DASAC Minutes 04/19/2011
RECEIVED
MAY 1 9 2011 Y'/
'l.)~ld ct County Commissioners April 19, 2011
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITIEE
Naples, Florida, Apri119, 2011
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Domestic Animal
Services Advisory Committee in and for the County of Collier, having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 6:30 P.M. in REGULAR
SESSION at Domestic Animal Services Resource Training Room, Davis
Blvd., East Naples, Florida with the following members present:
VICE CHAIRMAN: Marcia Breithaupt
Marjorie Bloom
Dr. Ruth Eisele
Sergeant David Estes
Tom Kepp, Jr.
Dan Martin
Jim Rich
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Coyle
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ALSO PRESENT: Amanda Townsend, Director ofDAS
Dr. Karen Brown, Veterinarian -DAS
Ekna Guevara, Administrative Assistant, DAS
MISC. Corres:
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April 19, 2011
I. Call to Order:
Vice Chairman Marcia Breithaupt called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
D. Attendance - Establish a Quorum:
Roll call was taken and a quorwn established
ID. Approval of Agenda:
Jim Rich moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Sgt. David Estes. Carried
unanimously, 7-0.
IV. Approval of Minutes: March 15,2011
Sgt. David Estes moved to recommend approval of the minutes of March 15,
2011, as presented. Second by Dan Martin. Carried unanimously, 7-0.
V. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
Nominations from the Board Members were entertained for Chairman:
Jim Rich nominated Marcia Breithaupt. Marcia accepted the nomination.
Dan Martin nominated Jim Rich. Jim accepted the nomination.
Nominations were closed. Bya show of hands Marcia Breithaupt was elected
Chairman, 6-0. (Marcia did not vote.)
Dan Martin nominated Jim Rich for Vice Chairman. Jim accepted the
nomination.
There were no other nominations. Jim Rich is Vice Chairman.
Marcia Breithaupt resumed the meeting as Chairman.
VI. Old Business:
A. Directors Report
Amanda Townsend reported on the following:
1. New Programs with Humane Society of Naples (flyer)
In ajoint effort Amanda and Michael Simonik of Humane Society,
Naples instituted a plan for kitten adoptions that would benefit both
organizations. It would help to educate the public and alleviate the rash of
kitten litters relinquished at DAS. What was proposed was to educate the
customer at the front desk when kittens are brought in, providing
information on DAS legal requirements and procedures. At the same
time, offering them the opportunity of choice, to avail themselves of the
Humane Society foster program with a guarantee of adoption. Protocol
and procedures (space available) had been addressed by Michael and
Amanda. Humane Society, Naples' goal was to foster and adopt 500
kittens this summer. A Humane Society flyer provided details.
A second program being worked on was with dogs. To help with rescue
adoptions, Humane Society, Naples offered the use of a dog run with an
adoption guarantee, provided certain criteria are met. DAS will choose
the appropriate dog to be transferred. Potential problems were being
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April 19, 2011
addressed and signage promotions will be available.
2. FY 2012 Budget Preparation
Amanda Townsend reported an across the board 3% cut to the General
Fund was in effect again. However, due to improvements with the
licensure program, shifting of expenses, staff reductions and combing
jobs, the picture was not as bleak as prior years.
She noted:
. A 20% total reduction since fiscal year 2007.
. DAS' appreciation of the inmate labor program with thanks to
SheriffRambosk.
. Budgets will be due to the Budget Office at the end of the week; to
the County Manager at the end of May and presented to the
DASAB at the June meeting.
. Modification to the fee policy to include a non-refund option on
adoptions will move forward after all comprehensive changes to
the budget have been made.
. Streamlining applications for adoption policy by requesting
applications be filled out prior to bringing in animals for adoption.
3. DAS Marketing and Public Relations
Amanda Townsend announced the paper work had been filed for a
Public Relations position who will handle Marketing and Public Relations
for DAS.
Ekna Guevara will assume the Administrative Assistant position as well
as her regular position as Fiscal Technician. A full time 'job bank"
position (I-year) was in the approval stage.
The announcement was received by a vigorous round of applause.
B. Trust Fund Usage (handouts)
Amanda Townsend had consulted with Assistant County Attorney Colleen
Green for her opinion on the Donation Trust Fund Priorities List, prepared
by DASAB, to ascertain any conflict with Resolution 2006-26, which created
the Donation Trust Fund Account.
Assistant County Attorney Colleen Greene determined, in her opinion, which
items that did not either benefit the community at large or the DAS agency;
thus, would not meet the criteria under the Resolution.
. Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11 would need BCC approval to revise the
Resolution.
. Items 6 through 9, 12, 13 and 15 would meet the criteria.
Discussion revolved around:
Receiving input from the Donor Survey prior to Resolution change discussion
Foster program - Possibility for Donation Trust Fund to pay for a 'job Bank"
staff employee to administer. Also, possibility for a private group to take
over in the future.
Dr. Karen Brown noted the Foster Program seemed to generate more vet
visits for minor incidents, creating a "constant vet appointment" at the clinic.
Jim Rich stated a better way was needed to handle foster/adoption programs.
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April 19, 2011
He stressed the Trust Fund use was not to create a position, but to create
adoptions.
Amanda Townsend will re-check with the County Attorneys to assure the
suggestions put forth were financially sustainable. She noted:
. DAS now works with about 60 different rescue groups and about
25% of adoptions are rescue adoptions.
. Financial times were affecting adoptions everywhere.
. DAS purchased a number of collars due to the fundraising effort of
many volunteers. The ideal would be to send them home with the
pet. Re-sale of collars was possible for the program to pay for itself.
. The Letter to Donors Survey List will be edited and sent out, using
the comments from the attorney to modify it. Results will be reported
at the next meeting.
Dr. Karen Brown will present a report on the success of the Bordetella
program at the next meeting.
YD. New Business:
A. Volunteer Recognition
Amanda Townsend noted April was Volunteer month. Appreciation of all
who volunteer and have made such an impact at DAS was expressed. Special
mention was given to Bob McKenzie, a passionate volunteer, who fmds many
adoptable cats a home. He is also the photographer for Pet of the Week
photos. Also, to Lori LaRosa, who volunteered 40 hrs a week for 12 weeks in
the clinic while studying to be a Vet Tech. She now works at Gulfshore
Animal Hospital; and, volunteers at DAS on her days off.
Dr. Brown will have a college student over the summer to intern at the DAS
clinic. A lengthy applause followed.
B. Second Quarter Statistical Report
Charts were reviewed with several items discussed in detail.
. Animal Control Officers were down by 3 - 2 on leave-l resignation
. Criteria for the position was given.
. Noted: adoptions were up and euthanasia down, statistically.
. More surrenders and less strays brought in.
. Assilomar Accords training will occur over the summer with
implement in the fall. The program assures all agencies that work
with animals will use the same reporting statistics and standards.
. Surgeries in house were on track with projected goals.
. Volunteer's hours were over 2,500.
Two "wish list" items for future consideration were:
1. A volunteer to work on matching lost and found.
2. A manned desk /animal hotline/surrender prevention person, perhaps
leading to an inter-agency project correlation.
Jim Rich added following up on adoptions to prevent returns.
c. 2011 FL Legislative Session Update (handout -2)
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April 19, 2011
Amanda Townsend announced she had been elected to the Board of
Directors of the Florida Animal Control Association (FACA). In that
capacity she will be providing DASAB with information updates on Florida
Humane Legislation activities. Two of those updates were:
. Florida Humane Legislation update provided by the Humane Society
of the United States (HSUS) referencing Humane Lobby Day (April
5) along with the legislative activity of several bills going through the
Florida House and Senate.
. A Legislative Report on 7 House and Senate Bills for Week 5 of the
regular session being tracked by FACA's legislative legal team.
Dr. Ruth Eisele suggested the creation of a license plate to fund the Foster
Program. Amanda explained the process and will check on its possibility.
D. Health of Shelter Animals (Marcia Breithaupt)
Chairman Marcia Breithaupt had concerns regarding the public perception
of the health ofDAS animals in comparison to the Humane Society which
does not take in strays and limits its numbers.
Dr. Karen Brown stated DAS did a good job in relation to the numbers
brought in and noted the fact that 70% to 80% of animals enter shelters with
various diseases, mostly due to stress. Shelter protocol at DAS was strictly
followed and sick animals were not put up for adoption. Shelter medicine,
the animal's environment and lowering the numbers to a manageable amount
were the only solutions to disease control, according to Dr. Brown. Dr. Ruth
Eisele concurred.
Amanda Townsend was in favor of hosting the leaders from animal welfare
community groups and agencies for an interagency meeting to adopt a set of
guidelines for working towards the same goal.
VDI. Public Comments;
A. Topic TBA (open discussion)
Following an explanation of what DASAB does and the working
relationship between DAS and the Board Members, an open discussion on
taking ideas to the next level ensued.
Topics covered were:
. Collier Citizen Focus Group participation
Marcia will report on this next month
. What direction did the average citizen want the Board to take
. Pet School 101 - more promotion by DASAB and DAS.
. Public apathy
. Coordinate with more agencies
. Letters to the Editor on a regular basis
. What issues the Public RelationslMarketing person could handle
Tom Kepp brought attention to the fact that other agencies and animal
groups are not accountable to the County's Taxpayers. And, as such,
DAS was the only agency that can enforce enacted laws and ordinances.
B. Individual Comments
Michele Antonia commented on several items that had been discussed:
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April 19,2011
. License plates to fund the Foster Program - She stated if people
supported the Spay and Neuter license plates, there would be no
need for Foster Program license plates.
. Regarding the sick animals issue - in her work with the Collier Cat
Coalition, she routinely picks up 20 to 25 cats, which are left at
DAS for 5 days. None got sick at DAS, even without vaccinations
or medicines.
. Pet School 101 - She commended the organizers for the getting the
program together on short notice and making a start on an idea that
can be promoted next time.
. Donation Trust Fund - She said its existence is well advertised,
especially each year at Howl-a-Day Jubilee which thousands attend.
She cited a recent example of the need for a Backyard Breeders License. Puppies
were being sold on street corners for $20 - no spay & neuter, no shots, no license.
The owner will continue to breed and sell. Her effort at education in these cases was
useless. Her opinion was that only stronger measures (Breeder's Licensing and
Mandatory Spay & Neuter policies) will halt the practice.
IX. Advisory Board Members Comments:
Jim Rich mentioned Lee County was in the process of adopting mandatory
Spay & Neuter policies.
Dan Martin read from a list he prepared of15 ideas he would like to see
implemented and solicited everyone's opinion.
The list will be available from Danfor use in further discussion.
Dr. Ruth Eisele congratulated Jim Rich on the nomination of For the Love
of Cats for best rescue group - on a national level.
Marcia Breithaupt inquired about medical evaluations on each animal at
DAS if noticed by the volunteers.
Dr. Brown noted she has the forms to request medical evaluations.
The next meeting of the Domestic Animal Advisory Board is May 17, 2011.
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was
adjourned by the order ofthe Chair at 8:53 P.M.
Collier County Domestic Animal Services
w.~
These minutes approved by the Board/Committee on
as presented or as amended
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