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CHAIRED BY DR.[Animal Services Advisory Committee on December 15, 2023.]
DUNN IS NOW IN SESSION.WE WILL HAVE THE MINUTES READ OF THE LAST MEETING.
ARE YOU READY FOR THAT, CHRISTIE? YES.
UH, SO YEAH, WE'RE GONNA DO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 6TH MEETING.
UH, LET IT BE KNOWN THE FIRST MEETING OF 2023.
SO EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.
DOES EVERYONE APPROVE OF THE MINUTES? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UM, YOU LADIES WANT TO TALK? YOU LADIES WANT TO TALK? NO.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN ANSWER IT.
UH, COME UP HERE WHERE I CAN HEAR YOU.
OH, WELL, I CAN'T HEAR EITHER.
SO,
SAYS IT OPEN ITS DOORS WAS CLOSED, HIS
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GARLAND ANIMALS SERVICES KNOW ABOUT THE DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES, BUT ON MY FACEBOOK, I SEE EVERY DAY PEOPLE, A PARTICULAR RESCUE GROUP OR WHATEVER, POST PICTURES OF PUPPY DOGS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE PUT TO THAT POST THE DATA, POST THE TIME AND EVERYTHING.
WHY ARE SO MANY ANIMALS FEELING DESTROYED OVER THERE? IS IT WORSE THAN IT'S HERE? WELL, THEY'RE, THEY CAN'T SURRENDER.
THEY'RE SURRENDERS IN OCTOBER HERE.
YOU CAN'T SURRENDER AN ANIMAL HERE NOW.
WHAT HAPPENS? YOU HAVE A, I DON'T THINK WE CAN RESPOND TO IT.
I, I THINK THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE CAN TALK WITH YOU AFTER THE MEETING THOUGH, AND WE CAN OH, YEAH.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST FOR YOU TO JUST TALK FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES ON ANYTHING YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT AND THEN WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I THINK TALKING.
IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD TALK WITH YOU RIGHT AFTER THE MEETING.
WELL, EVEN HERE, WE HAVE SOME PRO, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE TO DO EUTHANASIA HERE TOO WHEN THEY, 30, 30 MORE SECONDS.
GET YOUR, CAN I GET YOUR NAME? JOAN NEIGHBORS.
JOAN CLINTON WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
N-A-B-O-R-S? NO, N-E-N-E-I-G-H-B-O-R-S.
ARTHUR MUNOZ, DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICES WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON SHELTER OPERATIONS, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF INTAKE, SURRENDERS, ADOPTIONS, SERVICE CALLS, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES BEFORE THE SHELTER.
SO WE HAD 2,593 VISITORS CALLS FOR SERVICE.
1,379, CRUELTY CALLS, 36 ANIMAL SEIZED FROM, UH, CRUELTY CASES 48 MINUTES.
AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR PRIORITY ONE CALLS WAS 18.
LIVE RELEASE RATE 95.36 ANIMALS RECLAIMED BY OWNERS.
318 ANIMALS ADOPTED BY RESCUE GROUPS 111 TNR STERILIZATIONS, 157 DOGS DEEMED DANGEROUS.
WE HAD NONE BARKING DOG COMPLAINTS 68 AND ANIMALS MICROCHIP 432.
YOU STILL GOT THAT HIGH OF A
AND WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT FURTHER, BUT YES.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ARTHUR? UH, OKAY.
WHEN I CALL, HI, I'M CHRISTIE FUENTES.
UM, MY LEGAL FIRST NAME IS MARY.
MY, YEAH, MY LEGAL FIRST NAME IS MARY, BUT I GO BY CHRISTIE.
UM, SO I WAS JUST GONNA PROVIDE SOME UPDATES ON OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH REACH.
UM, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH BARK STREET MOBILE GROOMERS.
UM, AND THEY ACTUALLY DONATED FIVE HOURS OF THEIR TIME
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ONE DAY TO COME OUT AND BATHE AND GROOM SEVERAL OF OUR SHELTER PETS AT NO COST TO US.UM, AND THEY HAVE ALSO AGREED TO OFFER GROOMING AS WE NEED IT AT NO COST FOR ANY PETS THAT ARE IN OUR SHELTER.
UM, AND THEN, UM, I DID A PRESENTATION AT WATSON TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR MATH AND SCIENCE.
UM, I ALSO PRESENTED TO A SCOUT TROOP, SCOUT TROOP 1989.
UM, IT WAS A PART OF THEIR, UM, SERVICE PROJECT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO VOLUNTEER HOURS.
SO THEY HAD ME COME OUT AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH US.
AND THEN WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN TRUNK OR TREAT AT THE BRADFIELD RECREATION CENTER.
AND THE THEME THIS YEAR WAS FAMOUS CARTOONS.
UM, WE ALSO HAD OUR ALUMNI DOG SHOW, WHICH WE HAD, UM, SAUL GARZA WITH OUR PUBLIC MEDIA RELATIONS, AND THEN ALSO REBECCA AGUILAR AS OUR MCS.
UM, WE GOTTA SEE A LOT OF OUR PRIOR ADOPTED DOGS COME BACK TO SEE US AND SHOW OFF FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, AND THEN WE, UM, WE HAD A CRUELTY CASE LAST MONTH WHERE WE BROUGHT IN 45 CATS FROM A HOME AND WE PARTNERED WITH OPERATION KINDNESS TO GET ALL OF THOSE CATS SPAYED NEUTERED IN ONE DAY SO THAT WE COULD IMMEDIATELY PLACE THEM UP FOR ADOPTION.
SO, UM, OPERATION KINDNESS PROVIDED US WITH ADDITIONAL VET TECHS AND BOTH OF OUR, UH, VETERINARIANS PARTNERED UP AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE 48 SPAY NEUT IN ONE DAY.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO GOT A VERY SPECIAL DONATION AS WELL.
MARY BRUBACH ACTUALLY DONATED AN INFUSION PUMP FOR OUR SHELTER.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE ALSO HAD SOME STUDENTS AT WALNUT GLEN ACADEMY, UM, SELECT US FOR A YEAR LONG COMMUNITY PROJECT, AND THEY'RE DOING A DONATION DRIVE FOR OUR SHELTER.
SO THEY'RE CONSTANTLY COLLECTING DONATIONS AND BRINGING THEM TO US AS THEY GET A GOOD AMOUNT TOGETHER.
UM, SO THEY WERE KIND OF OUR MAIN FOCUSES OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF A LOT OF OUR GREAT COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES.
WHAT'S YOUR GREATEST NEED AT THE SHELTER? WE ALWAYS NEED TOWELS.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY BIG THING THAT WE NEED.
UM, I WOULD SAY THAT THOSE ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST URGENT ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT WE DO HAVE, ON OUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE OUR, LIKE LONGER LIST AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN AMAZON WISHLIST AS WELL.
SO ANYONE CAN GO ON THERE AND ORDER SOMETHING AND HAVE IT SHIPPED STRAIGHT TO US.
IS THAT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NEW, DOES IT? NO.
THE TOWELS CAN BE, UH, USED AS LONG AS THEY'RE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE.
SO YOU HAVE AN AMAZON WISHLIST PERMANENTLY ON YOUR SHELTER SITE NOW? YES.
UNDER OUR DON, WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, SOMETIMES YOU'LL PUT IT ON FACEBOOK AND SAY, WE NEED DONATIONS.
ON OUR WEBSITE WE HAVE A DONATION SECTION THAT'S GOT OUR AMAZON WISHLIST.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE AN ENRICHMENT WISHLIST AND THEN A VOLUNTEER WISHLIST FOR LIKE SPECIALIZED ITEMS. AND THEN WE DO HAVE OUR LIKE LIST OF MOST COMMONLY NEEDED ITEMS. WHAT'S THE INFUSION PUMP? WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR IV FLUIDS? THOUGHT THEY HANG ON A BAG.
THEY HANG ON A AND IT'S METERED THROUGH THE YES.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? UM, JUST ONE QUESTION.
THE BULK OF YOUR FOOD, DO YOU BUY IT YOURSELF OR DO YOU GET INFORMATION? WE ACTUALLY JUST RECENTLY STARTED UP A PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLS, SO, UM, WE GET ALL OF OUR DOG FOOD, DOG AND CAT FOOD FROM THEM.
WE DO PURCHASE IT, BUT THEY PROVIDE REALLY GREAT PRICING FOR US WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND THAT'S THE BEST FOOD IN TEXAS RIGHT THERE.
WE CAN ALREADY TELL A DIFFERENCE IN THE TUMMIES OF OUR DOGS SINCE WE STARTED ON HILLS
UH, WHAT ELSE? UM, I GUESS ART WILL LIST YOU BLOW YOUR HORN.
UH, SO BACK IN JANUARY WE SPOKE ABOUT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF OWNER SURRENDERS COMING THROUGH THE SHELTER.
AS WE SPOKE ABOUT, WE WERE GETTING ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 20, UM, CALLS A DAY WANTING TO SURRENDER.
UH, AT THAT TIME WE WERE BRINGING IN ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FIVE DOGS EVERY DAY FOR SURRENDERS.
UM, SO WE MADE THE DECISION TO REDUCE IT DOWN TO ONE DOG, ONE CAT.
UH, WE ALSO REQUESTED A $25 FEE, WHICH WAS LATER APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.
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PART OF THIS OWNER SURRENDER IS ASKING CITIZENS THAT WE WILL HELP YOU WITH THE SURRENDER, BUT IF YOU CAN TRY TO BRING A MAN ALREADY VACCINATED AND STERILIZED WAS A REQUEST TO HELP US.UM, SO THAT WAS BACK IN JANUARY AND WE SPOKE ABOUT, WE WERE SO BACKED UP.
I MEAN, IF YOU CALL TODAY TO SURRENDER A PET, WE'RE SCHEDULED OUT FOR A YEAR.
UM, AND SO WE REALLY WOULDN'T SEE THE EFFECTS OF THE SURRENDERS UNTIL ABOUT AUGUST OF THIS YEAR A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, DEPENDING ON IF IT WAS A CAT OR DOG.
UM, SO I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND, UM, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO BY REDUCING THOSE NUMBERS.
SO LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER 15TH, 2022, WE BROUGHT IN 656 OWNER SURRENDERS.
UM, THIS YEAR FROM JANUARY TO TODAY, WE HAVE BROUGHT IN A LITTLE OVER 400.
SO WE'VE REDUCED THE NUMBERS WELL OVER 200.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A HUGE NUMBER, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE THAT'S 200 LESS ANIMALS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED.
UM, AND THEN WE LOOK AT, WE STARTED IN AUGUST, UM, REALLY KIND OF SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THOSE DOGS COMING IN AND THEN THE $25 FEE.
UM, SO I HAVE THOSE NUMBERS AS WELL.
UH, SO LAST YEAR FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER 15TH, WE BROUGHT IN 247 OWNER SURRENDERS.
AND THIS YEAR, UM, FROM AUGUST TO TODAY, WE BROUGHT IN 140.
SO IT'S WORKING, IT'S WORKING.
WHERE WE'RE NOT SEEING A LOT, UM, IS THEY'RE COMING IN VACCINATED OR STERILIZED.
UM, WE CAN REQUEST IT, WE ASK SOME DO TRY, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, INFLATION AND TRYING TO GET THAT DONE, THE COST OF THAT IS JUST, UH, IT'S A STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT BETTER WAYS TO TRACK THAT WHEN THEY COME IN.
SO, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, I THINK WE MADE A, A GREAT DECISION FOR OUR SHELTER AND THE COMMUNITY.
SO IS THERE A COMMON DENOMINATOR AS TO WHY PEOPLE ARE BRINGING IN MORE ANIMALS NOW? IS IT COST, IS IT MOVING? IS IT, WHAT OTHER, WHAT ARE THE COMMON DENOMINATORS HAVE YOU SEEN OR HEARD FROM THE, YOUR COMMUNITY? MM-HMM.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE GET, I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT.
UM, THE BIGGEST, I, I CAN'T AFFORD IT, RIGHT? THAT'S PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE DENOMINATOR IS I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO CARE FOR MY ANIMAL.
UM, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR INITIATIVES AND ACCESS TO CARE AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE GOTTA BE ABLE TO PIVOT OR ELSE WE'RE JUST GONNA BE INUNDATED WITH ANIMALS IN OUR SHELTER.
RIGHT? DO YOU THINK BILLS MAY BE THE ONE TO, UH, TALK TO? MAYBE THEY CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND MAYBE PROVIDING A LIMITED AMOUNT OF DOG FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM AND ACTUALLY, UH, FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY TO WHERE MM-HMM.
UM, THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP WHEN WE WERE ENTERING THIS PARTNERSHIP IS WHAT DOES IT ALL ENTAIL? UM, WE DIDN'T FINALIZE ANYTHING ABOUT A FOOD BANK.
WE, WE HAVE A FOOD BANK AT THE SHELTER.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND SAY, HEY, I NEED HELP WITH FOOD.
AND WE PROVIDE THAT WHEN THEY COME TO THE SHELTER AND OUR OFFICERS IN THE FIELD, THEY, WE HAVE A BLUE BIN IN THE BACK, THEY GRAB FOOD FROM AND THEN THEY PROVIDE THAT OUT IN THE FIELD AS WELL.
NOW, DO WE WANT TO KIND OF SOLIDIFY THAT PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, HOWEVER, WITH HILLS, A LOT OF WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO IS PROVIDE A DISCOUNT PRICE TO MUNICIPAL SHELTERS AND NON-PROFIT, UH, ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT ALSO THEY WILL ASSIST WITH NATURAL DISASTERS AS WELL.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO, LET'S JUST SAY WE GOT A PUPPY MEAL HERE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND AND WE SEIZE 200 ANIMALS, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A NATURAL DISASTER FOR US.
AND THEY WOULD SEND US PALLETS OF FREE CAT FOOD OR DOG FOOD OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT IS TO GONNA GO BACK TO YOUR ANSWER, THAT'S PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE DENOMINATOR.
WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES, STERILIZATION, FOOD, JUST BASIC CARE.
UM, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THE EVICTIONS COMING THROUGH NOW.
UM, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE TWO, THE TWO MOST THAT WE SEE.
UM, WHAT ELSE? AND JUST, I MEAN TO INTERRUPT, DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE, UM, PUBLICIZING LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, AVAILABLE OPTIONS LIKE DISCOUNTS, SPAY, NEUTER CLINICS, LIKE THE GARLAND POSSIBILITIES AND THERE'S NUMEROUS AROUND THE CITY TO HELP
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WITH A LOT OF THOSE AS, UH, FOR VACCINES NEUTER, YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY.THAT'S A MAYBE IF WE CAN PUT THAT ALL ON OUR WEBSITE OR HAVE A PRINTOUT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
SO TO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, WE SAW THAT, AND WE SAW THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
AND SO WE CREATED, UH, THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH OPERATIONS KINDNESS.
AND SO THEY COME OUT TO OUR SHELTER ONCE A MONTH NOW AND PROVIDE LOW COST VACCINES.
AND THEN WE ALSO PROVIDE FREE VACCINES AS WELL.
UM, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT MORE STARTING IN JANUARY.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT PARTNERSHIP UP AGAIN.
UM, NOW THE GOAL IS WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, HOW CAN THE CITY BE MORE INVOLVED IN THAT? SO WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF DIVES INTO, UH, WE CAN PROBABLY GET INTO THE NEXT ONE.
UM, SPAY AND NEUTER INITIATIVE.
I WAS GONNA SAY, AS SOMEBODY WHO WORKS IN THE VETERINARY CLINIC, THERE ARE VERY FEW OPTIONS FOR LOW COST SPAIN.
BESIDES TCAP WHO ARE ALSO BOOKED OUT.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE HAD TO PIVOT ON HOW WE ENFORCE THIS IN THE FIELD AS WELL AS Y'ALL ARE AWARE, WE HAVE A SPAY NEUTER, UM, ORDINANCE HERE IN THE CITY.
AND SO WOULD IT BE FAIR FOR US TO SAY YOU GOT 30 DAYS TO GET YOUR ANIMAL STERILIZED, YOU'RE GONNA RECEIVE A CITATION.
REALITY IS THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THAT ANIMAL STERILIZED.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS IF THEY CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, THEN WE CONSIDER THAT A COMPLIANCE THAT WE MOVE ON.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO TACKLE ON THOSE CITATIONS WHEN WE KNOW WE WERE STRUGGLING AT ONE POINT.
'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A VETERINARIAN IN THE SHELTER.
SO, UM, WE WORKED WITH ANOTHER DONOR AND WE SAT DOWN AND, UH, WE WERE THINKING HOW CAN WE HELP THE COMMUNITY? BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS THE COST OF A STERILIZATION.
AND SO WE CREATED OUR FREE VOUCHERS UP TO 100 FREE VOUCHERS FOR STERILIZATIONS FOR FAMILIES THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT HERE WITHIN THE CITY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE OUR MICROCHIP INITIATIVE WHERE, UH, WE PROVIDE FREE MICROCHIPS IN THE FIELD.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FINALIZING THAT SCHEDULE FOR 24.
AND WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
WE HAVE A LOW COST PET CARE SECTION AND THEN WE HAVE OUR LIKE EVENT SECTION.
AND THEN THERE'S ACTUALLY A REHOME SECTION.
AND, UM, FRAUDS HAS ACTUALLY HELPED US WITH CREATING A REHOME FLYER.
SO IF SOMEONE COMES IN NEEDING TO SURRENDER A PET, WE'LL LET 'EM KNOW THAT WE ARE BOOKED OUT AND WE PROVIDE 'EM WITH THOSE RE-HOME OPTIONS SO THEY CAN TRY TO, UM, FIND THOSE ANIMALS A HOME ON THEIR OWN IN THE MEANTIME.
AND I JUST SUGGESTED EARLIER TO CHRISTIE THAT MAYBE SOME KIND OF FLYER THAT GOES OUT TO VET CLINICS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE'S AN ORDINANCE.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE YOUR PETS PAID OR NEUTERED, AND IF THEY GET IT DONE WHEN IT'S FOUR MONTHS OLD, IT'S GONNA COST THEM A LOT LESS MONEY THEN IT'S 85 POUNDS, YOU KNOW, LATER ON IT GETS PICKED UP AND YOU SAY, YOU GOTTA GET THIS DOG FIXED.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON.
AND DEFINITELY PROVIDING THAT EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I THINK FOR US WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS NARROW DOWN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT MAY NOT HAVE CERTAIN RESOURCES WHERE WE, WE HONE IN ON THERE AND PROVIDE THE EDUCATION THAT WE NEED.
BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN REACH CERTAIN AREAS AND THEN THERE'S CERTAIN AREAS WITHIN THE CITY OF GARLAND THAT WE HAVE TO BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY TALKING WITH THEM OR ELSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA SEE WHAT'S ON FACEBOOK.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ONLINE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT MAY BE A LOT OF IT IS A LANGUAGE BARRIER AS WELL.
I THINK DALLAS ALSO USED TO PROVIDE, IF YOU LIVE IN A PARTICULAR ZIP CODE, YOU'RE, THEY ALLOW LIKE A HUNDRED VOUCHERS MM-HMM.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT IT JUST HOW DO WE SUSTAIN THAT MOVING FORWARD? I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT THE GOAL IS FOR THE CITY, IS.
OKAY, WE CAN'T JUST KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
HOW DO WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR CITIZENS THAT NEED IT? UH, AND I THINK WE LOOK AT FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, AND I'M JUST GONNA CALL IT ACCESS TO CARE, IS HOW DO WE SUSTAIN THAT MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
SO, WELL THE, THE LOCAL VETERINARIANS ARE CHARGING WAY TOO MUCH FOR A SPAY $500 NOW TO SPAY, UH, SIX MONTHS OLD DOG.
AND WE USED TO DO IT FOR A HUNDRED MM-HMM.
I'VE ACTUALLY SOLD AN INVOICE THE OTHER DAY FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR STERILIZATION.
WHERE DOES OUR, UH, WHERE DOES OUR FEE FALL IN LINE WITH OTHER CITIES? YOU CHARGE $25? WE DO.
SO IT'S WHERE WE AT, IT'S, IT'S IN LINE.
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UH, AND AN UP TO NOBODY CHARGES.UM, SO WE'RE RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER SHELTERS ARE DOING AND THERE ARE SOME SHELTERS THAT DECLINE SERVICE.
UM, BUT WE KNOW THAT'S A SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE HERE FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE CITIZENS HERE IN THE CITY OF.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE BRINGING IN THOSE ANIMALS THAT JUST, WE GOTTA CONTROL WHAT'S COMING IN.
WELL, I'M GONNA SAY THIS RIGHT NOW.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 65 YEARS.
THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS OF THE SHELTER IN GARLAND IS UP, UP, UP.
AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, GO LOOK AT IT.
SO SINCE Y'ALL STARTED THE LIMITED INTAKE, UH, HAVE YOU NOTICED AN UPTICK IN ABANDONED STRAY DOGS NOW? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE AWAY THAT PERSON'S ABILITY TO RENT, THEN THEY'RE JUST GONNA GO DUMP THE DOG.
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING WE THOUGHT ABOUT.
UM, AND WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN NARROW DOWN TO, BECAUSE WE'RE LIMITING THE INTAKES.
I COULD TELL YOU THAT EVERY SHELTER IS DOING THIS.
AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF ANIMALS BEING DUMPED IN OUR CITY FROM OTHER CITIES.
UM, AND SO IT'S KIND OF A VICIOUS CYCLE ALL ALL AROUND THE NATION IN TEXAS ESPECIALLY.
'CAUSE I KEEP IN CONTACT WITH A LOT OF THE SHELTERS WITHIN TEXAS AND WE'RE ALL KIND OF GOING TO THE SAME THING.
UM, SO YES, OUR STRAYS HAVE INCREASED.
OUR, UH, STRAY CONFINES HAVE INCREASED.
ARE YOU GONNA HAVE CITIZENS THAT GET CREATIVE? YES.
AND WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF SHELTER DIVERSION AND REALLY TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND GETTING DOWN TO, OKAY,
UM, AND THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE WITH STAFF.
UM, THEY DEAL WITH IT EVERY DAY.
UH, NOT ONLY ARE WE BRINGING IN THE INCREASED STRAYS FROM THE FIELD, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE INCREASE OF SURRENDERS COMING THROUGH THE DOOR THAT DON'T CALL OR KNOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
UH, AND THEY'RE WANTING TO SURRENDER THAT DAY.
IN YEARS PAST, YOU COULD DO THAT.
AND SO PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED AT TIMES BECAUSE, WELL, I SURRENDER THREE DOGS FIVE YEARS AGO, WHY CAN'T YOU TAKE MY NS AS WELL? AND WE, WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB EXPLAINING, WELL, THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND SO THIS IS KINDA OUR PROTOCOLS MOVING FORWARD.
HOWEVER, HERE'S HOW WE CAN HELP YOU.
AND Y'ALL DON'T DO FIELD OWNERS RUNNERS UNLESS IT'S LIKE AN
UH, WE USED TO, UH, BUT NOT ANYMORE.
DO Y'ALL PROVIDE EUTH SERVICES FOR? WE DO.
WHAT ELSE? UH, NO, I THINK I TOUCHED ON THE INITIATIVES.
UM, AND WORKING SIDE BY SIDE OPERATION KINDNESS AND FRAUDS HAS BEEN AMAZING.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IF IT WASN'T FOR THEIR HELP.
UM, AND I TALK TO SHELTERS A LOT AND I TELL THEM WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN.
AND SO WE HAVE TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, BUILD THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, AND WE ALSO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, FRAUDS, LIKE WE MENTIONED EARLIER.
THEY'RE ALSO HELPING WITH OUR HEARTWORM TREATMENTS.
THAT IS HUGE BECAUSE THE LENGTH OF STAY IS INCREASING.
NOT JUST OUR SHELTER, BUT EVERYWHERE.
UM, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THAT TREATMENT FOR THEM SO WHEN THEY ARE ADOPTED, ADOPTERS ARE NOT HAVING THE BURDEN OF CARING FOR THEM.
ANOTHER THING, HEARTWORM TREATMENT IS
THE THE, THE MEDICATION IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
WHERE DO Y'ALL GET HIT? UH, WE GO THROUGH PATTERSON AND MWI, UH, I THINK, I DON'T REMEMBER.
WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE, ADRIAN? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IT'S, YEAH.
THEY HAD A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR 50 POUND DOG.
AND THEIR AVERAGE PRICES ARE GONNA GO UP.
THEY'RE TELLING ME 4% STARTING JANUARY.
ARE YOU THROUGH ART? I AM THROUGH.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE, DO YOU THINK THEY'LL EVER COME A DAY WHEN THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO DO A LOW COST FAMILY CLINIC? I DO CORPORATION OR SOMETHING TO FUND THAT? I, I DO.
I THINK, UM, WE NEED TO START THE CONVERSATION NOW, BUT THAT IS A LONG-TERM GOAL.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO I DO, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT WE CAN HAVE HERE IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK IT'D BE EASY TO ARTICULATE WHY WE NEED IT AS WELL.
WITH ALL THE GROWTH OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING GARLAND.
I MEAN, YOU JUST TALK, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY TEXAS AND IT'S LIKE, OH YEAH.
WHO'S LIVING DOWN THERE ON THE PHONE? SOMEONE WITH CAL IN CALIFORNIA.
OH, WE'RE PLANNING ON MOVING NOW.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? OH, I LIVE IN TEXAS.
WE'RE BUILDING APARTMENT COMPLEXES ON EVERY, EVERYWHERE.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WE'RE SEEING GROWTH AGAIN.
THE GARLAND COMMUNITY AS FAR AS ANIMAL
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CONTROL.HOW CAN THEY NOT FIND MORE MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, PUT INTO THE ANIMAL CONTROLS SINCE WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH OF HUMAN BEINGS, THERE ARE GOING TO, THERE'S GONNA BE A GROWTH OF AND MUCH GREATER GROWTH WITH ANIMALS AS WELL.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO FEEL ALL OVER AGAIN.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARDS.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LACK OF MONEY TO HELP Y'ALL DO YOUR JOB.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY MANAGEMENT AND COUNCIL, UM, AND THEY'RE ALL ON BOARD TO SUPPORT US.
UH, WE'VE INCREASED OUR BUDGET SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND I THINK IT'S JUST GONNA KEEP RISING.
UM, I THINK THIS LAST BUDGET CYCLE, UH, WE ADDED ADDITIONAL, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT ADDITIONAL $300,000 TO THE BUDGET.
UM, DO WE STILL NEED MORE? YES.
YOU'RE IN ANIMAL WELFARE, RIGHT? IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU NEED UNLIMITED FUNDS AT TIMES.
BUT, UH, WE KNOW REALITY AND IT CAN'T ALWAYS BE LIKE THAT.
HOWEVER, I AM THANKFUL FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE NOW BECAUSE THEY DO SUPPORT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO, WHERE WE'RE NEEDING TO GO.
UM, AND YES, AND I THINK HERE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GROW TREMENDOUSLY AND WE ARE CURRENTLY ABSOLUTELY.
DON'T COUNT ON ME FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
NOW ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ARE, ARE YOU DOING D HAVE YOU DONE D WAS THAT D YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU OVER THE MARK WILSON THING? COMPLETELY.
OKAY, SO WE'RE THROUGH WITH THAT? YES SIR.
SO THE NEXT THING IS FUTURE AGENDA.
WHEN? FEBRUARY 16TH AT 1:00 PM OKAY.
IF THAT'S GOOD WITH EVERYBODY, WE WILL PENCIL THAT IN.
I KNOW I'LL STILL HAVE A LICENSE IN, BUT
YOU KNOW, I WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE TO GET THAT.
I TOLD A COUPLE OF LIES, YOU KNOW, AND STUFF.
WELL, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TODAY.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? WE'RE GLAD Y'ALL COULD COME AND BE WITH US.
UH, WE, UH, HAVE CERTAINLY ENJOYED, UH, HAVING A, A, UH, A COMMITTEE THAT'S ON BOARD FOR ALL THE STUFF THAT WE NEED.
AND, UH, ART AND CHRISTIE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND, UH, ADRIAN IS DOING A FAIR JOB.
I'VE SCHOOL IS STILL OUT ON HIM.
YOU KNOW, ADRIAN AVERAGE, HE'LL GIVE US THAT.
HE'LL SURPRISE YOU EVERY NOW AND THEN.
EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, BEATING IS ADJOURN.
THIS WILL NOT BE AT THE NEXT MEETING.