April 2007
CALL TO ORDER 7:00 PM BY DR SWEET
Minutes read from March 2007 meeting by Neil Cortus. Motion to accept,
seconded & approved.
Neil Cortus gave financial report. Motion to accept, seconded & approved.
Cortus discussed new cages & payment. Ryle explained how large capital
expenses are taken the old building account.
Reports are available from Secretary.
OLD BUSINESS
Teresa Voltz & Michele Sweet did a twenty minute discussion about IHR on WTRE
Michele & Amy to do next radio spot.
Radio spots available every second Wednesday of the month between 8am & 9am.
Dr Hirt to do the July 11 date for spay/neuter program.
Cortus to do June with a rescue format.
Ryle has a list of names for the fundraising letter drive. Ryle will buy
envelopes and stamps.
Cortus will take over adoption kits.
Water heater seems to work fine if it is set to a higher temperature.
Shelter crew was given approval to purchase poop scooping supplies.
The controlled substance permit was stalled by a request for more information
and a letter from Dr. Martin.
The following points were made about the Open Door Policy:
No more than 2 board members can meet at a time to discuss board issues.
If more that 3 members meet, it must be posted for a week in advance and be
labeled either a Executive Meeting which only board members will attend or a
labeled a Public Meeting.
Multiple meetings can be called at the boards discretion.
Dr. Sweet introduced the Kennel Card System. Cortus asked for a copy of the
Card for Board approval. The cards will have stickers for differing conditions
of the animals:
Green: Ready for adoption
Blue: Ready for rescue
Red: Not Adoptable
Yellow: In holding
The program is in a trial basis and a motion to accept was seconded & approved.
Ryle discussed his research into adding some security measures to the shelter.
Noting that the Police regularly patrol the shelter grounds, Ryle proposed to
the board to consider an installation of a system by HOP Communications.
Included would be:
□ Fake outside cameras
□ Two monitors
□ One control panel
□ One key pad
□ Optional horn
This system would automatically call Police when activated. One time cost of
$1,251.00 includes installation. Ryle said that this should be put into next
years budget or taken from excess building fund. Assistant Warden noted that she
would be on site after hours. An open discussion of security issues ended with a
motion to include a security system into next years budget. This motion was
seconded and approved.
Dr. Hirt discussed the need for incoming recovery cages for returning animals
from Spay/Neuter surgery. Dr. Hirt provided a quote from Snyder Manufacturing Co
for rolling recovery cages. The cost was $2,336.00 less card holders. Dr. Hirt
discussed the difference between fiberglass recovery cages and stainless steel
cages. It was also noted that a S/N program would be driven by the arrival date
of the recovery cages. A motion to purchase the new stainless steel recovery
cages was seconded and approved.
Dr. Hirt & Dr. Sweet introduce a Spay/Neuter program. See attached information
sheet. It was noted that this is a proposal and Dr. Sweet discussed the details.
Board and attendees had an open discussion on the details of the program.
Jan Myers asked if dehumidifiers would aid in the fight to decrease kennel
cough. Dr. Sweet suggested fans, poop scooping and the use of squeegees could
help. Cortus suggested tracking the instance if Kennel cough as we have no good
data to understand the problem and how bad it is.
The credit card machine will require an outside bank account to work. Cortus
gained approval from County Auditor to open this account. This account could
also be used to accept donations from the internet.
The letter written by shelter employees was approved for distribution to the
newspaper.
Dr. Sweet has a letter to be introduced at a later time for discussion.
NEW BUSINESS
Ron Linger adopted Rowdy, a Blue Healer/Lab mix puppy from the shelter on
3/31/07 and discusses his experience with finding out that his dog had Kennel
cough after 5 days. Dr. Sweet noted that Ron had signed a waiver and read the
contents of the waiver. Ron thought that the warden treated him badly and that
he said that his dog would die. Mr. Linger asked that a large sign should be
posted stating contents of the waiver. Dr. Sweet thanked Mr. Linger for his
comments and noted that the health of the shelter animals will improve with the
institution of the new health programs. Dr. Sweet also mentioned that we are
working with the Warden to improve public relationships.
Dr. Sweet discusses shelter existing policies for Rescue:
Shelter makes all decisions on what animals go to rescue.
Suggests that Amy Marshall takes over as rescue contact.
A 3 day waiting period for owner to recover dog is followed.
If animal is owner surrender then 3 day waiting period can be waived.
If any animal is exposed to Parvovirus that the animal will be destroyed
immediately.
Public & Rescue can view animals in the quarantine area under direct
supervision of shelter personnel.
Owners need photo & proof of current rabies vaccination to reclaim any animal.
A 7 day waiting period will be recognized prior to the release of any animal
to rescue, this includes the 3 day waiting period.
Warden can hold an animal and at their discretion.
Rescue will be contacted 24 hours prior to euthanization of any animal due to
shelter over crowding.
Shelter personnel must treat rescue people with respect.
All histories of shelter animals will be available to rescue.
All vaccinations, Heart worm testing and worming will be completed by shelter.
For now, all pure bred unaltered dogs will go to Rescue.
An active discussion was presented by board members and attendees in regards to
the Rescue policy it was determined that this policy was a good starting point
and that it must remain flexible as new data is collected. A motion was
presented to accept the rescue policy was seconded and approved by a 3 to 1
vote.
Group discussed eliminating the Wardens position and adding a Shelter Manager
and an Animal Control Officer.
2008 Budget was discussed and Cortus & Ryle were selected to prepare a
presentation and budget for the City & County Councils.
If there is a complaint about the shelter, board members are asked to discuss
the problem with the shelter management and then the board. Cortus suggested
that a central storage area be developed so now complaints went answered.
Dawn Moore of More Love Rescue said that she may an emergency eye wash station
that she could donate to the shelter. Amy to discuss medical kits with Cortus.
Assistant Warden will purchase window & door blinds for shelter.
Assistant Warden will purchase Open/Closed sign for shelter.
Dr. Hirt accepted a assignment to supervise all Maintenance issues at the
shelter. He will initially look at making runs out of the common areas outside.
Cortus delivered a catalog to the shelter with multiple uniform options. It
was discussed that the cost of the uniforms would by covered by the County.
Assistant Warden agreed to look at the catalog.
PAAIN REPORT
PAAIN delivered a package of information to the Board including:
A letter of complaint
List of financial contributions to shelter.
Box diagram of the distribution of PAAIN distributed animals from the shelter.
List of suggestions.
Jan Myers suggested that cats no longer be required to stay 3 days in the
quarantine area upon entry to the shelter. Cortus asked Dr. Sweet & Dr. Hirt if
this would cause any unforeseen disease control issues and answer was no. A
motion to allow incoming cats to proceed directly to the cat common room was
seconded & approved.
WARDENS REPORT
Warden was absent from meeting so Cortus summarized reports. Cortus had a
brief discussion about 4 month averages at shelter from the new record keeping:
□ The shelter has accepted 69.5 dogs a month.
□ 41% of the dogs are going to rescue
□ 15% of the dogs are being returned to owners
□ 31% of dogs are being placed from shelter
□ 13% of dogs are being destroyed
A motion to adjourn the meeting was seconded at 10:00 pm
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