Title
Animal Shelter Update
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On November 26, 2019, the County Council provided the following direction regarding the County's Animal Shelter:
Council directs the County Manager to prepare budget options for the Animal Shelter that include an addition of 1.5 dedicated animal shelter FTEs
and an addition of $10,000 for training for Council consideration during the FY 2021 budget hearing and that Council direct the Animal Shelter Advisory Board to
Identify infrastructure needs, draft a Best Practice Guide, and draft an updated Animal Shelter Ordinance as described in the Animal Shelter
Path Forward provided in tonight’s meeting materials.
The purpose of this item is to provide an update on what has occurred since that time.
As a result of the Shelter AdHoc Committee recommendations, Council action, and the Shelter’s goal of continuance improvement, several changes at the Shelter have taken place or are in the process of changing. This includes the following:
1. Obtained funding through Council approval (FY21 budget option) for an additional employee (new position is filled - we are currently fully staffed with one Shelter Manager and four Animal Control Officers).
2. Obtained funding through Council (FY22 budget option) for Shelter improvements to include a dog run, cat tower enclosure, catio, strip curtains, kennel fence slats, heaters, and snow blower.
3. Policy and procedural changes were identified and implemented to include behavioral assessment procedures, enrichment procedures, and enhanced animal documentation and information sharing processes.
4. Re-emphasized volunteer programming efforts as COVID circumstances permitted. Currently at 18 active volunteers with over 200 registered.
5. Staff is working with Councilor Robinson to develop a proposed update to the Animal Control code.
6. Maintained a high level of animal welfare service as supported by statistical data. A mid-year assessment indicated:
a. 95.09% of all animal have a li...
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