Animal Care Committee

 Minutes of Meeting

May 19, 2010

5:30pm Ontario room

 

IN ATTENDANCE: Councillor Valerie Burke, Caroline Lane, Bob Newman, Barbara Newman, Dr. Annabel Musson, Janet Andrews, Andrea Sims & Terri Daniels.

REGRETS:  Denielle Duncan, Yasuko Naka, Tara Sermer , and Bernice Royce,  

STAFF:  Laura Gold, Committee Clerk

GUESTS:  N/A

 

DESCRIPTION

ACTION

ASSIGNED TO

1.Opening Remarks

The Animal Care Committee meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. with Councillor Valerie Burke presiding as Chair.

 

 

 

2.   ADOPTION OF  THE APRIL 19, 2010 ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE MINUTES

The following corrections were made to the April 19, 2010 Animal Care Committee minutes:

 

1)                  Janet Andrews was added to the list of meeting attendees;

2)                  The term Trap Neuter and Release was corrected to Trap Neuter and Return;

3)                  Caroline Lane’s name was replaced with Janet Andrew’s name in various places throughout the minutes;

4)                  The approximate cost to have a booth at Barkham was corrected to $25, rather than $125.

 

*      Update April 19, 2010 minutes

Laura Gold

3.   TRAP NEUTER AND RETURN

 

Mr. Bill Wiles, Manager of By-laws and Enforcement, advised that the Town is in the process of creating a Trap Neuter and Return (TNR) program.   He reported that Susan McGrath, Provincial Offences Officer Supervisor, has been working on the program.  Some of the details included:

 

Ø  Registering the site;

Ø  Placing a microchip in the cats that are returned to the registered site;

Ø  Chipping the ears of the cats before retuning them to the registered site, as a visual to indicate the cat has already been TNR.

 

Mr. Wiles advised that the goal of the TNR program is to reduce the number of feral cats being taken to animal shelters.  He noted that the microchip placed in the feral cat will help animal shelters return the cat to its registered site (if the cat ends up at an animal shelter).  The Committee discussed relocating feral cats when the area they are taken from no longer exists due to redevelopment.   The Committee clarified that feral cats are typically returned to the area they area taken from, and that relocating a cat would be a unique circumstance.

 

The Committee inquired about the (2) TNR proposals.  Mr. Wiles advised that the Town may partner with both Action Volunteers for Animals (AVA), and Urban Cat Relief, noting that the Town would have the same expectations of both organizations.  He explained that both organizations provided similar proposals, advising that he planned on assigning (1) location per group.  Mr. Wiles hoped the (2) organizations could work together.  He suggested holding 4 or 5 meetings to share information.  The Committee requested that a representative from the Animal Care Committee attend these meetings.   Mr. Wiles was requested to brief Ms. McGrath with respect to this matter.

 

Mr. Wiles reviewed the recent events regarding the Ontario Society for Preservation of Cruelty to Animal (OSPCA) ringworm outbreak, which included the following:

 

1) The Town was advised by the OSPCA that the Branch Manager was let got (providing the Town with the first hunch something was wrong);

2) The Town found out about the ringworm outbreak at the animal shelter from the media;

3) The Town tried to contact the OSPCA to obtain more information with respect to the ringworm outbreak;

4) The Town noted its concern that it was not advised about the ringworm outbreak;

5) The Town requested the OSPCA stop euthanizing its animals;

6) A Letter from the Mayor enclosed with a resolution from Council regarding the ringworm outbreak and the OSPCA’s handling of the situation was sent to the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs;

7) The Town offered financial assistance to stop the euthanizing of all the animals affected by the ringworm outbreak at the Newmarket OSPCA Shelter.

 

Mr. Wiles advised that 99 animals were euthanized of which 7 animals were Markham animals.  He reported most of the remaining animals have been re-homed, and that 5 dogs, and 8 cats remained in veterinarian clinics.  Mr. Wiles explained that in accordance with Markham’s Emergency Plan, it is currently sending animals to Pickering’s animal shelter, noting that the Town could also send its animals to a Toronto animal shelter if required. He advised that OSPCA shelter in Newmarket is currently being decontaminated, and that a temporary shelter will open next week.  He thought that as early as next week Markham may start sending animals to the temporary animal shelter in Newmarket.

 

The Committee suggested that the Town add to its contract with the OSPCA that it be advised when animals are going to be euthanized.  Mr. Wiles noted that Municipalities will be closely watching the OSPCA to see that this situation is not repeated.  The Committee discussed the Provincial governing legislation (The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act), noting the need to update the legislation.

 

Moved by Janet Andrews
Seconded by Robert Newman

 

That the Animal Care Committee commend Town Staff, and Mayor and Members of Council for their quick and compassionate response to the ringworm outbreak at the OSPCA Animal Shelter in Newmarket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*      Brief Susan McGrath on the idea of having 4 or 5 meetings with AVA and Urban Cat Relief to share information regarding the TNR project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Wiles

 

4.   SHELTER UPDATE

 

The Committee believed that the ringworm outbreak reinforced the need for an animal shelter in Markham.  Mr. Wiles believed it would be more effective to build multiple smaller shelters than to build one large shelter, as this would provide the Town with more options in the case of an outbreak.  The Committee discussed possible locations for an animal shelter in Markham.

 

The Committee requested that the Town review its contract with the OSPCA in order to put additional safeguards into place.  Mr. Wiles thought additional safeguards would be added to its current contract with the OSPCA, noting staff will be thoroughly reviewing its contract with the OSPCA.  He advised that the Town’s relationship/communication with neighboring municipalities that have contracts with OSPCA Animal Shelter in Newmarket will also be reviewed.

 

*         Review contract with the OSPCA

Town Staff

5.   CALENDAR

 

Caroline Lane suggested that she pick up submissions from the Committee Clerk on Tuesday’s and Friday’s, when required. She noted that the entries will be organized in a excel spreadsheet. Janet Andrews recommended the submissions be grouped by the type of submission (e.g. E-1 for email submissions).  Ms. Lane noted she would put the reference number in the subject line of the email when replying to email submissions.   The Committee Clerk was requested to advise the Contact Centre to forward all Animal Care Committee mail to her.  The Committee thought it should use Google’s Docs to allow for more than one Member to update the spreadsheet.  

 

Ms. Lane advised that she would ask if the Committee could hand out flyers at the Leash Free Park on its fundraising day.  Ms. Lane thought the Committee booth at Unionville Festival was confirmed, but had not received an official confirmation from the organizer.  She was not sure where the booth would be located.

 

The Committee was advised that there was going to be a dog contest at the Unionville Festival on June 6.  It was suggested that the Committee distribute flyers at the contest, or provide the organizer with flyers to distribute at the contest.

 

*          Pick up submissions

*          Investigate creating a Google’s Docs Account to share documents

*          Inquire about handing out flyers at the Leash Free Park on its fundraising day

Caroline Lane

 

Caroline Lane, and Janet Andrews

6.     BUSINESS PLAN

 

Ms. Andrews distributed copies of the revised business plan, advising that she made all of the changes noted at the last meeting. The Committee requested that the cost section of the business plan be updated to provide a more detailed breakdown. The Committee Clerk was requested to provide Ms. Andrews with the amount of money raised from the 2010 calendar.  The cost of attending events for fundraising was also requested to be included in the business plan.

 

The Committee agreed not to provide free advertisement space to organizations that did not recognize the benefit of placing an ad in the calendar.

 

Moved by: Janet Andrews
Seconded by: Annabel Musson

 

That the Animal Care Committee 2010 Business Plan be approved as amended.

 

*      Revise business plan

 

*      Provide 2010 calendar financial information to Janet Andrews

Janet Andrews

 

Laura Gold

7.      PARTICIPATION IN UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Markville Mall Community Table

 

The Committee thought having a booth at Markville Mall was effective, noting that Saturday was much busier then Sunday.

 

Unionville Festival

 

The Unionville Festival was discussed under section 4. Calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

8.      NEW BUSINESS

 

The Animal Care Committee thanked Barbara and Robert Newman for their contributions to the Committee and wished them well in their future endeavours.

 

 

 

9.         APPOINTMENTS

 

The Committee discussed filling the current vacancies.

 

 

10.      ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Janet Andrews

Seconded by Andrea Sims

 

That the Animal Care Committee adjourn at 6:50 p.m.