Animal Care Committee
Minutes of Meeting
September 15, 2010
5:30pm Ontario room
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IN ATTENDANCE: Annabel Musson, Andrea Sim, Denielle Duncan, Terri Daniels, and Yasuko Naka. REGRETS: Janet Andrews, Caroline Lane, Valarie Burk, Burnice Royce STAFF: Robin Gauzas,
Committee Clerk GUESTS: Susan McGrath |
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DESCRIPTION |
ACTION |
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1.Opening Remarks |
The Animal Care Committee meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. with Denielle Duncan presiding as Chair without quorum. |
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2. ADOPTION OF THE, AUGUST 18TH ,
2010 ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE MINUTES |
That the minutes
of the August 18, 2010 Animal Care Committee could not be passed due to lack
of quorum. |
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3. TRAP NEUTER AND RETURN |
Susan McGrath advised committee that she changed the name of the program to read CARE. The town is prepared to lend traps, cages, food, equipment, support i.e. Transportation, pay for spay and neuters and liaison assistance. 2 types of cages were bought through a supplier in the United States. 6 True catch caged were purchased. Susan McGrath spoke to the OSPCA regarding deploying of the traps. Once cats are trapped they will be brought to the Spay and Neuter clinic. The OSPCA has blocked off time Monday mornings for the Ferrell Cats surgical procedures. The Spay and neuter clinic was built mainly for Ferrell Cats. Any group that signs on will receive free food and the SPCA will also pay for all spays and neuters, microchips, and ear tick solution. Question was raised on which vaccinations should be covered i.e. rabies Treatment for ear mites and fleas will not be covered. Annabelle Musson stated that the community should be more worried about human and animal contact passing on intestinal parasites. Susan informed committee that her role is to strictly provide money, transportation, and type of equipment needed. The committee members are responsible for making all other decisions. Susan McGrath advised members that Volunteer & Coordinator Waiver Form has been created. She stated that program waivers were created to ensure that anyone involved in the program would be directly covered by insurance. If anything should go wrong the town would cover any wrong doings or mishaps. Training needs to be implemented to anyone who signs the waiver. Susan also advised that she is in the process of creating a PowerPoint presentation for training purposes. Denielle questioned if any bylaws will be broken since they will be on private property. Reports will be completed in order to evaluate if process is effective. Amendment of Bylaw needs to be looked into. Susan stated that cats will be micro chipped so colonies can be tracked. If the same cat is continuously be a nuisance it will be taken care of. Susan will meet with the Cat Rescue Groups responsible for the two colonies to ascertain if there are enough traps and were they should be located. Yasuko brought up the issue of Abortion and that some of staff are not comfortable aborting pregnant mothers and that they should be returned to the colony in which they were found so that they could continue to care for their kittens. Susan McGrath stated that the OSPCA will and have spayed pregnant cats. Susan stated that the purpose of training staff and volunteers is to ensure that they are aware that the objective of spaying and neutering cats is that eventually we will be out of the cat care business. Annabel discussed that if someone were to take a cat from one of the colonies that their needs to be a process put into place for transfer of ownership for if the micro-chipped reads property of Town of Markham. Colony owner should notify Susan McGrath if an owner’s cat has entered the colony. Susan McGrath advised committee members of the status of the ringworm outbreak at the Newmarket shelter. The dogs that have been infected are being quarantined for the claim period of 5 days until they are deemed healthy. All other dogs are being re-located to other shelters until outbreak of ringworm has been resolved. Susan McGrath discussed briefly the re-development of the OSPCA website and that it should eventually have pictures of lost animals so they can be tracked by the owners, each department will also be able to manage their own websites. Committee requested the presence of the OSPCA director to the November meeting if he cannot attend meeting. Laura Gold will follow up. |
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4. SHELTER UPDATE |
No updates were
provided. |
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5. CALENDAR |
Annabel Musson discussed the possibility of getting new vendors. Denielle
Duncan advised committee that the 2011 Calendars are currently in production.
Terri Daniels advised
that there were 32 paid advertisers and close to 300 entries for memorial.
Calendars will be ready for The Markham Fair and 250 calendars will be
printed and ready to be sold. Master list of people who
have prepaid will be at fair in order for them to sign so that they could
receive their prepaid calendar. The Contact Centre at Markham Town Centre is also
in the process of selling calendars. Yasuko Naka inquired
about setting up a booth to sell calendars in front of park Two Good Pond. Susan
McGrath will follow up regarding this matter. Laura Gold advised the Sustainability Office will have someone manning the booth for 4 hours on Thursday and for 4 Hours on the Friday. Volunteers are also needed to sell calendars at the booth on Saturday September 18th and on Sunday September 19th from 1330-1800. Terri Daniels will follow up with volunteers. |
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6. BUSINESS PLAN |
No update was provided. |
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7. PARTICIPATION IN UPCOMING EVENTS |
Markham Fair Laura Gold brought in the
Animal Care Services Committee T-Shirts that were requested at the previous
meeting. Markville Mall Laura Gold advised that the booth has been booked at Markville Mall for the last weekend in October and it will need a volunteer to man the booth. Bookings should be confirmed by September 29th. |
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8. NEW BUSINESS |
No new business at this time. |
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9. ADJOURNMENT |
The Animal Care Committee meeting adjourned at 1907 |
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