HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023.04.13 TCACA Minutes
MINUTES
Tri-Cities Animal Control Authority
5:30 PM - Thursday, April 13, 2023
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attendees:
City of Kennewick Representative: Randy Maynard
City of Pasco Representative: Zach Ratkai
City of Richland Representative: David Neher
City of Pasco Animal Services Manager Ben Zigan
City of Pasco Administrative Assistant Ally Garza
City of Pasco Department Assistant Annen Martin
Mr. Ratkai opened the meeting with a welcome and provided brief
announcement on what the meeting would entail.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Kennewick resident - Recommended an advisory board be put in place. She
indicated there was no voice for the animals.
Kennewick resident - The Tri-Cities Animal Control Authority Shelter is currently
is running in a very large trust deficit with the community. They would rather see
action and activity than posts on social media. She also mentioned that we need
a group of shelter members and rescues to get together to address issues openly
and with back and forth dialogue.
Pasco resident - Commented on Baxter on social media and later found out he
was euthanized with the four other dogs. She mentioned she was very
discouraged at the recent Council meeting and asked if there's actual dog
training going on at the shelter.
Finley resident - Mentioned the general consensus is that TCACA needs an
advisory board for checks and balances. TCACA needs to be operating more
efficiently in how staff take care of the animals. She owns a rescue and
mentioned that any time dogs are turned away from the shelter or other rescue
groups, the dogs end up abandoned in Finley. She also recommended the
community and City need to work together to help the animals.
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Pasco Resident - His wife was attacked by two dogs and. after the incident
happened, he began to read through the different municipal codes from
Kennewick, Pasco and Richland. He mentioned how the City did away with the
breed ban. However, there are still dangerous dog exemptions. What happens
if the dog passes the dog training class, becomes exempt and then bites
someone again? He was frustrated because he kept getting conflicting answers
from the TCACA shelter and staff from the three Cities. He suggested that the
three Cities work together to have one enforcement procedure made to avoid
confusion.
Pasco Resident - Mentioned a severe lack of trust from the community and an
oversight board is needed. City Council needs to bring this oversight board to a
vote for creation of an advisory board. The community wants to help with
policies.
Kennewick resident - Volunteered at TCAS since 2014. TCACA shelter was a
no kill shelter. The TCACA currently lacks vision and forethought. Listen to the
people but mentioned the Animal Control does an amazing job. She also
mentioned she was offended to know that the old contractor was pushed out due
to lack of funds. When it all would of taken is a few hundred thousand dollars to
run things right.
Al White, A local dog trainer - Noted that the TCACA staff is doing an amazing
job and means well by the animals. He mentioned that he felt the funds for his
training should have come from the City, rather than an anonymous donor. He
said TCACA needs to eliminate environmental stressors on the dogs. With the
building of the new shelter, TCACA needs to design kennels that are stress free.
This will help the dogs become more adoptable. TCACA also needs training for
shelter staff and volunteers.
TCACA AGENCY REPORTS
Deputy Police Chief Neher said there was nothing to report from the City of
Richland.
City of Kennewick Commander Maynard indicated that they are dealing with two
vicious dogs in the 2000 block of W 21st Pl. They are currently trying to work
through the issue.
Tri-Cities Animal Shelter Manager, Mr. Zigan, provided an update regarding the
TCAS budget. He stated staff is establishing proper training for the ACO's.
Currently social media and the website our being updated and transformed so
they are more accurate and complete.
TRI-CITIES ANIMAL SHELTER UPDATES
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Quarterly Statistics
1. Intakes
Pasco:
Dogs- 182
Cats- 126
Kennewick:
Dogs 114
Cats- 116
Richland:
Dogs- 28
Cats- 55
West Richland:
Dogs 4
Cats- 0
2. Returns/Surrender:
Dogs 4
Cats- 6
Total Dogs: 332
Total Cats: 303
Total: 635
3. Adoptions
Dogs: 190
Cats: 222
Total: 412
4. Transfers
Dogs: 132
Cats: 88
Total: 220
5. Returned to owner.
Pasco: 36
Kennewick: 34
Richland: 7
Other: 10
Total: 87
6. Animal Control Cases
Pasco: 193
Citations: 6
Kennewick: 252
Citations: 9
Richland: 118
Citations: 7
Total Cases: 563
Total Citations: 22
Communication Plan
1. Social Media
Facebook: Staff assigned to provide updates, educational tidbits,
public announcements and more.
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2. Webpage
Has been updated and is functional.
Outreach and Events
Transfers set up with The Noah Center and Seattle Humane Society
Transfers occur about once a month.
Seattle Humane will also transfer our animals to other shelters in their
area.
Jenny’s Hope – Adoption Event in Columbia Park April 29 (10 am – 3 pm)
Updates to Policies/Process/Operations
1. Hours of operation extended to 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday to
Saturday.
2. Adoption Return Policy established:
After an animal has been adopted and the new owner has taken custody,
they will have two weeks to return the animal for good cause. There will
be no refunds. The owner will have six months to find another animal
that may be a better fit for their household. This agreement will be offered
twice after the first return. The six months will start at the date of the first
return.
Staffing, Training and Volunteering
Staff:
1. Animal Control Officer
Animal Control Officer: 3
Animal Control & Shelter Lead: 1
Animal Services Manager: 1
Above positions will be Limited
Commissioned.
2. Customer Service
Front Desk: 2
Transfer Coordinator: 1
Animal Control Dispatch: 1
3. Animal Care Technicians
Animal Intake/Medical: 2
Animal Care Technicians: 7 (Vacant: 1)
4. Department Assistant
Department Assistant: 1
Training:
1. Washington Animal Control Association (WACA)
Lesion Identification Class: 2 ACO’s (April 27 in
Ellensburg)
2. Code 3 Associations
Equine Investigation Class: 2 ACO’s (April 12 -
Virtual)
3. Al White w/ Al White’s Dog Training LLC: All Staff (Weekly)
Funded by Friends of Tri-Cities Animal Shelter
Volunteer:
1. We have a lot of volunteer opportunities. Primarily now are dog
walkers and help with laundry. I will be implementing a new
Volunteer Policy that is more specific to the animal shelter. Looking
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to be involved in more community events that may need volunteers
as well.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
• Mr. Zigan mentioned that TCAS partnered up with Jenny's Hope to put on
an adoption event on April 29th from 10am-3pm.
• TCAS has also extended our hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to
5 pm. This has greatly helped and been good for the community.
• Mr. Zigan says he would like to see the volunteers attend the community
events on a more regular basis, to allow the shelter staff to work with the
animals.
• Mr. Zigan brought up the adoption policy, which gives people the option
of returning an adopted animal to the shelter within two weeks if things
don't work out. They will then have 6 months to adopt another animal with
their initial deposit.
• Mr. Zigan mentioned that the TCAS is fully staffed with the exception of
an open kennel technician position that closes on April 20th. The ACO's
have been getting the proper training to do their job accordingly. Ben
brought up the anonymous donation so that the shelter could set up dog
training with Al White. We are working on a more tailored volunteer policy
to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
• The TCACA has also received a request from the Benton County Canine
Shelter for weekend enforcement. No, not at this time.
• The TCACA also received a request from the City of Mabton for housing
assistance, due to an overflow of animals in the City. They will bring the
animals to TCACA as long as TCACA can accommodate housing.
Unfortunately, at this time we do not have space to house any animals
outside of our community.
NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 8, 2023
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:13 PM
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