Animal Control Advisory Committee Minutes
March 28th, 2013

The meeting began with Commissioner Young opening the meeting and giving the group of supporters his background.  The goal of the advisory panel is to
help make the GCAC a better shelter. The advisory panel will compile concerns and ideas, prioritize them then forward to the Animal Control Sub Committee for review. 

The Advisory Panel members are: Roberta Angelo, Angela Gipson, Kris Johns, Chris Douglas, Terry Wisner, Kelli Irwin, Laura Fisher, Melanie Timer, Melissa
Meyer, Rod Reyes and Paula Hadden.  Richard Angelo will be attending the meetings for legal consulting and will not be a voting member on the panel.

The following issues and concerns were discussed:
Volunteers
-There is a need for more than 2 volunteers per shift.  At this time if one calls to say they cannot make it, that leaves
only one   volunteer. 
-There is a need for a volunteer coordinator (VC)
-There needs to be fewer restrictions on the approved volunteers.
-There are several applicants that have been waiting for the volunteer orientation for several months.
-The current volunteers are burned out and would love to know that there are other core volunteers that can cover the shift
-The animals are being cheated by not having enough volunteers.  Most are able to be walked for 10-15 minutes per day and that   leaves  them in a cage 23 and ¾ hours per business day 

-There is a big communication issue

The Dogs & Cats Are Not Being Treated Humanely
 
Breed Discrimination

Many breeds are not given the chance to be adopted

• The GCAC has very few cats and this is not because there is a lack of cats in GC
Many dogs over a certain age are not given the chance to be adopted

No cage cards
-Suggestion – use laminated cards and velcro to stick to the wall.
 
The GCAC alienates rescues

Sanitation & health concerns

Personal cell phones left at the desk

Customer service

Transparency statistics
-What is the # for intake? How many are owner surrenders? How many are owner surrenders with the request to euthanize? How many are strays
-The new stats reported to the MDA should be available soon.

-Next year’s reports will not include the # of animals returned to the owners -
or euthanized per the owners request

-Owners surrenders
-There needs to be a new form with an option that clearly states "owner requests euthanasia" so that it is clear verses the "check the box" method
 
Spay/Neuter program
-An MDA grant was written for the GCAC by Angela A-Roth and it was mentioned
by a volunteer at the meeting that the Director will not be implementing it
because the grant is issued by reimbursement, not paid in advance.  Angela
spent approximately 75 hours researching and writing this grant.  She
contacted all the veterinarians in Genesee County and got a buy-in from 11 of
them for very low-cost spay/neuter in the grant guidelines.　 Advised the cost
structure is lower than the high-quality/low-cost spay neuter clinics that comes
to our area.
-Partnerships with large organizations

• -Community education including speaking to kids at schools

Mission statement:
-Does the GCAC have one?  If not, they need one and they need to follow it. 
-The employees need to be measured by their performance. 

Strays
-Per the current director all strays are to be turned into the GCAC or the Humane Society.
 -Many do not want to turn in found animals because they know the history of GCAC
-Most counties allow finders to hold the animal as long as the county shelters are made aware of who has the animal
and they are held while looking for the owner
-There is a stray dog law but not all interpret it the same way
 
Member of the Community Concern
-A member of the community expressed concerns about a dog that her and her
husband wanted to adopt.  The director said the dog was vicious.  She
seen the dog in pictures on facebook and he was a happy dog.  This dog went
to rescue and is doing great.  The couple come back a week plus later and
inquired about a Chihuahua and was told the same by an employee.  They
decided to go to the Humane Society. 
 
Questions & Ideas:   
Current Adoptable Pets
-Who decides which animals are going to be available (the Director)
 
Change of Hours
-The shelter has recently begun to stay open late on Wednesdays.  The
late Wednesday hours have resulted in many adoptions.  The director
currently works this late shift alone with no employees or volunteers
present.
 
Stray Animal Pictures
These pictures are a huge plus.  Many animals are being reunited with
their owners because they seen a picture via social media.  Many are being
adopted because they know if not claimed they will be available.
 
Offsite Adoptions
-Events have been held the 2nd Saturday at Petco and the 3rd Saturday at
Magoo’s.  The director has cancelled a couple events but the ones that were
held were a huge success resulting in almost every animal being
adopted.
 
Animal Evaluations
-Who does them?
 -Laura Fisher, a certified dog trainer has offered to assist with evaluations numerous times
 
Name Change
-People would like to drop the "Control" and only have "Shelter"
 
Pedigree Shelter Contest
-There is facebook contest through Pedigree Dog food. Please select the
voting option for Detroit/Flint and share with friends.  If we win, the
GCAC will get free dog food!  You can visit the Pedigree website and then
click on the word "facebook" to be directed to the contest page.  You can
also visit the GRACE: Genesee Residents for Animal Control Evolution and Friends
of Genesee County Animal Shelter pages for the contest link.

https://www.facebook.com/GraceTheEvolution
https://www.facebook.com/pages
http://www.pedigree.com/

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