HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.02.08 TCACA Agenda
AGENDA
Tri-Cities Animal Control Authority
5:30 PM - Thursday, February 8, 2024
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers
Page
1. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS - The public may address the Tri-Cities Animal
Control Authority (TCACA) on any items related to animal control within
Kennewick, Pasco or Richland. This is to provide the opportunity to bring
items to the attention of the TCACA or to express an opinion on an issue. Its
purpose is not to provide a venue for debate or for the posing of questions
with the expectation of an immediate response. Some questions require
consideration by the TCACA over time and after a deliberative process with
input from a number of different sources; some questions are best directed
to staff who have access to specific information. Public comments will
normally be limited to three minutes each. Those with lengthy messages are
invited to summarize their comments and/or submit written information for
consideration by the TCACA outside of formal meetings.
3. TCACA AGENCY REPORTS
4. TRI-CITIES ANIMAL SHELTER UPDATES
3 - 15 (a) TCACA Presentation covers the following topics.
(b) Quarterly Statistics
(c) Communications Plan
(d) Outreach and Events
(e) Updates to Policies/Process/Operations
(f) Staffing, Training, and Volunteering
5. OLD BUSINESS
16 - 39 (a) December 14, 2023 Tri-cities Animal Control Authority Meeting
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Minutes
6. NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 11, 2024
7. ADJOURNMENT
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•City of Pasco Representative: Parks & Recreation Director Jesse Rice
•City of Richland Representative: Lieutenant Christopher Mason
•City of Kennewick Representative: Commander BJ Moos
•City of Pasco/Tri -Cities Animal Shelter Manager: Ben Zigan
•City of Pasco Administrative Assistant II: Elizabeth Olivo
•City of Pasco/Tri -Cities Animal Shelter Department Assistant II: Annen Martin
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•Animal Shelter Services - include daily animal care,
medical services, intake, adoption, surrender, fostering,
rescue placement, volunteer management.
•Animal Control Services - barking dogs, roaming
animals, animal complaints, neglect, abuse, legal actions
and medical response needs.
•Community Outreach and Education - adoption events,
educational presentations, assisted living home visits,
social media.
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1 – Animal Services Manager
1 – Animal Control Supervisor
1 – Animal Control Dispatcher
3 – Animal Control Officers
1 – Department Assistant II
2 – Customer Service Representatives
1 – Transfer\Volunteer Coordinator
2 – Animal Intake/Medical Assistants
1 – Animal Care Lead
7 – Animal Care Technicians
1 – Part-time Veterinarian
1 – Part-time Veterinarian Assistant
22 combined Full and Part time staff
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Intakes: 2717
Dogs – 1141
Cats – 1576
Adoptions: 1291
Dogs – 548
Cats – 743
Transferred Out: 780
Dogs – 188
Cat – 592
Euthanasia Medical: 145
Dogs – 22
Cat – 123
Euthanasia Behavioral: 5
5 – Dogs
Euthanasia Legal: 0
January 2023 – December 2023
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Intakes for January: 198
Dogs – 122
Cats – 75
Adoptions for January: 97
Dogs – 47
Cats – 50
Transferred Out for January: 54
Dogs – 28
Cats – 26
Euthanasia – Medical for January: 10
Dogs – 4
Cats – 6
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@Large 1291
Abandonment 57
Aggressive 41
Attack 132
Barking Dog 94
Bit Case Human 117
Code Enforcement Complaint 16
Cruelty 25
DOA 214
Door Tag 17
Follow-up 6
Hit By Car 25
In Custody 31
Information 959
Injured Animal 212
Police Assist 47
Stolen Animal 5
Welfare Check 498
Total Count: 3787
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Note: The above numbers do not include the revenue from the City of Richland
and the City of Kennewick.
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When an animal exhibits traits, triggers, or actions that may pose a risk, the following process is initiated:
1.Incident reporting: Concerns or incidents involving an animal are reported to the TCAS Manager.
2.Behavior Assessment: The TCAS Manager may request and assessment by and Animal Behavior
Consultant, who evaluates the animal for potential risks. If deemed necessary, changes to improve behavior
may be recommended.
3.TCAS Manager Review: After the assessment, the TCAS Manager reviews the animal’s case history. If in
agreement with the assessment, the animal is considered a non-standard adoption.
4.Public Notification: TCAS staff notifies the public of the non-standard adoption, seeking recommendations
for organizations equipped to manage or rehabilitate the animal. After 72 hours, information is compiled and
added to the partner and rescue organization list.
5.Rescue Partner Notification: TCAS notifies partner and rescue organizations via email, providing details
about the animal for transparency. Organizations have a 10 -day period to respond.
6.Transfer Process: If an agency agrees to accept the animal, the transfer process begins.
7.No Agency Response: If no agencies respond, the case history is reviewed by the on -staff vet for euthanasia.
If in agreement, the case is forwarded to the TCAS Manager and TCAS Director for review.
8.External Vet Review: The TCAS Manager and TCAS Director submit the case history to an external vet for
euthanasia. If in agreement, euthanasia is performed by the external vet.
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Rescue
PartnershipsPa
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•Completion of construction of new shelter scheduled July 2024.
•Propose remodeling current shelter into an Annex building to increase capacity for intake, isolation,
quarantine, and legal holds for the animals, plus support operations including laundry and storage.
•Add a Kennel Staff Lead to assist with the 24/7 operations of the shelter and staff.
•Additional animal handling training for staff to ensure the proper and continued care of the animals
during their stay at the shelter.
•Continue developing our policies and procedures.
•Review our current vehicles and implement a future (2025-2026) replacement cycle for new vehicles as
needed. 2024 includes one vehicle.
•Work to maintain the projected 2024 budget, which is driven by animal intake needs.
•Add an animal shelter community dog for adoption and educational events, as well as community
interaction.
•Creation of web-based operational dashboard to provide additional transparency to the public.
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MINUTES
Tri-Cities Animal Control Authority
5:30 PM - Thursday, December 14, 2023
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attendees:
City of Kennewick Representative: Randy Maynard
City of Pasco Representative: Jesse Rice
City of Richland Representative: Christopher Mason
Animal Services Manager Ben Zigan
Administrative Assistant II - Elizabeth Olivo
Mr. Rice opened the meeting with a welcome and provided a brief
announcement on the structure of the meeting and introduced the other
Cities' representatives.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Richard Fontain 3852 W Van Giesen West Richland
Mr. Fontain expressed frustration that his animals were taken by the Tri-Cities
Animal Shelter, he claims he did not surrender them willingly as the shelter
implies. He has been fighting for 3 months for answers and wanted to bring
awareness about his situation to the Board.
Leo Perales 3902 Charleston Ln. Pasco, WA
Mr. Perales, a newly elected Pasco City Councilmember, commended staff for
the improvements at the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter, then raised concerns about
addressing stranded or hurt pets. He proposed considering a temporary
solution like stacking crates to accommodate the increasing number of
animals. Mr. Perales noted community requests for help with pets due to
limited space. They expressed the need for support from other cities to
establish an advisory board for the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter, emphasizing
collaborating and tailoring policies to the community's needs. The proposed
advisory board would include individuals with expertise in veterinary care, pet
ownership, and livestock. Mr. Perales aimed for a compassionate approach,
not punitive, serving as a buffer between the community, Tri-Cities Animal
Shelter, and other cities. He stressed the importance of addressing the well-
being of pets in the community.
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Mary Mahoney 5017 W Pearl Pasco, WA
Ms. Mahoney stated that she addressed City Council on April 1, 2019, about
concerns regarding the contract with Washington State University, allowing
animals to be used for research and practice surgeries since April 2003. She
went on to say that the city attorney stated the contract was terminated, but
she never received the termination agreement. She also raised issues about
potential dangers and animal control ordinances, claiming violations of
constitutional protections for pet owners. She stated the city attorney allegedly
refused changes to the violated ordinances. She questioned the location of the
rainy day fund, which was said to be outside Pasco's jurisdiction. They
highlighted the absence of spaying or neutering services by animal control and
mentioned that a conversation about it was mysteriously deleted from the
archive. The speaker believes they have faced harassment and retaliation from
the City for bringing up these concerns and is putting the City on notice.
Julie Webb Meguen Richland, WA
Ms. Webb acknowledged the efforts of various groups, including the Friends of
the Animal Shelter, in representing and supporting the shelter. She expressed
gratitude for the ongoing work on spaying, neutering, and training, with a vet
now on staff. However, she raised concerns about the condition of dogs in
kennels, citing a recent incident with a behavioral issue. She emphasized the
emotional toll on staff and volunteers witnessing animals waste away in
confinement. Ms. Webb recounts a difficult decision to let a dog go and
advocates for humane choices for other dogs in similar situations. She
questioned the intentions of a representative named Leo, criticizing reliance on
outdated information and lack of engagement with the current state of the
shelter. Despite challenges, Ms. Webb expressed support for the efforts being
made and seeks clarity on the future of the dogs in question.
Mr. Fontain stated an advisory board to the Tri Cities Animal Shelter would be
beneficial, expressing uncertainty about the current oversight effectiveness. He
acknowledged not criticizing on Facebook but express legitimate concerns and
note the limited resources available for addressing the issue.
Natalie 10030 Orchard St. Richland, WA
Natalie, a two-year volunteer at the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter, echoed concerns
raised by Ms. Webb. She emphasize the plight of resident dogs, locked up for
extended periods, and highlight the impact of confinement on their behavior.
She noted that these dogs, holding space for strays, often face complaints on
social media without people truly understanding the situation. She argued that
some of these dogs may be dangerous and not immediately adoptable,
questioning the humane approach between euthanizing them or letting them
remain in the shelter for an extended period. She expressed support
euthanasia as a pragmatic option, considering the well-being of the dogs and
the financial constraints of the shelter, acknowledging the caring staff's efforts
to rehabilitate some animals. She expressed frustration that despite hard work,
there is criticism from those unaware of the challenges faced by the shelter.
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TRI-CITIES ANIMAL SHELTER UPDATES
The TCACA representatives reviewed and discussed the TCACA
Presentation.
OLD BUSINESS
The October 12, 2023 Tri-Cities Animal Control Authority Meeting
Minutes were provided to the representatives.
NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 8, 2024
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:12 PM
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