February 2007
CALL TO ORDER 7:00 PM BY DR SWEET
The new board members, Dr. Michele Sweet & Neil Cortus were introduced.
Minutes read from January 2007 meeting by Neil Cortus. Motion to accept, seconded & approved.
Neil Cortus gave financial report. Motion to accept, seconded & approved.
Reports are available from Secretary.
OLD BUSINESS
Bud Ryle discussed the grant and donation program with the following points:
□ ARA to complete applications.
□ Sandy @ WTRE will be willing to put board members on the radio for monthly updates.
□ Greensburg Daily News will support Shelter efforts
□ Bud will format the letter for ARA
□ The Board will review list of potential contributors.
A discussion of the location of the Animal Control Board meeting was discussed. A motion to hold meeting at the city hall was seconded & approved. A key to the City Hall was given to Cortus.
Dr Sweet addressed the offer by PAAIN to provide the Science Diet free food program and a motion to decline this offer was seconded & approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Cortus discussed the role of each of the board members moving forward to establish a better operating shelter and a higher understanding of animal control needs by Decatur County residents.
The roles discussed are as follows:
□ Dr Sweet & Dr Hirt will head up the introduction of a countywide spay/neuter program. Additionally Dr Sweet will work on Indiana drug storage compliance at the shelter and powers of the Warden to issue citations.
□ Bud Ryle is charged with supervision of grant writing & fundraising.
□ Neil Cortus is charged with developing Policies & Procedures at the shelter. The Warden will play an active part in this development process.
Dr Sweet welcomed County Attorney Peg Pulaski to the meeting. Discussions were had in regard to the Wardens power to issue citations. Ms. Pulaski said that it costs too much to prosecute. Dr Sweet said that she would check with the Columbus Shelter to see what their procedures are. Mr. Ryle suggested that the Sheriff & Police Chief should attend the ACB meetings.
Cortus discussed adoption kits and it was agreed that it was important to issue them with adoptions from the shelter. Warden was asked to do so. Cortus gave an adoption information letter to the board for approval.
Bud Ryle reiterated money raising, radio spots and other fundraising issues. Mr. Ryle noted that two to three weeks approval were required prior to airing. Additionally the board must agree on topics discussed.
Bud Ryle discussed the Indiana Open Door policy and will provide a copy to the ACB.
Dr Sweet discussed in detail the Spay/Neuter program, shelter operated and funded deworming & vaccinations & euthanization compliance. Included in this explanation were the following points:
□ Do not reinvent programs, copy programs like Columbus IN.
□ 100% Compliance required.
□ Utilize a non-reverting fund.
□ Local Vets would need to be involved and need to be paid a fair price.
□ Possibility of running the program at the shelter.
□ Financial options were discussed.
□ Handling of animals was discussed.
□ Utilizing multiple S/N programs was discussed.
Jan Meyer offered the possibility of PAAIN funded vouchers for people who cant afford S/N for dogs only.
Dr Sweet offered to communicate with the local Vets about the S/N program and mentioned that volume will affect price.
Group discussion that S/N program was important for both cats & K9s.
Mr Ryle asked how long to implement 100% S/N and Dr. Sweet could not answer.
Mr. Ryle said that the 25% discount program at the local vets was not working and suggested that most of the local Vets were too busy to work with the shelter.
Dr. Sweet discussed the possibility of doing in-house HW & Feline Leukemia testing.
Dr. Sweet discussed the details of having citations for abuse & neglect cases.
Cortus asked if an Assistant Warden was scheduled to be hired in March 2007. Ryle said that an addition of an Assistant Warden would need to be included in next years budget. Raise set for Warden @ 40% chance of happening per Ryle. Ryle says money is tight and ACB needs to operate in existing budget. Dr. Sweet asks if additional help is needed. Warden sites that he is out of shelter 4-6 hours per day. Warden says Assistant Warden more important than raise. Ryle suggests an additional appropriation at end of year if needed and that he has never been turned down for additional appropriation.
Warden reported monthly animals through the shelter and monies collected. Stated that order for cat cages was placed. Reports are available from Secretary.
PAAIN reported no new business. Rhonda Lee stated a record number of dogs were removed from the shelter during Jan/Feb.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm
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