HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 2, 2012
Animal Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Advisory Board Members: Linda Finnegan, Jerry Maccario, B. B. Langham; AAS
staff Sharon Broady, Priscilla Crisler, Edward Jefferson, Diane Downs; Guests: Margie
Maccario, Mary Elizabeth Baker.
The Advisory Board meeting began at 5:30 on February 2, 2012. The minutes from the last
meeting were read and approved with minor corrections.
Ms. Crisler presented the average basic medical costs (a breakdown) to the board members,
discussed how each piece of equipment was used, and the veterinarian’s time spent at the
shelter performing surgery. She did not have other statistics; they will be done as soon as
possible due to issues with the Chameleon program. Mr. Maccario stated that the $50.00
would cover the basic costs. Mr. Langham stated that we were “making a profit”; Mr. Maccario
disagreed; stating that the shelter would still have to house and feed the animals.
Discussion of the proposed ordinances resumed. The following changes were recommended:
Page 11: Sec. Vicious Animals, Cats and Dogs: Move this information to page 7 under number
4, as 4a and 4b.
Page 11: Sec. Biting animals and quarantine: (a).The first sentence should read ‘In accordance
with rules and regulations promulgated by the Richmond County Board of Health.’
(C) Delete ‘Animal Services Unit’ from sentence.
(D) Last sentence should read ‘Confinement must be coordinated with and approved by the
Animal Services Unit and the Health Department.’
(F): The first sentence should read: ‘Failure to comply with the quarantine and/or confinement
requirements of this section, the Animal Services Unit, or the Health Department constitutes a
violation of this section and may result in the impoundment or destruction of the animal for
testing.’
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Page 12: Sec. Livestock: (A) Delete 4 sentence; it is duplicate of the third sentence. Also, add
‘wooden fences to maintenance/repair’, sentence number 5.
(B). Add ‘within Augusta/Richmond County’ to end of sentence.
(C). Change last part of sentence to read ‘plus impounding fees and any veterinarian costs.’
(D).The group decided to check the state law for accuracy of the 21 day time period.
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Page 13: Sec. Dead Animals: Insert following sentence after sentence 5: ‘Animal Services may
charge a fee to the property owner’ (for disposal of dead animal).
Page 13: Sec. Animal License: Change ‘license’ to ‘vaccination. ’ In first sentence, change
‘unincorporated area of the county’ to ‘Augusta/Richmond County.’ In second sentence, omit
‘city’. The third sentence should read: ‘Vaccinations must be renewed before rabies certificate
expires.’
Page 14: Sec. Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Discussion among the group revealed that the
sentence in this section was against the state law. The Compendium states that people under
the direct supervision of veterinarians can give shots. This is also stated within the Title 4
Ordinance. The rabies vaccination is not a controlled substance; numerous pharmacies and
hardware stores sell the vaccine over the counter (i.e. the 7 in one shot). It was also revealed
that the rabies certificate was/is more legal than the tag. After much discussion by the group it
was decided to keep the Title 4 Ordinance as it is currently written.
Page 14: Sec. Vaccinations used and time of vaccination: (B). The second sentence was
eliminated.
(C). It was decided to check the state law on this.
Page 14: Sec. Summons: (A). This section should read ‘The animal services officer or police
officer at his discretion may not impound the animal or livestock found in violation of any
section of this chapter, but may return the animal to its owner or possessor and issue upon the
third offense a citation directing the owner or possessor of the animal or livestock to appear
before the magistrate court on a certain day to stand trial for the violation of this article.’
Page 15: Interference with animal services officers: This section should read: ‘It shall be
unlawful to interfere with any animal services officer or any other officer empowered to act by
law, or to take any animal from the county vehicle used to transport the animal, or to take or
attempt to take any animal from the animal services facility, or to interfere by any other
method, which would block or hinder any officer referred to in this section from performing
his/her duties.’
Page 15: Sec. Duty of animal owners to be responsible owners: (A). Delete last sentence and (B)
through 7 (entire section).
Page 16: Sec. Hoarders: Change section title to ‘Hoarding.’
Page 16: Sec. Right of entry: Add “Animal Services Enforcement Officer’ to section.
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Page 16-17: Animals transported in vehicles: The last sentence should read: ‘No animal should
be transported in the trunk of a vehicle or under a pickup truck with a low profile cover. Trucks
with canopy covers are acceptable’; this cover has windows that can be opened for air
circulation.
Page 17: Sec. Training guard or protection dogs: This section was discussed at length, with the
sport of Schutzhund being questioned. The group decided to refer this section to the Legal
Department.
Page 17: Sec. Use of animals as prizes: The group decided to discuss this section with the Legal
Department.
Page 17: Dying or coloring certain animals or fowl for display, sale, and gift prohibited: The
group decided to refer this section to the legal department.
Page 17: Sec. Limitation of ownership: The group was in agreement that the judge should
make the call; but it was also decided to refer this section to the Legal Department.
Page 17: Backyard Breeders: It was decided to make the definition more specific.
Mrs. Broady will type the ordinances and send out copies of the finished document to the
board members, legal department and the Deputy Administrator.
Mrs. Margie Maccario presented a proposal about a dog exercise yard for the dogs at the
shelter. The plan included fencing off the front area by the electric fence with a 6 foot fence
with a double gate, and to landscape the area with flowers and benches. Mr. Langham agreed
with the proposal but thought that the front area could be vandalized. Mrs. Broady suggested
that an area in the back of the shelter be considered. The group decided that a blueprint be
drawn up and presented to the board at the next meeting, and add an evacuation plan when
presenting the proposal to the Commission. Mr. Langham also suggested that Mrs. Broady
speak with Scott Smith at Augusta Technical School concerning blueprint development.
The meeting adjourned at 7:42pm, with the next meeting to be held on April 25, 2012 at
5:30pm.
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