Humane Society of Schuyler County Shelter Expansion Project September 28, 2010 Town of Catharine Board Public Hearing Mark Taylor Project Manager
Agenda Introductions The Humane Society of Schuyler County The Shelter Project Justification around Special Use Permit criteria Steps to address neighbors concerns Questions from Board
Who We Are Mission Eliminate pet overpopulation Prevent animal cruelty Provide quality care for homeless animals Promote responsible pet ownership Help the community to develop humane principles toward all animals. Strategy Focus on affordable spay/neuter services Engage volunteers to provide services and support Engage the Schuyler County community for support
Our Efforts Have Reduced Unwanted And Abandoned Animals In Schuyler County 5800 cats and dogs have been spayed or neutered Over 820 cats and 80 dogs have been adopted Approximately 10 cat colonies have been stabilized or eliminated and hoarding situations addressed No dogs have been euthanized for lack of space Strong Schuyler County Legislature support and funding for spay/neuter subsidies
Integrating Our Shelter And Spay / Neuter Operations Is The Next Milestone In Our Roadmap 2001 Established affordable spay/neuter program with Shelter Outreach Services at Cornell 2002 Began foster/adoption program for cats 2003 Established spay/neuter program in Alpine 2006 Purchased veterinary clinic and 2 acre parcel from Dr. Fielder 2009 Assumed management of Schuyler County Animal Shelter at request of County Legislature and began dog adoption program. Improved procedures, medical care and physical plant. Hired two part-time animal care associates. 2009 Opened Wags To Riches Thrift Boutique to help fund ongoing operations 2010 Began program to integrate shelter and clinic
HSSC Has Been A Good Neighbor In The Town Of Catharine Purchased building for $55,000 $70,000 in improvements Heating system, windows, air conditioning, porticos Safer access to County Route 10 Removal of underground fuel tanks Remediation of old burn pits Removal of PCB contaminated transformers
Schuyler County Needs A New Dog Shelter Current shelter was built in 1950 s s as a short term dog pound Difficult to clean and impossible to isolate sick and incoming dogs Limited capacity requiring occasional use of commercial kennels High stress environment results in behavioral problems and difficulty in adopting Limited space for food preparation and treatment of injured dogs No space for adoption meetings
Proposal Consolidates Operations At The Town of Catharine Facility Key Features Continue spay/neuter operations in existing facility Expand to a modern shelter supporting up to 24 dogs and 34 cats Benefits to Schuyler County Humane sheltering and adoption of homeless, abused and abandoned dogs and cats Reduces burden on Schuyler County Sheriff s Department and Schuyler County taxpayers Single point of contact for spay/neuter services, adoption and animal control Addresses key companion animal component of Schuyler County Comprehensive Plan A facility of which the Town and County can be proud
Conceptual front and back elevations
A similar approach is being used in Sante Fe, NM
Our current design houses both dogs and cats in the new facility 126 6 44 8
Building materials and structure Pole barn construction on concrete slab Steel exterior walls and roof Insulation in all walls and ceilings with exterior vapor barrier Fiberglass or steel interior walls Multi-zone radiant floor heat using propane Air conditioning in interior kennels, cat shelter hallways and office Air handling capacity to insure 10 changes per hour Double pane screened exterior windows Finger Lakes Construction or equivalent for building and architectural design Town of Catharine contractors where possible
The Location Wickham Is On County Route 10, Just Cemetery South of County Route Gravel 6 Pit County Route 10 Mobile Home on rented site Barns (to be relocated off-site) Existing Humane Society Building Kenny s Septic Service
2 Acre Lot Is Bounded On Three Sides By Dr. Fielder s Property and Faces County Route 10
~450 50 ~90 224.8 248.5 50 Site Plan 50 Current lot lines Additional land parcel New 50 front and back yard
The Proposed Facility Is In Harmony With Current Neighborhood Uses Mixed residential / agricultural with several nearby businesses Septic toilet and carpet business about 400 yards south Gravel pit about 400 yards northeast Garage about 1 mile south County Planner s report: The proposed action may have some impact on adjacent residential uses through noise and additional traffic. However, population density is low as is the intensity of the proposed action. The Humane Society has operated the spay / neuter clinic and limited cat sheltering since 2003 without concerns from neighbors regarding noise or increased traffic. Dr. Fielder operated a veterinary clinic and boarded dogs at the same facility since 1978 A commercial dog kennel has been operating in the Town of Catharine on County Route 6 for approximately 10 years
The Proposed Facility Will Not Be Detrimental To Property of Persons In The Neighborhood Traffic on County Route 10: 1.6% increase estimated based on 2009 survey Remove north access point to eliminate blind entrance Landscaping and plantings will minimize visual impact Minimum external lighting on motion detection switches Waste water will be treated in a new 300 g/day septic system All solid waste will be bagged for disposal by trash haulers. Dog walkers pick up all solid waste generated. No hazardous chemicals in use at the site and no biohazards are generated. Noise abatement incorporated into kennel design, landscaping, and building orientation.
HSSC Provides Economic Benefit To The Town of Catharine Two paid employees, one being a resident of the Town of Catharine Local services used wherever possible Local residents for landscaping and snow removal Frank Dudgeon - trash removal Bub Wixson heating and air conditioning Cookie s Construction Kenny s Septic Kevin Rounds for HSSC vehicle service Volunteers use Village Take-Out, Dandy Mini-Mart and Odessa Public Library Planned removal of derelict barns will improve safety and visual impact Increased visibility of Schuyler County law enforcement Engagement of non-governmental organizations such as RSVP, ARC and local school districts
Economic impact of the Humane Society since 2006 on the Town of Catharine* Payments to Town of Catharine merchants and service providers *Subsidies distributed from grants and Schuyler County subsidies *Estimated in-kind value of spay/neuter and vaccination services Real estate payments $56,342 $4,493 $23,000 $59,279 Total $143,000 Dogs returned to owners Dogs abandoned in Town of Catharine and adopted to new owners or still in shelter.. 5 6 *Based on postal codes 14805 and 14869
Concerns raised by public at Planning Committee meeting and Zoning Board meeting Size of site Odor and health related issues related to feces containment and management practices Highway safety Noise abatement, construction, and sound deadening materials Anticipated noise impact
Feces and disease management Feces and urine All runs are cleaned twice daily Solid waste is scooped and bagged in plastic trash bags and placed in covered trash bin and collected weekly Runs are scrubbed with bleach solution and rinsed with clear water Septic design will isolate drains from isolation kennels from those of healthy dogs. Cat boxes are cleaned once each day and solid waste is bagged and disposed of in trash bin Vaccination practices If dogs are not claimed by owner within 24 hours, they are vaccinated for distemper, parvovirus, leptosporosis (DHLPP) and kennel cough, wormed and treated for fleas Rabies vaccination is typically given within 2 weeks, usually as part of the spay/neuter procedure. Heartworm tests and vaccination are given on the same time scale. Sick dogs and cats Isolation kennels and cages will be provided for dogs and cats showing signs of illness Cats testing positive for feline leukemia are euthanized immediately Veterinary care is provided as soon as feasible Ongoing care is provided by vet tech on the HSSC staff Track record No outbreaks of parvo or kennel cough in one year of operation at current dog shelter No problems with odors at either the Town of Catharine or Van Zandt Hollow facilities No dogs have died in our care in the past year
Clear view on County Route 10 from driveway North View South View 1.6% traffic increase based on 2009 survey and anticipated number of visits by workers and visitors
Minimizing potential for disturbing noise Advanced kennel design to minimize barking Consulted with Dr. Jan Scarlet, Director of Shelter Medicine Program, Cornell Veterinary School Consulted with ASPCA Shelter Outreach Program Absorbing materials to minimize escape of sound Locating building as far back on property as possible Reduces stimulation from road noise Places more space between shelter and neighbors Allows for trees and other barriers Hours of operation: 7 am to 7 pm Address specific issues with neighbors if they arise for a mutually agreeable solution
Design elements to minimize stimuli to dogs Opaque shelter partitions Arrangement of kennels so dogs cannot see each other Grouping dogs into pods of 6-8 with solid wall separations Providing a service corridor with high windows to minimize surprises Music or other background sound to minimize external stimuli (coyotes, other dogs, motor vehicles) Sound deadening materials to minimize reverberation
Sound control materials Consultants: Robert Grotke Director of Facilities, Cornell Ornithology Lab (Ret) and career recording engineer Mark Rustad President of Netwell Noise Control, Minneapolis Sam Sheik Noise control engineer, AllNoiseControl, Green Acres, Florida Key is controlling reverberation caused by reflection of sound waves off hard surfaces Goal is having a surface with no sound reflection Trade-off between hard surfaces for cleaning vs soft surfaces for sound absorption Four areas to address: Ceiling tiles in kennel area Isolated, insulated wall between kennels and service corridor Attention to details of doors and other openings Hanging sound absorbing mats (VET Mats)
Acoustic ceiling tile Source: AllNoiseControl
Isolated double wall Isolated double wall prevents transmission of sound from kennels into the rest of building
Noise absorbing panels Source: Netwell Noise Noise Control
Minimizing high intensity noise Reviewed ASPCA/Colorado State University paper* High noise levels were measured directly inside overcrowded concrete and steel kennels High levels of noise were associated with poor design and materials choices High noise levels induce stress in dogs and should be avoided Consulted with Dr. Jan Scarlett Director of Cornell s Shelter Medicine Program and Professor of Epidemiology Review the paper Review design in light of paper s findings * Noise in the Animal Shelter Environment: Building Design and the Effectos of Daily Noise Exposure Coppola, Crista L (ASPCA), Enns, R. Mark and Grandin, Temple (Colorado State Univ. Animal Sciences Dept.), Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 9 (1), pages 1-7
Letter from Dr. Jan Scarlett In the facility described by the authors, the designers In the facility described by the authors, the designers incorporated incorporated numerous numerous noise noise stressors stressors for for the the dogs, dogs, as as well well as as design features that amplified the conduct of sound throughout design features that amplified the conduct of sound throughout the the facility. facility. these these flaws flaws served served to to heighten heighten the the dogs dogs arousal, arousal, facilitating facilitating a a chain chain reaction reaction of of barking barking dogs dogs and and high high noise noise levels. levels. Fortunately, Fortunately, there there are are numerous numerous approaches approaches to to kennel kennel design design (some described in the Coppola paper) that, coupled with (some described in the Coppola paper) that, coupled with modern modern sound sound dampening dampening construction construction materials, materials, reduce reduce noise noise stressors for kenneled dogs and minimize noise in-and outside stressors for kenneled dogs and minimize noise in-and outside of animal shelters. Incorporation of these features into many of animal shelters. Incorporation of these features into many animal animal shelters shelters throughout throughout the the country country has has improved improved the the welfare of dogs, staff, and visitors in these shelters and greatly welfare of dogs, staff, and visitors in these shelters and greatly minimized minimized sound sound pollution pollution to to surrounding surrounding neighborhoods neighborhoods I am impressed with the thoroughness of the research that he I am impressed with the thoroughness of the research that he and and others others on on the the shelter shelter planning planning committee committee have have undertaken undertaken to address the welfare of the dogs, people and neighbors near to address the welfare of the dogs, people and neighbors near the the proposed proposed facility. facility. Many of the largest shelters are located in urban areas and Many of the largest shelters are located in urban areas and by utilizing these approaches live peaceably with their by utilizing these approaches live peaceably with their surrounding surrounding neighbors. neighbors.
Benchmark against other kennels Kennel Location Use Permit Noise Control Monroe County SPCA Pittsford NY None Design, limited experiments with materials Tompkins County SPCA Ithaca NY None Design of new shelter Chemung County SPCA Big Flats, NY Commercial zone None SanGary Kennels Town of Reading None None Basil Denisoff Kennels Town of Catharine None None
Next steps The Humane Society has addressed the issues raised by the Planning Board as stated in the minutes of the July 21, 2010 meeting and public comment at the ZBA meeting of September 8, 2010 We are prepared to go over and above standard practices of other shelters to accommodate the interests of our neighbors despite the financial risks to the project Your support is critical to the welfare of companion animals in Schuyler County