[1. CALL TO ORDER.]
[2. MINUTES. ]
[00:00:17]
>> IS THERE A MOVE TO APPROVE? >> SO MOVED.
[3. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD.]
>> ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> WE HAVE MAYOR PRO TEM WITTEN .
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[4. ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATIONS.]
>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION
CARRIES. >> WE LOOKED AT THE MINUTES. WE LOOKED AT THE WORDING. IT IS AN UPDATE ON WHAT THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS ON THE BOOKS FOR PROTECTION OF ANIMALS.
PARTICULARLY IN FOUL WEATHER. WE HAD THE SNOW AND WHATNOT. HOW THAT COMPARES TO WHAT THE STATE MIGHT BE REQUIRING. IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES IN OUR PROCEDURES, THAT
WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS. >> THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR IS GOING TO MAKE A QUICK PRESENTATION TO YOU, AND I THINK SHE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU A TOUCH MORE INFORMATION SEE YOU GET THE ORDINANCE IN CONTEXT. KATRINA.
>> OOD EVENING, COUNSEL. I WILL PROVIDE A GENERAL OVERVIEW AND TALK ABOUT OUR ORDINANCE. THIS IS CHAPTER 4 OF OUR ANIMAL ORDINANCE. OF COURSE, ON THE ANIMAL CONTROL DIVISION. IT IS FRIDAY, FROM 6:00 A.M. UNTIL AFTER HOURS FOR EMERGENCIES. OUR MAIN DUTIES AS ANIMAL CONTROL IS TO ENSURE THAT HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS THROUGH THE ENFORCEMENT OF DOG RELATED ORDINANCES AND THE PROMOTION OF PET SAFETY AND RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP. OUR TEAM HAS RECEIVED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN ANIMAL CARE. EACH MEMBER RECEIVES TRAINING IN VARIOUS SPECIALIZED FIELDS INCLUDING ANIMAL ABUSE, ANIMAL FIRST AID AND CPR, AND MOST HEALTH AND NUTRITION, ANIMAL CAPTURE AND RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES, ANIMAL CRUELTY, ANIMAL FIGHTING, CHEMICAL CAPTURE, ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, ANIMAL DISEASES, LIVESTOCK CRUELTY , AND INVESTIGATIONS. I HAVE LISTED OUR MAIN DUTIES THERE IN TERMS OF ENFORCING THE CITY ORDINANCE AND STATE LAWS, PERTAINING TO ANIMALS. WE ISSUE WARNINGS AND CITATIONS FOR THOSE VIOLATIONS. WE ANSWER QUESTIONS AND ANSWER TO ANIMAL COMPLAINTS. WE CAPTURE LOOSE, STRAY, AND AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS. WE TRANSPORT SICK OR INJURED ANIMALS FOR VETERINARY CARE. WE HAD A FIGHT SYMPTOMS OF COMMON ANIMAL DISEASES AND SICKNESSES. WE SUBMIT ANIMALS FOR LABORATORY TESTING, AS WELL. WE CONDUCT ANIMAL CRUELTY AND NEGLECT INVESTIGATIONS. WE CONDUCT DANGEROUS DOG INVESTIGATION. WE ASSIST RABIES OFFICERS WITH ENFORCING QUARANTINE PROCEDURES.
WE COLLECT EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENT CASES AND PROVIDE COURT TESTIMONY. OUR PARTNERS ARE THE CARE HUMANE SOCIETY. I WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THE CARE HUMANE SOCIETY.
WE CANNOT DO SOME OF THE THINGS WE LIKE TO DO WITHOUT CARE HUMANE SOCIETY. THEY WRITE GRANTS AND SOMETIMES WE END UP WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED ASSISTANCE. SO WE ACT AS A CONDUIT TO GET THEM IN TOUCH WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE. AND WITH THAT, WE PROVIDE PET FOOD BY WAY OF C.A.R.E. ANIMAL CONTROL, PET FOOD, DOG HOUSES, OUTDOOR KENNELS, FOOD AND WATER BOWLS, SPAY AND NEUTER, BEHAVIOR TRAINING, VETERINARY CARE, AND GROOMING CARE. WE ARE PARTNERS WITH OUR VETERINARIANS. WE ALSO CALL ON THE AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT VERY OFTEN. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ALABAMA HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE A STATE VETERINARIAN THERE THAT WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH.
ALSO, AUBURN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. TO YOUR POINT, IN TERMS OF THE ANIMAL ORDINANCE, ANIMAL CONTROL IN OUR
[00:05:08]
ANIMAL ORDINANCE CHAPTER 4, THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND EVERYTHING ABOUT CARE, RABIES, RESTRAINT, ANIMALS AND MOTOR VEHICLES, AND CRUELTY AND ABUSE.THAT ALTHOUGH ALABAMA LAW STATES CERTAIN THINGS, THE CITY COMES IN WITH MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE, AND WE BUILD A FRAMEWORK ON THAT.
OUR CAN BE MORE DETAILED. I WILL GO TO CHAPTER 4. YOU GO TO CHAPTER 4 FOR US? SO 4-9 DETAILS FOR US. ANIMAL CARE. IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE USE WHEN WE ARE CITING PEOPLE. FOR IN PROPER CARE OF ANIMALS. THE OWNER OF AN ANIMAL SHOW PROVIDED WITH HUMANE SHELTER FROM HEAT AND COLD AND WIND AND SHALL GIVE IT FOOD AND WATER ADEQUATE TO KEEP THE ANIMAL IN GOOD HEALTH AND COMFORT. DOG HOUSES AND ANIMAL KEEPS SHALL CONSIST OF A CEILING, THREE WALLS, AND A FLOOR. A SOUNDLY CONSTRUCTED -- AND ALL ANIMALS MUST BE PROVIDED WITH VETERINARY CARE TO PREVENT PARASITES, DISEASE, SUFFERING, AND TO KEEP THE ANIMAL IN HEALTHY CONDITION. FOR US, THE DOGHOUSE IS PRIMARY. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. JUST BECAUSE THERE IS AN ANIMAL OUTSIDE DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY THINGS ON THE INSIDE. IT COULD BE A WARMING BLANKET. THERE CAN BE A NUMBER OF THINGS INSIDE THAT DOGHOUSE THAT KEEPS THE ANIMAL SAFE. WE USE A SCALE THAT A LOT OF CRUELTY INVESTIGATORS USE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING AND WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE NEEDED IN ORDER TO TAKE AN ANIMAL, AND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TREATING EVERYBODY FAIRLY. THAT SCALE HELPS US DETERMINE WHEN IT IS BAD BASED ON EACH SITUATION.
EACH SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. WE LOOK AT THINGS HOLISTICALLY. WE LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT. WE LOOK AT THE BREED. WE LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE ANIMAL. WE LOOK AT THE FOOD IT IS EATING. IS IT CARED FOR? ARE THESE THINGS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ANIMAL? DOES THIS PERSON HAVE EVERYTHING THAT IT TAKES? WE GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX ANYTHING WE MAY FIND WRONG. WE DO A LOT OF WELLNESS CHECKS. WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE OR HOT OUTSIDE, THIS BEING THE SOUTH, WE HAVE MORE ISSUES WITH THE HEAT IN LONG-HAIRED DOGS THAN WE DO ANY OTHER KIND.
>> DO YOU ALSO EVALUATE THE TETHERING?
>> WE DO. WE EVALUATE TETHERING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE LONG ENOUGH LEADS AND THEY HAVE A SWIVEL ON THERE IN ORDER TO NOT BE TANGLED AND TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR FOOD AND WATER BOWLS.
>> THERE'S DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.
>> AND TETHERING HAS TO BE SO LONG. THERE IS DISCUSSION AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE LEVEL. A LEGISLATOR OUT OF MONTGOMERY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PURSUE SOME STATE TETHERING LAWS. IT APPEARS HOURS -- OURS AT THIS STAGE ARE PRETTY IDENTICAL.
>> WE ADDED THAT IN TERMS OF RESTRAINING ANIMALS THAT TETHER.
THAT IS TO MAKE SURE ANIMALS WERE NOT JUST TIRED OUT ANYWAY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, TANGLED UP, EVEN THOUGH FOOD AND WATER MAY BE THERE, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE WERE PORTION OF TETHERING, THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE ITEMS THEY NEEDED, AND TO GET OUT OF THE
WEATHER. >> WHERE IS THE SCALE YOU ARE
REFERRING TO? >> THE SCALE I'M REFERRING TO IS THE TUFTS ANIMAL SKILLET I WILL GIVE THAT TO MEGAN FOR YOU.
>> OKAY. >> AT THE BOTTOM, IT SAYS 2025 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FROM -- FOR THE COUNCIL.
>> THIS IS A NUMBER OF THINGS. THIS IS THE ORDINANCE THAT WE
[00:10:06]
HAVE NOW IN 2013. FOR THE LAST 2 1/2 MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH OUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AND WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS WE WILL TAKE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE WILL DISCUSS WITH OUR PUBLIC SERVICES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND MEGAN. WE WILL BE PREPARED TO BRING SOME THINGS FORWARD. IT IS MORE SO IN TERMS OF, LIKE I SAID, MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE IS OUR FRAMEWORK BASED ON STATE LAW. WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OPERANT AND WHERE WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS AT AND WE TRY TO CORRECT THOSE AND BE A LITTLE MORE MINDFUL AND THOUGHTFUL IN THE PROCESS SO IT IS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND FOR INDIVIDUALS. AND IT IS EASIER FOR US TO PROVE IN COURT WHEN WEGO BEFORE THE JUDGE. >> WITH STRAY ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY CATS, WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR CAPTURING THOSE STRAY ANIMALS? LIKE I SAID, ESPECIALLY CATS.
>> OKAY. >> I HAVE A LOT OF STRAY CATS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. TO ME, THEY SUFFER DURING THIS COLD.
>> WE HAVE CAT TRAPS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CATCH CATS UNLESS THEY ARE IN A DEFINED SPACE WHERE THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF.
YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN US IN SEWERS AND DRAINS. OUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS DO A LOT IN ORDER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SAVING ANIMALS AND TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS. WE HAVE TRAPS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. WE MAY HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH YOU PREVIOUSLY. WE WILL REACH BACK OUT TO YOU AGAIN IF YOU HAVE MORE TO SHOW UP AND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST.
>> TALKING ABOUT CATS, WE HAVE CAUGHT SOME FERAL CATS AT MY PROPERTY AND WHEN YOU CATCH THEM AND TAKE THEM TO THE VET TO HAVE THEM CHECKED OUT OR EUTHANIZED -- OR NOT EUTHANIZED -- THAT IS PART OF IT, TOO, I GUESS. WHEN YOU CAPTURE A FERAL CAT, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT FINANCIALLY.
>> YOU DO BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THAT CAT BELONGS TO YOU. WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS. THERE IS, OF COURSE, A VET SCHOOL HERE. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT TAKING CARE OF THE COLONIES. THEY ARE CLIPPING EARS. IF YOU SEE EARS THAT ARE CLIPPED, KNOW THAT THE
CAT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. >> IT IS DISCOURAGING TO CATCH ONE AND TO FIND OUT YOU HAVE A BIG BILL.
TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING WITHOUT KILLING THE CAT.
>> THAT IS WHY YOU ENCOURAGED TO CALL US.
>> AFTER-HOURS COMPLAINTS. HOW ARE THOSE HANDLED?
>> AFTER-HOURS COMPLAINTS, YOU CALL THE NINE EMERGENCY NUMBER.
-- NONEMERGENCY NUMBER. THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT
INDIVIDUALLY. >> WE HAVE ON CALL.
>> THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE OPINION OF THE OFFICER IS DISPATCHED. THE OFFICER GOES FIRST.
SPEAKERS ] >> WHAT WE WANT AFTER-HOURS OUR EMERGENCIES. IF THERE IS A SICK OR INJURED CAT, DOG, THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR. >> OBVIOUSLY, THIS SUBJECT CAME UP AS A RESULT OF THE EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER AND THE SNOW. WE HAD AFTER-HOURS PEOPLE CALLING THE NONEMERGENCY NUMBER, CALLING ME, AS WELL. THAT IS WHY I ASKED FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND UPDATE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE ACROSS THE BOARD. WHETHER IT IS YOUR ON-CALL FOLKS OR THE NUMBER OR WHATEVER. THE CITIZEN THAT REPORTED IT ALL WAS NOT SATISFIED. THAT IS HER ISSUE. NOT YAWLS. NO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE. IT'S NOT LIKE WE DO.
>> YES. WE DO. WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE, AND THAT ON-CALL SCHEDULE CHANGES EVERY WEEK, AND DISPATCH GETS A COPY OF THAT.
THEY KNOW WHICH OFFICER TO CALL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UPDATE. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE FOR YOU, SINCE I HAVE Y'ALL'S ATTENTION. TALKING ABOUT COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD AND THE INFORMATION HE SHARED WITH THE COLD WEATHER, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, PEOPLE CAN FIND IT DIFFICULT OR THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN TO CALL ANIMAL CONTROL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHEN TO CALL ANIMAL CONTROL. WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES WITH AN ANIMAL THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWEIGHT FOR ITS SIZE OR BREED, IS INJURED,
[00:15:03]
AND TANGLED. I THINK MEGAN TALKED ABOUT TETHERING.UNSANITARY CONDITIONS. YOU SMELL IT BEFORE YOU SEE IT. PHYSICAL ABUSE. THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN ABANDONED. NO SHELTER. NO WATER.
ANIMAL HOARDING. ANIMALS LEFT ALONE IN A VEHICLE. ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS OUR CONTACT NUMBER THERE FOR ANIMAL CONTROL. 501-3090.
ANYTIME AFTER 4:30, 501-3100 FOR EMERGENCY CALLS.
>> WHERE IS THE DETAIL ON THE TETHERING RESTRICTIONS OR
REQUIREMENTS? >> THAT IS SECTION 417.
>> 417. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. IF AN INDIVIDUAL LEAVES THEIR ANIMAL IN A VEHICLE, THAT IN ITSELF -- SPOKE OF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN.
>> AND IT IS BEST TO CALL ANIMAL CONTROL AND NOT TAKE YOUR OWN ACTIONS WITH REGARDS TO SOMEONE'S PROPERTY.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. CALL ANIMAL CONTROL. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE COVERED BY THAT IN OUR ORDINANCE. AND POLICE BECAUSE WHAT WE WOULD DO IS MEET POLICE THERE AND ESTABLISH THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY BASED UPON THE DOGS REACTIONS, AND WE DETERMINE
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. >> WILL THESE CHARTS BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? >> I MEAN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT WE NORMALLY DO. >> THESE CHARTS ARE GUIDES. SO THEY ARE GUIDES. IT DOESN'T MATTER -- MEAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THIS ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES, THERE CAN BE SOMETHING VERY EXTREME WHERE WE NEED SOMETHING. FOR US, IT IS A
GUIDE. >> IN PARTICULAR, THIS LAST SLIDE. IF THAT COULD BE EMPHASIZED.
>> THIS WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE ITSELF. I THOUGHT YOU MEANT THIS
GUIDE IS FOR INTERNAL USE. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS.
>> THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
>> AND Y'ALL WILL HEAR FROM US MORE AROUND MAY OR SO.
>> THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S HARD
WORK >> ANY QUESTIONS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR THE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.