Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 Augusta Animal Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 Attendees- AAS Staff- S. Broady, P. Crisler Members- B.B. Langham, J. Weaver-White, E. Peacher, W. Colvin, L. Finnegan, A. Murphy, L. Barrett, D. Prince Absent- E. Jefferson, R. Wishard Special Meeting was called to order at 5:30pm There was a unanimous vote to be sure we conclude the meeting by 7pm. The Family Fun Day event held on Sept. 28 was deemed a rip-roaring success, and given an A+ for success. 29 animals were adopted out and 1 was returned to his owner in that one day, and that is an amazing feat in itself. The staff, rescue groups, vendors and visitors all really seemed to have a terrific time. We all agree that the event helped to give a very positive image of this much needed department, for the care and services offered. We are discussing making this event an annual, if not twice annual event, to help get support form the community and adopt out more animals. Ideas we discussed about future events include: making sure we have staff at the gate to hand out tickets first think in the morning so that everybody gets one, adding more face painters, giving the DJ more information to announce throughout the event, possibly rent space/booths to vendors to make it bigger and more inviting, and give more special invitations and reminders to Commissioners, Mayor, Administrator and Dept. Heads. It would also be beneficial for the Animal Services Dept. to have larger signs on Tobacco Road, and for trees to be trimmed around them so they can be seen better. We discussed our proposed ordinance changes and that Ms. Broady will be making an appointment for us to meet with the Law Dept. to go over these changes and how to best present this package to the Commissioners. A date th has now been set for Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 9am, for staff and officers. Board member, L. Barrett, made a presentation about information gathered at a national conference on animal welfare, No More Homeless Pets, held in Jacksonville, Florida recently. The most important information being the fact that Augusta, the second largest city in Georgia, can do better for companion animals. If the Augusta Animal Services Dept., the city leaders, the animal rescue groups and the community can come together with an agreement that we want to do better, we can make a big difference in animal welfare. With a commitment to work towards No-Kill, which doesn’t mean 100%, but saving treatable and adoptable animals, we can get a great deal of technical and financial support from large organizations that include but are not limited to Target Zero Institute, Petsmart Charities, Maddie’s Fund Institute and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. That financial support could help implement programs like mandatory spay/neuter, which, even with some exceptions, would drastically reduce the number of unplanned, unwanted litters born, thereby reducing the euthanasia rates as well. The financial support could also fund more staff, even a veterinarian, vet techs, equipment, etc., if we are willing to make a commitment. The outpouring of support from our community for more regulation of spay and neuter has increased with the high numbers of abandoned and surrendered animals, and the lack of services and space with which to help them. Ms. Barrett emailed each board member more information about various ordinances that are working in communities nearby and around the country, as examples to use to customize new ordinances and plans for Augusta Richmond County. Ms. Broady announced that she was working on a radio spot with WGAC, as well as the fact that AAS Dept. does a spot on WJBF with pets for adoption on a monthly basis. April 30, 2014, has been slated for an Emergency Preparedness Drill, and more information about it will be handed out as we get closer to the date. th The next scheduled Advisory Board meeting is set for November 20, with these topics to start with: Emergency Preparedness and Planning Discuss and set date(s) for next Family Fun Day event Elect new officers for the board Meeting was adjourned at 7pm.