PASCO COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THE MINUTES WERE PREPARED IN AGENDA ORDER AS PUBLISHED AND NOT IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE ITEMS WERE HEARD November 7, 2007 7:15 p.m. - West Pasco Government Center, Board Room, 7530 Little Road New Port Richey, Florida 34654 COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dr. Robert Hase, Chairman Betty Hay - Absent Dr. Joseph Imburgi Greg Crumpton Dr. Carlos Campos Suellen Szesyski Dr. Patricia Weston-Bogart Representing the County Attorney: Pasco County Animal Service: Dr. Diana Mattox, Vice-Chairman Marie Wood Cpl. Amy Diel-Absent, Jeannine Miller, present Dionne Blaesing- Absent Richard Griffiths P.A.W.S. (Vacant) Tim Steele, Assistant County Attorney Denise Hilton I. Call to Order Chairman Hase called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m. II. III. Prayer Pledge of Allegiance Dr. Maddox read the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. IV. Roll Call Ms. Sandra Merkel, Deputy Clerk, called the roll. Ms. Betty Hay and Ms. Dionne Blaesing had excused absences and Ms. Jeannine Miller represented Corporal Amy Diel. P.A.W.S. was not represented. Page 1 of 7
V. Public Hearing: (A) Proposed Amendment to the Pasco County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14 (Animals) Mr. Timothy Steele, Assistant County Attorney Mr. Tim Steele, Assistant County Attorney, introduced the proposed amendment to the Ordinance and read the title into the record. (B) Public Input on Ordinance Amendment Chairman Hase asked if there was any public comment. Mr. Sam Ferguson said the Ordinance was not going far enough and he wanted Pit Bulls identified across the U.S. as vicious and deadly animals or banned completely. He spoke of the number of deaths due to Pit Bulls and Pit Bull terriers and he asked that the Ordinance be directed toward those specific breeds and Rottweilers. He also suggested increasing liability insurance for those who own them. Dr. Maddox said Pit Bulls could be very dangerous when they were aggressive but as a rule, she was not concerned when one came into her clinic; most of them were people friendly. She was more concerned with other breeds such as Chows or Shar-Peis. Seventy-six percent of all dog bites were from intact male dogs and 96% of all fatal maulings were from intact dogs. She said more progress would be made with mandatory spaying and neutering. Dr. Campos stated most of his staff had Pit Bulls and he had no issues with the breed. Dr. Weston-Bogart said the majority of Pit Bulls that came to her clinic were people friendly and although they might bite, smaller breeds such as Chihuahuas bit. She said she would not be interested in considering a breed discrimination clause in the Ordinance because it would be very vast and in many cases, unfounded. She said neutering/altering would decrease the number of aggression induced attacks. Dr. Hase asked if anyone was interested in pursuing a breed discrimination clause in the Ordinance. The Board members said they were not. Ms. Denise Hilton, Animal Services, said currently the bites were not tracked by breed. Ms. Patricia Otteson said she took in rescues most of which were small dogs that belonged to elderly citizens who could no longer keep them. She felt dogs should not be penalized for one, small bite and the Ordinance was too harsh in that respect. She spoke further regarding her kennel/dog license. Page 2 of 7
Ms. Hilton read an email from Ms. Linda Kathryn Frederick relaying her concerns regarding a portion of the amendment by amending section 1479 to make optional the requirement that an unvaccinated animal that has bitten or scratched a person be quarantined at the animal shelter or a veterinary clinic. She requested removal of that portion of the amendment. There was general discussion regarding home quarantine and the options in the ordinance. Ms. Hilton read a document prepared by Committee member, Ms. Betty Hay, who was absent from the meeting. Concerns noted in the letter included group licenses, license fees, and continuing to offer discounted license fees for individuals with large numbers of animals. Following are motions made by Ms. Hay in her letter. Mr. Steele said since Ms. Hay was duly represented, the motions could be heard. MS. HAY MOVED in absentia to have the recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that they change the Fee Resolution and Chapter 14 to eliminate the existence of the group license; DR. MADDOX SECONDED. Items discussed by the Board included how Pinellas County and Hillsborough County handled group licenses; the original intent behind Pasco County s group licensing, inspections of kennels; the three-tiered fee for the licenses; setting a criteria for those who applied and making an exception for recognized, non-profit rescue groups; and, if group licensing helped Animal Control in any way. DR. MADDOX MOVED to eliminate group licenses with the exception of 501C3 organizations where all animals were spayed and neutered on the premises. There was no second. Chairman Hase called on Ms. Hay s motion; the vote was unanimous and the motion carried. DR. MADDOX MOVED to allow rescue licenses for 501C3 organizations as long as all animals on the premises were spayed and neutered within 120 days of entering the rescue and/or before the animals were re-homed with a fee of $100.00 per year; MS. MILLER SECONDED. MS. HAY MOVED in absentia to have the suggest to the Board of County Commissioners to increase the fee for an un-neutered license from $20 to $25; DR. MADDOX SECONDED. MS. HAY MOVED in absentia that the recommend that the Board of County Commissioners increase the spay/neuter rebate amount from the current $40 to $50; DR. MADDOX SECONDED. Page 3 of 7
Dr. Maddox said many organizations across the country determined that a rebate did not work unless targeted to those who needed it. She preferred it be limited to those individuals on government assistance or with low income since it was very easy to track those individuals. There was brief discussion regarding low cost spay/neuter programs and the organizations that used it such as P.A.W.s; voucher programs; restructuring the current program; possible legislation changes; disseminating better information to make people aware of the program; and, using the $10 difference for another purpose such as picking up stray cats or creating a better environment for animals already in shelters. Chairman Hase called on the motion; the motion failed with Dr. Maddox, Dr. Imburgia, Ms. Miller, Dr. Weston-Bogart, Mr. Crumpton, and Dr. Campos, and Ms. Wood voting nay. MS. MILLER MOVED to increase the spay/neuter rebate from the current $40 to $45; DR. WESTON-BOGART SECONDED. Chairman Hase called on the motion; the motion carried with Ms. Wood, Dr. Imburgia, and Dr. Maddox voting nay. (C) Animal Services, recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners comments and questions regarding the proposed Ordinance Amendments: Section 14-27 s Section 14-32 Section 14-35 s Section 14-41 We should be consistent and include animals in Section B as well as in Section A. Section 14-59 s Section 14-76 s Section 14-79 Change the word, scratch to attack. Changing this would be in conflict with State Statutes; Does scratch mean a break in the skin; Is there a breakdown as to what causes a scratch (a bite or a nail); Most animal clinic employees have been rabies vaccinated. Would the bite/scratch still have to be reported and the animal quarantined; The current health codes mandate that bites and scratches be handled the same way for quarantine purposes. The rabies compendium and the CDC also required it. Page 4 of 7
Section 14-79 (1) s (2) s (3) s (4) s (5) There are rabies vaccines that are now 36 months. The reference to in the last 12 months needed to be addressed; an animal that has had a 3 year rabies vaccination should not be discriminated against. Section14-96(a) (2) The language referring to group license tags would have to be stricken due to a previous motion. Change the words, group license to rescue license. (b) (1) s (2) s (c) The 3 year rabies vaccination had to be noted. (d) s (e) s Section 14-97(a) (b) (c) (d) s s s What happened if a person entices a dog or pot bellied pig for the purpose of entrapment; what would be the fine; would it be a misdemeanor or civil offense. There was brief discussion regarding rabies tags for animals that were exempt from rabies vaccines. (e) If a dog running loose ran into fenced property, an owner could possibly file charges against Animal Control for trespass because they had the right to believe their property was properly enclosed and that the Animal Control person was trespassing. There was further discussion regarding a dog-atlarge situation. Section 14-102 (a) s Section 14-103(a)(1) through (a)(10); (b) through (h)(1-3) there were no comments; (i) through (k) there were no comments. Section 14-103(l) This item exempts the County and its officers and employees from any liability; what about negligence; Would veterinarians be included in the exemption. If veterinarians were requested to board an animal that was in for rabies quarantine, would this shelter them, also. Animal Control never refused to quarantine an animal at their shelter. Page 5 of 7
Section 14-104 Section 14-105 Section 14-106 Section 14-107 Chairman Hase requested a motion to approve the proposed Ordinance changes as amended by the Board. DR. CAMPOS MOVED approval of the proposed Ordinance changes as amended; MR. CRUMPTON SECONDED. Mr. Steele said he would email a copy of the Ordinance with the changes to each Board member and it would go before the Board of County Commissioners on December 18 th for a final hearing. VI. Reading of Minutes Chairman Hase requested a motion to approve the minutes of August 22, 2007. MR. GRIFFITHS MOVED to approve the Minutes of August 22, 2007; MS. SZESYSKI SECONDED. VII. New Business (A) Spay Pasco Dr. Diana Mattox Dr. Mattox said she would defer this item to a later meeting. Mr. Crumpton spoke regarding the new procedures for ordering rabies vaccine, the latest disease incident report, and the cost for rabies treatments. Brief discussion followed. Ms. Hilton distributed a handout from Mr. Crumpton on the subjects of MRSA, Paws and Claws (World Rabies Day), and Canine Rabies in the United States. Page 6 of 7
VIII. Old Business None Scheduled IX. Setting Date/Location for Next Meeting The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for February 6, 2008. X. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. PASCO COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING NOVEMBER 7, 2007 (Seal) Prepared by: Sandra Merkel Deputy, Clerk Page 7 of 7