RE: ASPCA report on current state of municipal shelter and their offer to assist in repairs and reform

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "RE: ASPCA report on current state of municipal shelter and their offer to assist in repairs and reform"

Roger Cooper
5 years ago
Views:

1 APA letter to ASCMV Board and Shelter Management August 7, 2010 RE: ASPCA report on current state of municipal shelter and their offer to assist in repairs and reform This statement is in response to the attached ASPCA report about the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley (ASCMV) and their offer to help our municipal shelter improve its containment and care of animals housed in the facility. It is our understanding that the three-person team from the ASPCA came to Las Cruces at the request of the shelter's director, Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock, and the request was for their assistance in exploring areas for community-based solutions to our animal-welfare issues. The ASPCA held a Town Hall meeting on this subject that was well attended by area animal advocates, nonprofit groups, members of your board, and the media. When the team toured the municipal shelter, the report and offer for assistance came out of this. It was not something the team was here to do nor called in to do by any other animal group. It is also one of several independent reports that have been issued on our shelter facility's conditions and improper routing and care of animals in the past few years. This team has offered to come back to Las Cruces to facilitate building and ventilation system repairs as well as train our shelter's management and staff in modern, best practices animal sheltering protocols and procedures, including animal flow and herd health. The team observed that the shelter houses far too many animals for its size and that husbandry of these animals is not consistent with basic/adequate care nor infection/disease management. They also reported that the double-wide trailer being used now to house animals should be vacated permanently and never used again for housing animals. ACTion Programs for Animals (APA) is an animal-welfare outreach and advocacy nonprofit group in Las Cruces/Dona Ana County that supports modern, progressive approaches to animal-welfare management and community issues. This advocacy extends to modern sheltering practices as well.

2 We implore you to do the following: Immediately halt use of the double-wide trailer for housing animals; never use it again for this purpose. Work with the ASPCA's team on a plan of action that makes sense for our community and shelter. Immediately and swiftly address the overwhelming issues with our shelter facility's needed repairs. Hold our shelter's management accountable for following animal sheltering best practices, including animal husbandry, herd health/shelter medicine, animal enrichment, etc. Ask both Animal Control departments to support these efforts and halt bringing in some animals while the repairs and training are ongoing (such as halting trapping of cats, doing more in the field vs. bringing all animals in, etc.). Work with the ASPCA and areas surrounding Las Cruces on those animals that need sheltering during the repairs and possible shutdown. The bottom line is this: We cannot and should not wait for a new facility to be built and leave our shelter's animals to languish in the status quo. You need to find the emergency resources needed for the building repairs, and then, focus next on building a new, modern facility in the near future. These issues are serious and grave, and they deserve serious consideration. It is not common for the ASPCA to get involved directly with animal shelters unless the conditions they see are dire and far removed from animal sheltering best practices. Though there are written resources available for shelter and Animal Control managers to learn modern, best practices in animal welfare and animal sheltering, the greatest resource and gift our community has been given is this offer from the ASPCA to send in a team to help us start over from scratch and learn how to do things right from the beginning. The ASPCA report and proposal follows:

3 ASPCA Report & Proposal August 2, 2010 Request: Beth Vesco-Mock, DVM, Executive Director, ASCMV approached Karen Medicus, Senior Director, ASPCA Community Outreach, asking if there was any way the ASPCA could provide assistance with the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley. Karen suggested she visit the shelter with an ASPCA team to explore areas for assistance and collaboration. The ASPCA team toured the shelter on July 27, Situation Found at a Critical Level: Building capacity has been surpassed beyond minimal standards for space requirements per animal. Care and husbandry of animals not consistent with basic/adequate infection or disease management. Facility is in a state of disrepair. HVAC system needs repair and kennel surfaces in need of repair and sealing to allow proper disinfection. Trailer house not appropriate for animal housing. There is no way to properly sanitize or ventilate this building. Recommendation: Immediate: Need official request for ASPCA assistance from the joint animal services board agreeing to: Stop receiving animals at this location until building repairs can be completed. Remove all animals from the building and transfer animals that can be placed with placement organizations within and without of the City of Las Cruces. The ASPCA will provide assistance from our Field Investigation and Response team to transport animals out of the area. Decontaminate and repair the shelter building. Discontinue use of trailer house building for animal housing permanently. Work with assistance from the ASPCA shelter veterinarian, Dr. Mc Reynolds and team to develop the plan for management of shelter flow, and herd health. Coordinate all media outreach and interview opportunities with ASPCA media and communications team to ensure consistent and proper messaging. Intermediate- If requested the ASPCA will facilitate a community planning process to engage the community in joint life saving programs for the community animals.

4 Proposed time-line: Week of August 2 6 Karen Medicus return to Las Cruces, on evening of the 4 th, meet with Dr. Beth and her staff at 7:30 am on the 5 th and attend the Board meeting at 9 am. Karen will be available until 2:30 pm on the 5 th to work out details and answer questions if the Board asks for ASPCA assistance. Identify location for delivery of shipping crates and supplies for transfer of animals to placement partners. Week of August 8 14 Dr. Mc Reynolds return to Las Cruces with two team members to assist ASCMV staff with identification of animals appropriate for transfer to placement partners, complete medical, paperwork, etc. Cease animal intake on 11 th. Week of August ASPCA team arrives in Las Cruces with transport vehicles to begin transfer of animals. ASCMV staff begins cleaning and decontamination of vacated animal holding areas. Week of August ASPCA staff begin work with ASCMV staff on reorganization of operations and development of SOPs ASCMV staff continues decontamination. Contractors begin HVAC repairs and kennel wall and floor sealant process. Continue spay/neuter services. Week of August 29 September 4 Finish SOPs and begin personnel management plan and staff training. Continue repairs on building.

5 Weeks from September 5 through September 26 Continue building repairs until complete. Continue spay/neuter services. Week of September 26 October 2 Begin intake of animals and re-open shelter.

Dallas Animal Services Highlights and Outlook Presented to the Dallas City Council February 20, 2013

Dallas Animal Services Highlights and Outlook Presented to the Dallas City Council February 20, 2013 Purpose Highlight recent accomplishments and key improvements Provide an overview of Animal Services