SAVE-A-PET COMMITTEE MEETING/ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday August 12, 2014 @ 2:00pm
Save A Pet Members Animal Control Advisory
Board Members
Carla Anthony Alison Estes Carla Anthony Kathy McCarley
Pat Biegler Sara Welsh Jo McDaniel Dr. Scott McDermott Drale
Short Becky Carter Pat Biegler Drale Short
Stacy Garbevich Tom Bryan
Call to Order
Drale Short called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m.
Agenda
1. Charlene Hines ? Rollo Guest Speaker
Drale Short explained to the Save A Pet Committee Members and Animal Control
Advisory Board Members why this meeting was called. A ?concerned
citizen/group? wanted to speak with the board and committee members about a
Community Animal Welfare issue. Tom Bryan asked if we knew Ms. Hines-Rollo?s
concerns. Ms. Short replied, no. She asked the members to wait another 5
minutes before the meeting started to see if Ms. Hines-Rollo was going to show
up. Ms. Short checked in the lobby for Ms. Hines-Rollo and started the meeting
at 2:15pm.
2. Pet Smart Charities Grant/Columbus Free Roaming Cat Program
Drale Short informed the members that the ?Final After Action Report? for the
grant is almost finalized. She stated, 1,207 cats had been spayed/neutered
through both the Feral Freedom and Pet Smart Charities Grant. She thanked
Becky Carter the SOS Administrator for help with the Feral Freedom Program that
was facilitated through PAWS. She stated Bryan Kortis, with PetSmart Charities
was very impressed with the Animal Care and Control Center numbers and
expeditious usage of the grant.
3. Best Friends Grant
Drale Short stated the hard launch for the new ?Best Friends Grant? will be
August 27, 2014. Our new employee for Best Friends has started, the traps and
transfer cages are scheduled to be shipped next week, and the van should arrive
by August 25. She expressed her excitement for the program to start which will
provide $600,000 instead of the initial $500,000 for the program. This grant
will allow for 6,000 cats, at 2,000 a year, to be spayed/neutered. The grant
will also provide some minor medical treatment for some cats.
Drale Short informed the members that a Town Hall meeting took place Monday, at
the Doubletree Hotel with approximately 70 people in attendance. The Mayor and
the Deputy City Manager, Lisa Godwin were in attendance as well as other
invited guests and the general public. This meeting was very informative and
gave criteria on how the program is run and the advantages of Trap, Neuter, and
Release programs. The new employee, Allie Clark was announced and she began
working on Tuesday, August 12.
4. Monthly/Annual Statistics
Pat Biegler informed the members that the staff of the Animal Care & Control
Center will be featured in an article in a national magazine ?Cities &
Counties? magazine. Pat Biegler stated a great leadership has placed Animal
Control on the forefront. Becky Carter stated they have recognized Drale
Shorts? great ability and leadership.
Drale Short referred the members to the monthly/annual statistics numbers. She
stated the numbers from June 2014 to July 2014 are telling. The grant money
had run out and Best Friends kicked in by allowing the shelter cats to be
spayed/neutered at PAWS. However once this occurred, the numbers became
substantially lower. Carla Anthony stated, she checks the Animal Care &
Control Center facebook regularly and TNR is somewhat of a solution to the
feral problem. Becky Carter stated as the population increases this program
will be a great help. Drale Short stated, the euthanasia rate this month
dropped about 15% which is astounding. She also stated the zip code report
shows the 31907 area has the highest intake of animals and hopefully we can
start looking into to grants to help our dogs.
Drale Short informed the members that the hard launch for the Best Friends
Grant will be Wednesday, August 27. Drale, Sara, and Best Friends will meet
with Mark Murrah, Department of Agriculture, in Atlanta on this Thursday,
August 14 to discuss how the TNR grant will flow with releasing ferals. Becky
Carter stated the education component is important when obtaining public
support. Drale Short stated the new employee; Allie will do the educational
aspects for the program.
7. Adjournment
Drale Short adjourned the meeting at 2:34 p.m and noted Charlene ? Rallo Hines
did not show up.
b.) The next Save A Pet meeting will be October 14, 2014 2p.m. at PAWS/Humane.
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