Minutes from the April 2013 meeting of the Memphis Animal Services Advisory Board meeting. These minutes were taken by Jeanne Chancellor who is on the Advisory Board at MAS and is a volunteer at Memphis Animal Services. The Advisory Board meets every month and "allows" the public to come to their meetings on a quarterly basis. They had a public meeitng in July but, for some unknown reason, these April minutes are the most current minutes posted (and this is Septembe)r. Welcome to the world of deception at Memphis Animal Services, the City of Memphis taxpayer funded facility with a current kill rate almost reaching 75%. Memphis Animal Shelter Advisory Board Open Meeting April 10, 2013 Dr. Stephen Tower, Chairman; Karen William, member; Jill Madajaczyk, Member; Jeanne Chancellor, Member; Robert Ratton, City Attorney’s Office; James Rogers, Shelter Administrator The meeting was called to order by Dr. Tower. The March minutes were presented. Jill Madajaczyk made a motion to approve. The motion was seconded by Jeanne Chancellor. The minutes were approved. Mr. Rogers presented the Shelter statistics which are posted on the web separately from the minutes. Mr. Rogers reported on activities at the Shelter. MAS is working hard on getting animals out to rescue. This past month a horse has gone to rescue, and presently the Shelter has rabbits and a turkey that rescue/adoption is being pursued. The Shelter is offering compassionate fatigue sessions twice a week for the Shelter employees. The Shelter held euthanasia training for employees and others in West Tennessee in January. The Shelter has been working on outreach with Buffalo Wild Wings and Petco. The Shelter will be participating in a vaccination clinic in the near future. A logo unveiling was held for the new logo in January. Jennifer Pittman was the winner, and her logo is now being used for the Shelter. The logo is going on all literature at the Shelter. Off‐site adoption events have been held at the Petco stores at Poplar and Highland and in Bartlett. The Shelter is also having adoption events at the Buffalo Wild Wings at Wolfchase. This store has great exposure to mall traffic, and the events have been very successful. Dr. Tower asked for a breakdown on intakes. Owner Surrender, stray in the field and a breakdown on intakes brought into the Shelter by the public as to if a found animal or an owner animal. Mr. Rogers said this would be made available. Mr. Rogers reported that there are 5 microchip readers being used. The readers are available in the clinic, intake area, euthanasia room, Animal Control Officer’s intake area, and one is on the mobile van. Dr. Tower asked about animals unaccounted for. Mr. Rogers reported there are 60 animals unaccounted for currently. The Board asked that this number be brought down. Mr. Rogers said the Shelter staff would work on this number and report on progress at the next meeting. A report on animals dying in the shelter was given. No animals have died in surgery. 9 have died in the kennel in the last quarter. January 1 died in kennel, February 4 died in kennel, March 4 died in the kennel which involved puppies rolled on by a mother dog. Mr. Rogers reported that deaths in the kennels is being monitored closely. The subject of issuing citations in the field for dogs running at large and returning the animals in the field was discussed. This could become an issue with proving ownership and give Animal Control Officers too much authority. This could develop into a legal issue. Mr. Rogers reported that the Shelter has worked with local groups transferring animal to other agencies when the need arose. Animals have been transferred to rescue groups who are Pet Placement Partners, The Memphis Shelby County Humane Society, Collierville Animal Shelter and The Bartlett Animal Shelter. A report was given on the progress of dispatching being improved with the help of The Fire Department. Written dispatch is going to be replaced with data entry. When this change is made the Fire Department will help train the Officers. This change will streamline the Animal Control Officer’s dispatch logs greatly. Dr. Tower noted that the pictures on the cage cards and on Pet Harbor have greatly improved. Mr. Rogers reported that the door to the Euthanasia Room is unlocked and open when the room is being used. Dr. Tower reiterated that this was very important in keeping the room transparent. The meeting we opened to comments by the public. A question was asked about how the cases of the Animal Control Officers are assigned to courts. This is left up the officers depending on the type of charges being made. It was the consensus that the cases going to Environmental Court is preferable if possible. A question was asked about the sedation of animals before euthanasia. Out of 100 animals Mr. Rogers reported that 9 – 15 % received euthanasia. Dr. Tower said the use of sedation should help minimize occasional abuse caused by over restraint. A question was asked about the certification of employees for euthanasia. Mr. Rogers reported that 22 employees are certified. No employee is in euthanasia more than two times a month. A question was asked about the defective been in that the blue coating is being chewed off by some of the dogs. It was reported that it has been difficult to get the vendor back at the shelter as they are from Missouri. Robert Ratton reported that the Legal Department was getting involved in the matter, and he would report as the issue progresses. A question was asked about the spaying/neutering of heartworm positive dogs. Mr. Rogers reported that a rescue Cocker has been neutered for a rescue group, and the dog had done well during surgery. This matter is still being discussed with Dr. Coleman. A question was asked about how long the Shelter camera videos are held before being overwritten. It was reported that the tapes are written over after 7 ‐8 days. They system tapes are written over when the system memory becomes full. Robert Ratton that he would look into it, and possibly have someone one the Tech. Department come and explain the system at the next open meeting. A question was asked about behavioral assessments of the animals being in the records. Mr. Rogers reported this is not currently being done. A question was asked about cameras in the euthanasia room. Mr. Rogers stated that there would be no cameras in the euthanasia room. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Jeanne Chancellor and seconded by Karen Williams. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Jeanne Chancellor Secretary
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 12:56:03 +0000
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