke in favor of the programs as presented and requested a previous office clerk position be filled for assistance at the animal shelter. Ms. Biskup provided a brief update on the funding that was approved through the 2008-09 budget process, stating staff is actively working on spay and neuter programs and physical improvements at the shelter as discussed. In response to Mayor Mounce, Ms. Biskup stated shelter needs include bedding, food, leashes, and other items listed online. She stated monetary donations and assistance with fundraising for PALS, special needs animals, and spay and neuter programs is also helpful. 1 Continued July 8, 2008 In response to Council Member Johnson, Police Chief David Main stated that, while the City continues to work toward a "no loll" goal and progress is being made, the numbers of animals involved make it somewhat unrealistic. Michael Leach spoke in favor of marketing efforts by the City to increase public awareness of the animal shelter and its services. In response to Mayor Mounce and Mr. King, Ms. Biskup stated previously the part-time shared position budget was reduced and full-time cleaning staff was retained as was necessary. Ms. Biskup stated Partners assist with office staffing at the shelter currently. Ms. Castelanelli stated it is important to have a full-time office assistant who is there daily, is trained, and knows the ins and outs of the shelter since volunteers do not have the ability to do that. In response to Myrna Wetzel, Ms. Biskup stated she does not have the exact number associated with licensing revenue; although, she believes it was approximately $196,000. She stated the shelter is working with a new licensing system and of the approximately 50,000 animals in the City about 3,000 are licensed. Discussion ensued between Mayor Mounce, Mr. King, and Ms. Hilliard regarding the traditional function of disease control for shelters, animal control efforts, contracting for animal housing services, united effort between cities in the community in resolving animal control issues through a joint powers agreement or similar entity, the City's responsibility for a safe and clean shelter, the Commission's desire to work on a more detailed outline of the programs, and a possible mission statement from the City for the shelter. Michael Leach spoke in opposition to contracting out animal shelter services based on his concerns of the level of service over an extended period of time. Mayor Mounce asked the Commission to forward information regarding San Francisco's efforts in reaching its "no kill" goal to the City Manager. Gina Mendes spoke in opposition to contracting out animal shelter services based on her concern that the shelter should be run like a business. C. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS None. D. ADJOURNMENT No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 a.m. ATTEST: Randi Johl City Clerk W AGENDA ITEM OPO I CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION • TM AGENDA TITLE: Lodi Animal Advisory Commission Presentation MEETING DATE: July 8, 2008 PREPARED B Y David Main, Chief of Police RECOMMENDED ACTION: Lodi Animal Advisory Commission members will present a model Animal Shelter Lifesaving Program. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Lodi Animal Advisory Commission members Linda Castelanelli and Rose Hilliard will present a 10-pointAnimal Shelter lifesaving program to the City Council covering the following: 1. Feral CatTraptNeuter/Release program 2. High Volume, Low Cost Spay/Neuter 3. Rescue Groups 4. Foster Care 5. Comprehensive Adoption Programs 6. Pet Retention Programs and trainings 7. Medical & Behavioral Rehabilitation Programs 8. Public Relations/Community Involvement Program 9. Volunteers 10. A compassionate Shelter Director FISCAL IMPACT: FUNMNG AVAILABLE cc: City Attorney Unknown Unknown David Main Chief of Police APPROVED: qT*ing, City Manager Lifesaving Shelter Programs 10 Essential Programs & Services Presenter: Rose Hilliard, Vice President, Abandoned Cat Team- April 2008 — to Lodi Animal Advisory Commission Life Saving Strategies • # 1 - Reduce intake of homeless dogs & cats into the shelter through various programs • # 2 — Implement proven life saving programs for animals impounded #1 -Reducing Shelter Intake • Primary Means— Subsidized Spay/Neuter for low income residents & problem pet populations (feral cats & Pit Bull dogs) • Secondary Means- Pet Retention Programs — Behavior Hot Line & Counseling, Subsidies for Medical Care, Feral Cat Help & Counseling f # 2 — Increasing Lifesaving • City management & shelter staff attitude shift to a proactive, community based adoption & rescue agency rather than simply a reactive public health or police enforcement oriented shelter • By working with their community, implementing lifesaving programs and treating each animal's life as precious, a shelter can energize, excite and transform an entire community. Life Saving Model 1) Feral Cat T/N/R program 2) High Volume, Low Cost Spay/Neuter 3) Rescue Groups 4) Foster Care 5) Comprehensive Adoption Programs 6) Pet Retention Programs 7) Medical & Behavioral Rehabilitation 8) Public Relations/Community Involvement 91 Volunteers i 10) A Compassionate Shelter Director 1) Feral Cat TIN/R Program Trap/Neuter/Return v r= 2. ri Humane for cats Reduces shelter intake - + Reduces death rates Meets obligations for public welfare (Rabies control) • Reduces cat nuisance complaints & calls Maintains neighborhood = , tranquility demanded by governments • Stabilizes & diminishes feral 5 cat colonies Costs less than trap & kill - . methods - Is both effective & humane by more • Preferred & aTe /o of than 80° public • Targeted spay/neuter quickly leads to fewer animals entering the shelter, less field calls & phone calls, less paperwork, less supplies, less killing & leaves more resources for saving lives. IV 0 I 3) Rescue Groups d& 0 Adoption or transfer to a rescue: Frees up shelter cage space • Reduces expense of feeding, care & killing • Saves staff time • Increases a community's lifesaving rate • Greatly increases I ives saved • Provides an opportunity for the community to be involved & to volunteer • Allows for care of animals that are difficult in a shelter— the orphaned, sick, injured, or in need of behavior rehabilitation • Promotes a positive shelter image while creating greater awareness in the community of animals in need L *.:: Swo For AftWe Peft In Your Ommunity • Vital to the lifesaving mission of a shelter • The number & the quality of adoptions lies directly in shelter management's hands • Shelters need to better promote & market sheltered animals to the public (studies show only 10 — 15% of people get their pets from a shelter) • Animals must be widely and easily available to the community — ie: on websites, through media, at the shelter, on weekends, evenings and at off site adoptions • Shelters can and should adopt their way out of killing • Some surrenders can be prevented when shelters work with people to help solve their pet problems —reducing intake • The more a community sees their shelter as a place to turn to for help, the easier this becomes. • Examples: Pet care & behavior fact sheets in the shelter & on the website, low cost dog training classes, pet friendly housing rental lists, pet sitter referrals, news articles on behavior issues. r _,"ti • Shelter begins saving treatable animals by analyzing statistics to identify: what injuries/illnesses are most common? What behavior problems are encountered? How many are underage or elderly animals? • Each problem will need a different lifesaving program or policy • Professional volunteers can often help( Trainers, veterinarians, vet techs, experienced fosterers) • If the shelter itself or staff is creating illnesses or injury— training,proper care & adequate p p q facilities must be addressed • The public may donate to a behavior or injury fund created to help those needy animals • Shelter must redefine itself as a "pet rescue" agency. • Public must see improvements at the shelter & in the area of lifesaving's • Public contacts through good customer service, more adoptions, tangible commitments to tools shelter needs to do the job humanely 140 4 • Positive PR is key to more money, h volunteers, adoptions and good will • Shelter must be in the public's eye 9) Volunteers *The "army of compassion" — the backbone of shelter lifesaving There is never enough staff, enough dollars to hire more staff & always more needs than paid human resources. Volunteers make the difference between success & failure — and for the animals between life & death. eThe purpose of a volunteer program is to help the shelter help the animals Crucial to have procedures & goals in place as part of the program. Ot (1" 4% r l� } e 10) A Compassionate Shelter Director • Most important of all the 10 elements! • Must be hard working & compassionate with the goal of saving lives, not making excuses for why the shelter kills animals • Traditional animal sheltering experience is often NOT desirable — a new can -do attitude is essential • Director's performance is judged by success in saving animals lives Change is Happening Now To the extent that a shelter is not implementing all elements of this lifesaving model, animals are needlessly being killed. • 1994 — San Francisco begins saving 100% of healthy & treatable animals & 100% of feral cats • 2001 — 2003 Tomkins County, NY saw a 75% decrease in shelter death rates • 2005 - 2006 Philadelphia Animal Control doubled the percent of animals saved in only 8 months (having previously killed 80% of their animals) • 2006 - Charlottesville, NC SPCA saved 92% of all animals sheltered • 2007 - Reno, NV SPCA Killing has decreased by 51% for dog & 52% for cats since 2006 (within 1 Year) The Clock is Ticking Every life is precious to that animal and ending any animal's life is an extremely serious decision. Each and every animal is an individual and each deserves individual consideration —the very young, the frightened, the very old, the cat or dog with a treatable illness or injury, the so called "bad" breeds & the wild cats as well. , _ , .� .,. Mr iNr• Al r Their Lives Are in Our Hands • If we don't act tonight, by the time of our next commission meeting, the Lodi Animal Shelter will put to death approximately another 90 cats ( at least 36 of them healthy ferals) and another 10 dogs (many will be Pits or Pit mixes). • We have the authority and support of the Lodi Mayor & city council to recommend immediate lifesaving shelter & policy changes. Let's do it! PALS People Assisting Lodi Shelter MAKING MIRACLES HAPPEN AT THE LODI ANIMAL SHELTER PALS People Assisting Lodi Shelter History • BEGAN WITH A DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING DAUNIS BRADSHAW WHO WERE ASSISTING AT THE LODI ANIMAL SHELTER SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK, CLEANING CAT CAGES, HELPING ADMINISTER MEDICATIONS, SOCIALIZATION AND GROOMING. • A BOARD WAS FORMED AND A MISSION ESTABLISHED. FUNDRAISING AND DONATIONS WERE OBTAINED FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. . AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE WITH THE CITY OF LODI TO ESTABLISH AN ADOPTION CENTER ON PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER • ADOPTION CENTER (THE FORMER SKATE PARK BUILDING) WAS MOVED, THE INTERIOR WAS DESIGNED WITH 4 CAT ROOMS WITH FREE ROAMING CATS AND A GET- ACQUAINTED ROOM. THE ADOPTION CENTER HAS LAUNDRY, CLEANING AND GROOMING FACILITIES AND OFFICE SPACE FOR ADOPTION PAPERWORK. PALS ACCOMPLISHMENTS • IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LODI ANIMAL SHELTER + RECEIVED GRANT FROM LODI LION'S CLUB FOR INFORMATIONAL SIGN AT KETTLEMAN LANE, NEW KENNELS ETC. • ADOPTION CENTER ESTABLISHED HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED - MANY OF WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNADOPTABLE DUE TO MEDICAL ISSUES , BEHAVIOUR OR AGE • APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED MADDIE' S GRANT WHICH WILL BE USED FOR ADVERTISING, EDUCATION AND STATISTICS • ESTABLISHED PETFINDER ACCOUNT TO HELP THE PUBLIC ADOPT A NEW COMPANION • UPDATED WEBSITE SO THE PUBLIC CAN LEARN ABOUT WAYS TO HELP THE ANIMAL SHELTER • APPLIED TO THE LODI ARTS COMMISSION AND WAS GRANTED A PUBLIC ART PIECE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE SHELTER THE MURAL DESIGNED BY TONY SEGALE IS NOW COMPLETE . FENCED EXERCISE AREA BUILT INFRONT OF SHELTER VALUE OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS EXCEEDS $2509000! THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE VALUE OF THE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED TO THE CITY OF LODI! PALS Expenditures 1 stand 2nd Quarters of 2008 V4Z'x � � Total r n i Includes Includes PALS pays Includes Paymentsfor includes ADT Alarm Includes the Liability special Healthwise $25.00 vaccinations, advertising, advertising System and new dog and surgeries and Food, KMR, towards microchips statistics for special Glearwire exercise insurance ail medical care and KV Vet spay or and feline and events area on building for City of Lodi supplies and neuterof leukemia test inventory animals located ail animal shelter kits control in PALS related animal adoption center supplies $8,3'10.37 $3,187.65 $863.00 $11,993.02 $2,429.00 $4,158.88 $1,386.14 $9,839.44 $690.07 $42,857.57 PALS VOLUNTEER HOURS MAY 07 — DEC 07 - 5,588 JANUARY 1-31,2008 - 893 These hours are for those working in the PALS Adoption Center, cleaning, feeding, socializing, grooming, medicating of cats and dogs, adoption paperwork for the City of Lodi, dog walking and promotion of adoptions through PALS newsletter, pet page and petfinder. 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