Proactive Community Animal Control Officer Todd Stosuy Field Services Manager Santa Cruz County, California 1
Based on Community Policing Model Defined as a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies, which support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. - US Department of Justice 2
What is Community Animal Control? Same as Community Policing, but with an emphasis on a community s animal issues Varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction 3
Community Animal Control First, identify the problems and problem locations Then ask How can these problems be resolved?
Three Things We Do In Santa Cruz Preventative Patrols Door to Door Outreach Shots Fair 5
Preventative Patrols City of Watsonville 10 areas patrolled for one year Officers spoke with residents BEFORE there were issues 6
Preventative Patrols Pick targeted areas Drive through locations slowly, windows down 7
Preventative Patrols Stop and speak to people in a friendly manner
Preventative Patrols Officers acted less law enforcement, and more educational Officers provided bilingual educational material BEFORE there were issues
Preventative Patrols 10
Preventative Patrols Impoundment rates fell Spay/Neuter compliance went up Community viewed Animal Control as helpful and came to our shelters for education 11
Door to Door Campaign Targeted areas in City of Watsonville Maps generated by 911 Center Foot patrol of areas 12
Door to Door Campaign Officers dress in polo shirts without badges No enforcement action unless egregious animal neglect/cruelty found
Children Specific Items Junior Law Enforcement Badge Stickers Tattoos Toys to play with their animals 14
Door to Door Campaign Knock on EVERY door in targeted areas Meet apartment managers beforehand and set up community meeting 15
Door to Door Campaign Focus on intact animals, dogs running loose and animal neglect and cruelty Provide free items (toys, dog houses, etc)
Door to Door Campaign DO NOT FOCUS ON LICENSING Work with the community to resolve what is truly important for the ANIMALS
Door to Door Campaign 18
Door to Door Campaign 19
Door to Door Campaign Dogs removed from tethers TNR colonies started Dogs and cats provided routine vaccinations and veterinary care All WITHOUT enforcement action 20
Door to Door Campaign Gave away free dog houses Provided hundreds of free Kongs and other enrichment toys for backyard dogs Provided hundreds of free collars, tags, leashes and bowls All items were donated through media campaigns 21
Door to Door Campaign People have begun to view Animal Shelter as community resource Officers have begun providing community oriented services daily
Volunteer Outreach Team Work within the community Door to Door Outreach Table at events Assist with spay/neuter transport Adoption events Healthy Dog Shots Fair 23
Volunteer Outreach Team 24
Volunteer Door to Door Specific training 1.Basic overview of what to expect 2.How to Approach and Talk to People 3.Cats, Cats, Cats 4.Spay and Neuter Conversations 5.Trespassing and Civil Rights 6.Dog Behavior and Training 7.Understanding poverty and cultural differences 25
Volunteer Door to Door Day One Middle to low income neighborhood Breaking volunteers in I did most of the talking (at first) Volunteers began opening up It s all about being HUMAN 26
Volunteer Door to Door Day 2 Homeless Services Center and Soup Kitchen Mostly dogs (one cat) Flea preventative Spay/neuter Enrichment and food EYE OPENING 27
Volunteer Door to Door Day 3 Very poor and underprivileged neighborhood Mainly Spanish speaking Reality check Day had ups and down, but ended positively 28
Volunteer Door to Door Team assignments Neighborhood assignments Allows for individuals to be known and trusted within the community Lock the block Ongoing learning process Work WITH Animal Control on follow ups and community assistance 29
Healthy Dog Shots Fair Held in lower income area of County Provides free routine vaccinations, rabies shots, microchips, collars, leashes and training advice 30
Healthy Dog Shots Fair "We hope to offer resources to the community that will improve the health and welfare of our area's pets. Vaccines significantly reduce the chance of dogs contracting deadly diseases. Microchipping a pet offers pet owners the only truly permanent method of identifying their pet and linking the animal back to the owner. Spaying and neutering a pet is healthier for the animal and helps to combat the pet overpopulation problem." Melanie Sobel, General Manager 31
Healthy Shots Dog Fair Uniformed animal control officer Police Cadets and CSO s Dog trainers Veterinarians
Healthy Dog Shots Fair 350 dogs given rabies shots, routine vaccinations and microchipped Hundreds of leashes, collars, flea medication, food and enrichment toys provided 33
Healthy Shots Dog Fair Free training advice 30 dogs provided low cost spay/neuter All services and items donated by local veterinarians, pet stores, etc
Questions? Officer Todd Stosuy Field Services Manager Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Asa235@co.santacruz.ca.us www.scanimalshelter.org 35