Aug 28, 2025 Animal Shelter Advisory Committee

OKAY. WELCOME TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.

[1. Call to Order: The Animal Shelter Advisory Committee of the City of Sachse will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6:30 PM to consider the following items of business:]

[00:00:05]

AT WHAT TIME YOU GOT? 6:34? I'VE ASKED RACHEL GROGAN TO OFFER THE INVOCATION AND LANCE WHITWORTH TO LEAD THE PLEDGES, IF YOU WILL PLEASE RISE.

DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS GATHERING. PLEASE GIVE US CLARITY, FOCUS AND INSPIRATION FOR THE IMPORTANT TASK BEFORE US.

HELP US TO WORK TOGETHER WITH RESPECT AND PURPOSE, MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME, AMEN.

AMEN.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

TEXAS FLAG ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU RACHEL AND LANCE. ALL RIGHT AT THIS TIME, IT'S ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING ANY TOPIC NOT ALREADY ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTION OR PUBLIC HEARING.

COMMENTS REGARDING ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS REGARDING ANY DISCUSSION OF ONLY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA MAY BE ADDRESSED DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

TIME LIMIT IS THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER. A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE ACTING SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE MEETING, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. THE BOARD IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING ANY ITEM NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA.

BUT WILL TAKE COMMENTS UNDER ADVISEMENT, ADVISEMENT.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

SECTION C ACTION ITEMS. ACTION ITEMS ARE FOR BOARD DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION FOR ACTION.

[1. Consider approving the March 27, 2025, meeting minutes.]

NUMBER 1, CONSIDER APPROVING THE MARCH 27TH, 2025 MEETING MINUTES.

ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ABOUT THIS ITEM? NO? SEEING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM THE BOARD.

MOVE I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. SO WE'RE GOING TO CAST VOTES BY RAISING OUR HAND, AND JENNIFER WILL CALL US. DO THE ROLL CALL. PIRKEY. YEA, YEA ESPINOSA. YEA. YEA. MR. PRESTENBERG. YEA. MR. GROGAN. YEA. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT DISCUSSION ITEMS. THESE ARE FOR THE BOARD AND STAFF TO DISCUSS AS NEEDED.

[1. Receive an update on the Animal Shelter activities.]

SECTION 1, RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE ANIMAL SHELTER ACTIVITIES.

COUNCILMAN PRESTENBERG I WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE.

OKAY. FOR UPDATES, BUT FIRST I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR STAFF, OUR TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS TO THE ANIMAL SERVICES. AND, OF COURSE, HUGO, WHO'S A BOARD MEMBER.

ESPINOZA IS OUR MANAGER. HE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR THREE WEEKS NOW, BUT MAYBE TAKE A MINUTE.

KIND OF SHARE WHERE YOU'VE COME FROM, SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND HOW YOU GOT HERE? YEAH. THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE. I HAVE 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

GOING ON YEAR 17. I SPENT 14 YEARS IN THE CITY OF GARLAND.

AND THEN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF IN THE CITY OF MESQUITE. BEEN A CERTIFIED OFFICER FOR JUST ABOUT ALL 14 OR 16, 17 YEARS. I GOT MY ADVANCED CERTIFICATIONS. I TEACH SOME COURSES.

SO EXCITED TO BRING MY KNOWLEDGE AND KEEP SACHSE GOING STRONG WITHIN ANIMAL SERVICES.

AWESOME SHE RECENTLY JUST PASSED HER IT'S CALLED ACO COURSE, RIGHT? BUT SHE'S AN ANIMAL SERVICES OPERATOR FOR THE CITY OF SACHSE.

DOES SHE HAVE A MIC OVER THERE? YEAH. YOU WANT TO JUST KIND OF SHARE YOUR.

WHAT? HOW YOU GOT HERE? YEAH, I CAME FROM. I CAME FROM A DOG GROOMERS.

SO I HAVE A PAST OF ANIMAL CARE, MOSTLY PERSONAL.

I WAS A FOSTER, AND THEN I HAVE ANIMALS OF MY OWN, SO I JUST ALWAYS WANTED TO END UP IN AN ANIMAL RELATED CAREER,

[00:05:03]

I'M THE LEISURE SERVICES DIRECTOR. AGAIN, THAT WAS BACK IN EARLY JUNE.

TERRI O'NEILL WAS THE SUPERVISOR AT THE TIME SHE RETIRED.

AND THEN WE ALSO LOST ANOTHER ACO ANIMAL SERVICE OPERATOR SERVICES OPERATE AT THAT TIME.

SO WE WERE DOWN TO ONE EMPLOYEE THAT WAS AMBER.

IF YOU GUYS KNOW AMBER, BUT AMBER AND I HELD THE FORT DOWN, BUT NOT WITHOUT HELP FROM OUR CITY NEXT DOOR.

CITY OF GARLAND HELPED US OUT. WE DID AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

THEY HELPED US OUT. THEY GAVE US AN EMPLOYEE THAT HELPED US FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

SO A LOT OF CHANGES, LOTS CHANGES, SOME OTHER CHANGES AT THE SHELTER.

WE DID CHANGE OUR HOURS OF OPERATION. AS YOU KNOW, THEY WERE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 9 TO 6.

THEY'RE NOW 10 TO 6. ENABLES OUR STAFF TO DO GET THE FACILITY READY IN THE MORNING, MORE TIME.

WE FELT THAT THE HOUR DIDN'T GIVE THEM ENOUGH TIME.

THEY'RE KIND OF TIME PRESSED TO GET KENNELS CLEANED AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WE ENTERED INTO A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT WITH FRAS.

THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW FRAS IT'S THE FRIENDS OF RESCUE ANIMAL SERVICES.

IS THAT CORRECT? SERVICES? THEY ARE A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OF ABOUT 300 MEMBERS TO OVER 200 ARE ACTIVE.

THEY HAVE A HEFTY BUDGET THAT GETS FROM DONATIONS.

THEY'RE ACTIVELY AT THE GARLAND SHELTER, THE ROWLETT SHELTER AND THE RICHARDSON'S SHELTER.

AND THEN WE ENTERED INTO A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

THEY COME AND HELP WITH CLEANING, WALKING THE ANIMALS AND DOING A VARIETY OF OTHER TASKS AT THE SHELTER.

WE ARE GOING TO GO AND ENTER INTO A LONG TERM AGREEMENT WITH THEM, AND THAT WILL BE AT THE SEPTEMBER 15TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. A BIG THING THAT WE'RE REALLY ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS THAT I GAVE HUGO WAS TO LOOK AT OUR ORDINANCES. OUR ORDINANCES ARE IF THOSE THAT HAVE LOOKED AT THEM, THEY'RE REALLY OUTDATED.

I MEAN, THERE'S 2 OR 3 PAGES ON RACING PIGEONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS NOTICED THAT, BUT DOCTOR PIRKEY MAY KNOW THIS, BUT I GUESS SACHSE WAS A HUGE RACING PIGEON BREEDING GROUNDS BACK IN THE 80S, 70S AND 80S. BUT SO WE GOT A LOT OF THAT.

2 OR 3 YEAH YEAH. SO YOU PROBABLY KNOW PATTY MONTAGNA. OF COURSE.

HER HUSBAND. VINNIE? HE WASN'T I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. YEAH. HER FIRST HUSBAND VINNIE YEAH HE'S THAT'S INTERESTING. BUT SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WILL ALSO GO TO CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 15TH.

BUT I'VE ASKED HUGO TO KIND OF GO THROUGH SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THE, ON THE ORDINANCES AND KIND OF GET INPUT FROM, FROM THIS GROUP AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE CHANGES.

AND I WAS GOING TO TURN SOME TIME OVER TO HUGO.

THANK YOU I GOT A QUICK PRESENTATION, JUST KIND OF A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF KIND OF WHAT LANCE WAS SPEAKING ON.

KIND OF REVIEWING FIRST TEST THAT I GOT ASSIGNED, WHICH IS SOMETHING I LIKE TO DO, IS READ OVER ORDINANCES, ESPECIALLY GOING TO BE MANAGING THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ENFORCING SOME OF THESE THINGS.

SO JUST A QUICK, BROAD OVERVIEW. WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY.

IT'S JUST WHAT WE THERE WASN'T TOO MUCH THAT NEEDED TO CHANGE.

WE DID FORMAT THE TERMINOLOGY TO NOW REFLECT US BEING UNDER A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT INSTEAD OF POLICE.

AND THEN WE DID STRENGTHEN SOME DEFINITIONS, KIND OF GOT MORE IN DETAIL TO BETTER DEFINE WHAT OUR ROLES ARE AND BETTER ESTABLISH SOME, SOME DEFINITIONS THAT WERE KIND OF BROAD FROM BEFORE.

AND THEN THERE WAS JUST A FEW ORDINANCES THAT WE, THAT WE FELT WE WANTED TO PRESENT TO POSSIBLY CHANGE AND JUST BE MORE IN LINE WITH CURRENT PRACTICES THAT OTHER NEIGHBORING SHELTERS, WE KIND OF ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

SO JUST A FEW THINGS ON DEFINITIONS. THE ENTIRE SECTION NOW IS REMOVING ANYTHING THAT SAYS ANIMAL WARDEN TO ANIMAL SERVICES, ANIMAL SERVICE OFFICER, ANIMAL SERVICE MANAGER.

AND THEN WE DID ESTABLISH THE ROLE OF A LOCAL RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITY THAT'S LRC.

THAT'S THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF ESTABLISHING THE RABIES INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE CITY.

WE DID ALSO EXPAND ON SOME OF THE ESTABLISHED DEFINITIONS ALREADY LISTED, JUST AGAIN, JUST TO REDEFINE AND STRENGTHEN SOME OF THOSE TO BE A LITTLE MORE DETAILED.

[00:10:04]

AND THEN JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW ON SOME OF THE ORDINANCES.

SO THEY WERE, AS WE WERE TALKING PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT REMOVAL OF SOME OUTDATED ORDINANCES.

I JUST DON'T SOME OF IT, LIKE THE RACING PIGEON REGULATIONS, PROBABLY DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN THERE ANYMORE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE COVERED UNDER THE WORDING OF FOWL AND EXCESSIVE ANIMALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE DID AGAIN REFLECT THE CHANGE IN THE ORGANIZATION WITH ANIMAL WARDEN.

AND THEN THERE WERE SOME EXPANDED SECTIONS TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH OPERATIONAL AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS AS FAR AS TRAPPING SOME OF THE EXAMPLES WHERE LIKE DANGEROUS DOG DEFINITIONS AND KIND OF OUR, OUR THOUGHTS ON ALLOWING DANGEROUS DOGS IN THE CITY.

THERE WAS THE, THE REQUEST TO POSSIBLY MOVE AWAY FROM CITY REGISTRATION.

IT'S KIND OF MORE OF AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND NOT NECESSARILY IN TUNE WITH WHAT OUR PRACTICES ARE AND HOW WE WANT TO BE CONSIDERED A RESOURCE CENTER.

NOT NECESSARILY ENFORCEMENT, AND MOST CITIES HAVE GONE AWAY FROM THAT.

IT JUST COST MONEY WITH TAGS, SENDING REMINDERS, AND THEN WE KIND OF, YOU KNOW WORK ON THE HONOR SYSTEM WITH OUR RESIDENTS.

WE DON'T REALLY GO OUT AND PATROL FOR, YOU KNOW, REGISTRATIONS.

IF WE GOT TO GO INVESTIGATE SOMEWHERE, WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN LINE WITH RABIES REGULATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST, AGAIN, WITH OUR STAFFING AND THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS WE HAVE, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST PRACTICE TO KEEP THAT.

AND WE WANT TO FOCUS ON MICROCHIPS AND THINGS THAT WE'VE ADDED.

SO THERE'S SOME MINOR CHANGES AND JUST SOME UPDATED THINGS.

OUR, OUR MAIN ONE IS THE DANGEROUS DOG REMOVAL REQUEST FOR THAT, THE REGISTRATION AND THEN SOME MORE TRAPPING ENFORCEMENT IS KIND OF BROAD.

WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TRAP ANIMALS SAFE AND OUR RESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO TRAP PROPERLY.

SO WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS ON THE DANGEROUS DOG THAT WE HAD AND WHAT WE'RE SO WHERE WE ARE NOW CURRENTLY ALLOWING DANGEROUS DOGS TO RESIDE IN THE CITY WITH THE PROPER INSURANCE, THE PROPER REGISTRATION AND THEN CHECKS YEARLY.

WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE IF AN ANIMAL IS CONSIDERED TO BE DEEMED DANGEROUS, AND IF THEY ARE, WE WOULD REQUEST FOR THEM TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CITY.

IN MY ORGANIZATIONS I WORK WITH IN THE PAST, I'VE DONE BOTH.

I'VE DONE I'VE WORKED IN A CITY WHERE WE DON'T ALLOW THEM.

AND I WAS IN CHARGE OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS. AND THEN I'VE WORKED IN A CITY THAT DOES ALLOW THEM THAT REALLY WASN'T MANY IN THE CITY THAT DID ALLOW THAT.

WE INVESTIGATED TO BEGIN WITH. AND, AND WE FOUND POSITIVE RESULTS WHEN WE DID NOT ALLOW DANGEROUS ANIMALS TO RESIDE IN OUR CITY.

I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS SAFER, RESIDENTS FEEL SAFER, AND WE WORK WITH THE OWNERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO REHOME THE ANIMALS.

YEAH QUESTION FOR YOU ON NO. SO A DANGEROUS DOG DEFINITION. IS THAT JUST A DOG THAT BITES SOMEONE OR IS IT A BREED? SO NO. SO IT THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE OR WE WANT TO REQUEST THE UPDATE IS THERE'S DEFINED DEFINITIONS OF A DANGEROUS.

SO A BYTE WOULDN'T CONSIDER AN ANIMAL DANGEROUS.

IT HAD TO BE A BYTE WHERE THERE WAS SEVERE INJURIES OR DEATH OF ANOTHER ANIMAL OR A PERSON.

IT'S MULTIPLE BYTES THAT CONTINUOUSLY HAPPEN.

OR THIS THE ANIMAL WAS EXHIBITING BEHAVIOR THAT CAN POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THOSE DEFINITIONS ARE NOW DEFINED. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE PROPERLY WITH A CHANCE OF AN APPEAL AND REVIEW OF SOMEONE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A STAFF MEMBER THERE THAT WE DETERMINE THE DETERMINATION AND THEN KIND OF A SILLY QUESTION, BUT THERE MIGHT BE A STATE ORDINANCE AGAINST THIS.

BUT LIKE, ARE THERE CERTAIN ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED? LIKE IF SOMEONE WANTED TO BE LIKE MIKE TYSON AND HAVE A TIGER [LAUGHTER]. THAT'S, THAT'S IN THERE.

WE DID DEFINE THOSE DEFINITIONS AS EXOTIC OR UNALLOWED ANIMALS IN THE CITY.

AND THOSE INCLUDE THOSE EXOTICS LIKE THAT. PERFECT OKAY THANK YOU OTHER THAN THAT, THOUGH, THERE'S IT WAS THE MAIN CHUNKS OF IT ARE OUTLINED AND SENT OFF FOR APPROVAL.

AND AS LANCE SAID, WE WANT TO PRESENT THAT TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCES IN SEPTEMBER.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MANY CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO OPERATIONALIZE ARE GOING TO CAUSE MORE WORK OR LESS WORK.

I JUST THINK WE WANT TO BE IN TUNE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.

I THINK IT ACTUALLY ALLOWS IT HELPS OUR STAFF.

YEAH AND THEN ALSO THE REGISTRATION, MAYBE IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT.

THE REGISTRATION MADE TOTAL SENSE WHEN HUGO EXPLAINED IT TO ME WHAT MOST CITIES ARE NOW GOING TO RATHER THAN ONE, MOST RESIDENTS DON'T REGISTER THEIR ANIMAL. IT'S A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE, BUT YOU CAN DO BY EDUCATION MAKING SURE THAT ALL THEIR RECORDS ARE UPDATED.

SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AND YOU GO TO THE RESIDENT WITH THE ANIMAL, YOU CAN ASK FOR THE RECORDS.

RIGHT. IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT'S ACCURATE. WITH THREE STAFF MEMBERS AND ABOUT 37,000.

[00:15:02]

BUT THAT'S WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE EACH.

SO IT JUST PHYSICALLY IT WOULD PROBABLY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TO EVERY HOUSE AND SEE IF THEY HAVE THEIR ANIMAL REGISTERED.

SO IT'S MORE ON A A RESPONSIVE METHOD. IF WE GO OUT TO DO AN INVESTIGATION OR SOMEONE CALLS AND COMPLAINTS, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK EVERYTHING OUT. AND THAT'S PART OF IT. IT'S MAKING SURE THEY'RE UP TO DATE WITH THEIR RABIES REGISTRATION OR RABIES VACCINES. I'LL SAY THE GOAL, WHAT YOUR APPROACH IS GOING IN LINE WITH LIKE CODE ENFORCEMENT, LIKE CODE ENFORCEMENT NOW IS NOT GOING AROUND NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR PROBLEM AREAS, RIGHT? THEY'RE REACTING, YOU KNOW, TO EITHER PHONE CALLS OR THE CLICK SEE FIX TYPE THING RIGHT YEAH. THAT'S YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF IN LINE WITH THAT.

AND WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE HAVE MOVED ON TO. AND AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE CENTER.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP FOCUS ON REHOMING ANIMALS THAT OWNERS MAYBE CAN'T KEEP ANYMORE OR HELPING OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE FEEDING THEIR DOGS, GETTING MEDICAL CARE, PROVIDE THAT AND KIND OF DO BETTER FOR THE ANIMALS.

AS FAR AS MORE GET KIND OF AWAY FROM BEING AN ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MORE.

LIKE I SAID, THE DAYS OF BEING A DOG CATCHER ARE NO MORE.

WE WANT TO BE HELPFUL IN ANY WAY WE CAN OKAY YES. OKAY OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS DISCUSSION ITEM? OKAY

[2. Review and discuss matters related to the health and safety code for the Animal Shelter.]

SO WHEN IT FELL UNDER WHEN WE TOOK IT OVER IN LEISURE SERVICES, IS THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT TO ME.

ONE WAS WE HAD A LOT OF ANIMALS OUT THAT WERE NOT STERILIZED.

AND WHEN A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK RIGHT BEFORE HUGO STARTED, I THINK THERE WERE 75 CATS THAT WERE ADOPTED OUT THAT THAT YOU ADOPT THEM OUT AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BRING THEM BACK AND GET THEM GET THEM STERILIZED.

SO WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH GARLAND TO, TO DO THAT.

SO WE DID 20, I GUESS 20 ANIMALS TECHNICALLY, BUT EVERY WEEK TO GET THAT DONE.

SO ONE OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY THINGS THAT I THINK I FEEL THAT'S BIG THAT HUGO IS IMPLEMENTING IS WE WANT ANY ANIMAL THAT'S BEING ADOPTED TO BE DONE STERILIZED. AND I KNOW I WAS JUST I WAS JOKING, I WENT UP THERE.

IT HAD BEEN IT HAD BEEN A FEW DAYS SINCE I'VE BEEN UP THERE.

I WENT UP THERE YESTERDAY AND ALMOST ALL THE DOGS IN THE KENNELS HAD THE CONE OF SHAME ON [LAUGHTER].

AND I'M LIKE, WOW. USUALLY I WALK THROUGH THERE'S LIKE MAYBE ONE OR NONE.

SO THEY WERE ALL FIXED, READY TO BE ADOPTED. SO I THINK THEY'RE DOING THAT WITH THE CATS THEY'VE GOT.

THEY HAVE HUGO'S HAS RESOURCES ON THE RESCUE.

WHAT DO YOU CALL THEM? RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS I THINK THAT'S. AND ALSO, WE WANT TO START DOING VACCINATIONS.

RIGHT. CORRECT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT IMPLEMENTED IN THE SOP.

SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THESE ANIMALS HOLDING IN THERE.

WE GOT EVERYTHING ALL OF THE MECHANICAL STUFF IS FIXED.

WHEN I STARTED THE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK.

AND THAT'S A IT'S ONE OF THOSE SYSTEMS THAT IT'S IT DOESN'T RECIRCULATE AIR INSIDE.

IT'S CONSTANT AIR FROM OUTSIDE. SO IT'S A BIGGER UNIT.

IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED. AND THAT HELPS WITH DISEASES BEING SPREAD.

SO THAT IS UP AND RUNNING THE WAY IT SHOULD. WE STARTED A CLEANING SCHEDULE THAT HUGO IS KIND OF TAKING OFF FROM THAT, AND OUR TROUGHS ARE GETTING CLEANED REGULARLY.

IT'S A DIFFERENT IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT FEEL UP THERE AS FAR AS THE SANITARY SYSTEM, THE CLEANLINESS OF THE FACILITY, THE SMELL OF IT, THE EVERYTHING. SO I THINK AS FAR AS THAT AREA GOES, I THINK WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES.

AND I THINK, YEAH. AND I'D LIKE TO FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK AMBER FOR WORKING WITH GARLAND AND OUR OTHER STERILIZATION PARTNERS THAT WE USE AT A LOW COST TO, TO CATCH UP ON THE PAST DUE STERILIZATIONS.

I THINK NOW WE'RE DOWN TO A FOLDER OF MAYBE 4 OR 5 THAT HAVEN'T CALLED BACK THAT STILL NEED TO GET SCHEDULED.

AND GOING FORWARD, LIKE LANCE MENTIONED, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERYTHING READY TO ADOPT WITHOUT HAVING AN OWNER HAD TO BRING IT BACK.

NO CONTRACTS. AND THEN IMPLEMENTING VACCINES ON INTAKE TO PREVENT ANY DISEASES.

AND AS LANCE MENTIONED MECHANICALLY EVERYTHING IS NOW WORKING GREAT.

TROUGHS ARE DOING GOOD. WE MOVED OVER TO A RESCUE SOLUTION, WHICH IS A CLEANING AGENT THAT DISINFECTS THE ENTIRE SHELTER AND DEODORIZES IT.

[00:20:07]

WE ALSO USE THAT SOLUTION FOR OUR KENNELS. FOR OUR CATS AND YEAH, THE GOAL IS TO KIND OF PUT THE PUT THE HEALTH OF THE ANIMALS.

THAT WAY, THE HEALTH OF OUR, YOU KNOW, ADOPTIONS ARE UP TO PAR WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE'RE COMPETING WITH SHELTER AREAS THAT ARE LARGER, THAT HAVE A BIGGER BUDGET, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO COMPETE WITH OUR ADOPTIONS AND GIVE THE BEST THAT WE CAN. THE EFFORT THAT WE CAN TO ADOPT AS MANY AS WE CAN OUT.

BUT BIG, BIG KUDOS TO AMBER FOR CATCHING THOSE UP.

WE'RE NOW TO A POINT WHERE WE MAY HAVE 3 OR 4 A WEEK, DEPENDING ON WHAT COMES IN AND WHAT WE HAVE.

THAT'S RECENTLY IMPOUNDED AND SURRENDERED. YEAH AMBER.

AMBER HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. AND I WILL ALSO SAY I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GIVE CREDIT DURING THAT TRANSITION TIME WHEN WE WERE DOWN ONLY TO ONE FULL TIME, ONE FULL TIME EMPLOYEE UP THERE IS WE ACTUALLY LEANED ON DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY, AND WE ASKED DIRECTORS IF THEY CAN SPARE AN EMPLOYEE A HALF A DAY DURING THE WEEK. AND SO WE HAD EIGHT DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY, FROM PUBLIC WORKS, FROM HR, FROM FINANCE. AND THEY FILLED SPOTS UP THERE AND AND WE GOT THROUGH IT ALL UNTIL WE GOT EVERYBODY HIRED. MATTER OF FACT, I THINK THEY STAYED ON FOR ANOTHER WEEK, I THINK.

ALAYNA, THEY WERE THERE WHEN ALAYNA WAS HERE FOR HER FIRST WEEK, AND SO.

AND IN A FREE DAY, AMBER UP TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, TO GET SOME OF THESE THINGS CAUGHT UP.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I SAID THAT.

WELL, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER GINA IS HERE DURING COUNCIL MEETINGS SHE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PILLARS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY AND HOW SO AND SO EMPLOYEE DID THIS. THAT WAS SHOWS THAT WE HAVE THESE STRENGTHS AND WHATNOT.

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT MAYBE NEXT COUNCIL.

RECOGNIZE THEM? RECOGNIZE THEM. IT'S A GREAT IDEA. SAY THIS IS THE PILLAR THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, EXUDED, AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT KIND OF STUFF WANT TO LEAVE ANYONE OUT, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, EITHER DO ALL OR JUST DO ONE OR YOU DO ALL ABSOLUTELY. GOOD. I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE ADOPTION, LIKE GETTING MORE OF THEM FIXED AND VACCINATED THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

BUT WHERE ARE WE ON HEARTWORM TEST OR LEUKEMIA AIDS ON THE KITTENS? SO AT PREVIOUS SHELTERS I WORKED AT, WHEN WE HAD THE RESOURCES, WE WOULD HEARTWORM TEST THE DOGS AND NOT NECESSARILY THE CATS.

ONLY IF THEY WERE SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS OF MAYBE NEEDING.

THAT TO ME, IS SOMETHING THAT IN THE FUTURE I'D LIKE TO IMPLEMENT AS WELL.

WE WANT TO GIVE THE ADOPTERS AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN.

IT'S JUST DETERMINING THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR OPERATING UNDER LEISURE'S BUDGET SO FIGURING OUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO OPERATE THE SHELTER AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THE STATE REQUIRES.

THE STATE REQUIRES US TO PROVIDE A RABIES VACCINE AND A STERILIZATION.

SO ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO AFTER THAT IS ON OUR DIME THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR.

BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY FOR THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN GIVE TO OUR ADOPTERS, THE BETTER IT IS FOR THEM TO PROPERLY GO TO THEIR VET AND GET.

YEAH I THINK MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT IS I DON'T MIND IF THEY'RE SICK.

I DON'T MIND IF THEY'RE COVERED WITH PARASITES.

I DON'T MIND IF THEY HAVE INTESTINAL PARASITES.

THAT'S ALL PRETTY QUICK AND PRETTY CHEAP. BUT WHEN I GET A DOG THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED AND IT HAS HEARTWORMS, THAT'S EXPENSIVE. RIGHT. AND I, SOME PEOPLE, IN FACT, MOST OF THE PEOPLE, THEY GET THE DOG TREATED, AND IT'S OKAY. BUT I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR, THEY'RE IN THEIR CHECKING, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO PICK A DOG. THERE'S 50 HERE TO PICK FROM, AND I PICK THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO COST AND THEN THE CAT SITUATION IS, I MEAN, WE OUGHT TO TEST THE CATS THE DAY THEY GET TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE THAT'S AIRBORNE.

LEUKEMIA AND AIDS IN THEIR LIFETIME DISEASES.

NOW YOU CAN HAVE A KITTEN THAT'S THERE AND IT CAN BE POSITIVE.

AND IT HAS AN ANTIBODY TRANSFER FROM ITS MOTHER THAT'S GOING TO DISSIPATE.

YEAH RIGHT. SO YOU KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EDUCATION THERE.

OR MAYBE IT'S LIKE WELL LET'S PUT ALL THESE POSITIVE ANIMALS OVER HERE IN ISOLATION.

WE'LL CHECK THEM AGAIN NEXT MONTH OR SOMETHING JUST TO BE SURE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT NOW THEY'VE ADOPTED A CAT, THEY'VE TAKEN IT HOME.

THEY MAY HAVE MADE THEIR CAT SICK WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO GET OVER, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM SICKER THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

AND SO I REALLY FEEL BAD ABOUT THEY'VE DONE A GOOD THING, AND NOW THEY'VE PUT ALL THEIR PETS IN PERIL OR WHATEVER THE HEARTWORM IS NOT GOING TO PUT ANYBODY ELSE IN PERIL. BUT THE LEUKEMIA AND AIDS ON THE CATS DOES.

[00:25:03]

I'VE SEEN ALL THOSE DISEASES, BUT I SEE RABIES THE LEAST.

BUT WE'RE PROTECTING THE PEOPLE WITH RABIES, NOT THE DOGS AND THE CATS.

SO I GET IT. BUT MOST OF THE STUFF THAT THEY GET ARE NOT SCARY AND NOT DANGEROUS, EXCEPT FOR THOSE THEY'RE EITHER EXPENSIVE OR THEY'RE REALLY SCARY. SO YEAH, THOSE ARE DEFINITELY IMPORTANT. I KNOW WE MAY POSSIBLY HAVE AN OUTLET FOR THE HEARTWORM POSITIVE CASES THE LEUKEMIA AND THE FIV.

THOSE ARE THOSE ARE A LITTLE TOUGHER WITH EVEN WITH RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS TO TAKE.

BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT THOSE ARE GOING TO CHANGE WITH OUR INTAKE POLICIES AND HOW WE SEPARATE NEW ANIMALS COMING IN FROM ONES THAT ARE ADOPTABLE, THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE TEST AND ALL THAT AND BEEN CLEARED, YOU KNOW, EVEN VISUALLY CLEARED FROM ANY SYMPTOMS. SO THAT'S JUST IN THE THAT'S IN THE WORKS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BRING A NEW ANIMAL IN WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HOUSE IT UNTIL WE KNOW IT'S CLEAR BEFORE WE MOVE IT TO THE ADOPTION ROOM. BUT THAT'S WITHIN TIME WHEN WE GET EVERYTHING SETTLED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE NOT WE'RE JUST FOCUSING ON KNOCKING OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. AND BUT DEFINITELY WE DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T WANT TO RELEASE ANY ANIMALS OUT WITHOUT A FULL DISCLOSURE OF WHAT THEY MAY HAVE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT REQUIRED.

WE'D LOVE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR ADOPTER.

BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE RIGHT GOOD POINTS. THEY'RE ADOPTING AN ANIMAL, SAVING A LIFE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANOTHER BURDEN ON THEM IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THAT EXPENSE. BUT WE HAVE RESOURCES WITH SOME RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS THAT COVER SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES.

GREAT. IF WE IF IT IS A TEST THAT'S NOT TOO COSTLY, THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR TO LOOK AT IT AND GET IT IN THE BUDGET YEAH FOR SURE BUT IN THE PAST YOU COULD BATCH TEST, YOU KNOW? YOU COULD AND THE COST WOULD BE WITH THE LITTER WE CAN DO A COUPLE YEAH. YEAH SO AND I USED TO KNOW ONE GUY THAT DID A BUNCH OF THIS WAS.

I MEAN, IT WORKED, BUT IT WAS KIND OF UNUSUAL WAY OF DOING IT.

BUT THEY GET 3 OR 4 CATS AND RUN ONE TEST. OH IT'S POSITIVE.

WELL, NOW WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE'S SO ANYWAY, JUST SOME IDEAS BUT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. JUST ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING SETTLED.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, A TOP NOTCH SHELTER WHERE WE PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE WE CAN.

SURE. I WILL SAY ON FROM THE RESCUE PERSPECTIVE, HAVING INFORMATION ON WHETHER A DOG IS HEARTWORM POSITIVE OR NOT IS NOT A DETRIMENT TO THE DOG BY ANY MEANS. RIGHT HEARTWORM DOG AND THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT IT CAN BE A DETERRENT TO A RESCUE IN THE MEANS OF HAVING INFORMATION AND THAT TYPE OF THING SO FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER SHELTERS IN THAT INFORMATION FOR RESCUES, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY HELPFUL SO I JUST WANTED TO I THINK THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE AND I THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ON, YOU KNOW, IN OUR INDUSTRY AND IN OUR FIELD, IT'S NOT US THAT ARE SCARED OF IT. IT'S IT'S YOUR SCARY WORD FOR THEM AS HEARTWORM TO US WE KNOW LIKE HEY, WE CAN TREAT IT AND THEY CAN LIVE WITH IT FOR A LONG TIME. BUT THAT'S AGAIN GOING BACK ON THE EDUCATION PART. EXACTLY BUT YEAH, THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'LL BE WORKING ON AS WELL, IS EXPANDING THAT OUR RESCUE PROGRAM FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. AND THEN REALLY, LIKE I SAID, JUST BEING ON THE FOREFRONT AS EVERYBODY ELSE IS.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO BE JUST LITTLE SACHSE.

WE WANT TO BE, HEY, THESE GUYS ARE DOING SOMETHING AMAZING. AWESOME THANK YOU OH, YEAH. SO AMBER WAS ABLE TO GATHER SOME OF THE STATS FROM APRIL UNTIL JULY FROM THE LAST MEETING THAT WAS AT WAS HAD. SO SINCE IN THOSE COUPLE OF MONTHS, THERE'S BEEN 583 COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND 206 ANIMALS IMPOUNDED.

OUT OF THOSE 206, 35 WERE RECLAIMED BY OWNERS AND 115 WERE ADOPTED.

SO IT'S A REALLY GOOD NUMBER. 6 WERE RESCUED FROM RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS.

AND THEN THERE WAS 4 ANIMALS THAT WERE EUTHANIZED.

ALL 4 WERE ANIMALS THAT WERE AT THE SHELTER. NONE OF THEM WERE REQUESTED BY AN OWNER.

AND 7 CATS THAT WERE EUTHANIZED WITHIN THAT TIME.

BUT THERE WAS ONLY THERE WAS A IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS AN UPTICK IN WILDLIFE COMPLAINTS.

THERE WERE 71 TOTALS. AND THERE WAS AT THE TIME ONLY ONE CITATION ISSUED.

[00:30:04]

AND OF COURSE, THE SUMMERTIME JUST SEEMS TO JUST BRING OUT MORE CALLS AND MORE WILDLIFE AS THE SUN GOES DOWN A LITTLE BIT LATER.

AWESOME ALAYNA WELCOME, HUGO WELCOME TO THE TEAM. YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR CITY REALLY SUPPORTS THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

AS YOU SEE, WE HAVE A BRAND NEW FACILITY. AND JUST USE IT.

USE EVERY INCH OF IT AS YOU CAN TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT.

AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR THE CITY, SO.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM. ITEM E ADJOURNMENT.

WHAT TIME

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.