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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCL 11-02 12 REPORT TO COUNCIL Cih¡ o~ FROM: Bruce Taylor, AMCT, CMM City Clerk DATE: April 2, 2002 - REPORT NUMBER: CL 11-02 SUBJECT: Recommendation of the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee - Animal Services RECOMMENDATION: That the Council ofthe City of Pickering approves the recommendation of the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee dated March 20, 2002 respecting improvements to animal services. ORIGIN: Motion of the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee made on March 20, 2002 AUTHORITY: - Animal Control Agreement with the Towns of Ajax and Whitby FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Council approved the 2002 Animal Control budget at its meeting of January 21, 2002. An allocation of $20,000 is provided in that budget for these improvements to the animal control servIce. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The purpose of this Report is to advise Council of recommendations made by the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee to improve the services provided by the Animal Control Centre. BACKGROUND: - Please be advised that the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee passed the following motion at its meeting of March 20,2002: 1. That Treasurer's Report, Item 1-01, of the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee regarding Animal Services be received. ..../2 - ...... - Report to Council CL 11-02 Date: April 2, 2002 13 Subject: Animal Services Page 2 2. That Recommendations No.1 to 10 (inclusive) of Treasurer's Report, Item 1-02, be endorsed. 3. That the service improvement recommendations be submitted to the Councils of Ajax, Pickering and Whitby for their approval. Attached hereto is a copy of PAW Treasurer's Report Item 1-02, which the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee considered in conjunction with the above motion. Please note that the PAW Joint Animal Control Committee only recommended the approval of Recommendations #1 to #10. With respect to Recommendation #11 regarding the handling of Nuisance Wildlife, the Committee asked staff to determine what other municipalities are doing about wildlife and what costs would be involved if PAW were to continue to handle nuisance wildlife and remain cost-neutral. Council approved the Animal Control budget for 2002 at its meeting of January 21,2002 and that budget contained an allocation of $20,000 to pay for the implementation of these recommendation service improvements. ATTACHMENTS: 1. PAW Treasurer's Report Item 1-02 ~ Attachments Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council " '-- .' 1.4 ITEM 1-02 Subject: - !V1EI\I"'r'~' / ATTACH!, \<¡, t1.--",..., REPORT # -~!::, /1- 0 Ã.. TREASURER'S REPORT TO THE PICKERING- AJAX- WHITBY JOINT ANIMAL CONTROL COMMITIEE February 6, 2002 Animal Services Recommendation: Origin: ~ Analysis: - 1. That the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby Joint Animal Control Committee endorse the service improvement recommendations set out in Treasurer's Report, Item 1-02; and, 2. That the service improvement recommendations be submitted to the Councils of Ajax, Pickering and Whitby for their approval. At the request of the Pickering- Ajax- Whitby Joint Animal Control Committee (PAW), animal services staff have completed a comprehensive review of the animal care and control services provided to the citizens of the three municipalities. . The goal of the review was to identify possible areas where service improvements are possible in keeping with PAW's mandate of providing animal services that represent the highest quality and most effective delivery possible within the resources that are available. While the review was comprehensive in nature, particular attention was given to finding improved ways of, . promoting and developing responsible pet ownership; and, adopting out as many homeless animals as possible. . The following service improvement recommendations are offered for the consideration and endorsement of the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby Joint Animal Control Committee. Recommendation No.1 - Business Name That the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby Animal Control Centre be re-named the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby Animal Services Centre. The name change better reflects the fundamental basis of PAW's mandate, that being to provide quality, cost effective animal services to the citizens of Ajax, . Pickering and Whitby. Recommendation No.2 - Business Uniform That, in keeping with the business name change and in an effort to project a more customer service oriented image, the' "law enforcement uniform" style of clothing currently worn by the animal services staff be phased out and be replaced with a "business casual" style of outfit. \.TTACLltJ!Ei\I," of,' I A ï , ¡ J',; '>1' ,....;..--~..... REPORT # .::.£... / /~ ð '2.. Treasurer's Re art Item 1-02 Continued .15 Recommendation No.3 - Customer Service Training and Development That the animal services staff be enrolled in a customer service training program customized to equip them with the particular skills required for them to provide quality animal care and control services. - The program would cover a broad spectrum of training and development initiatives including, . . relationship building skills . behavioural modification . conflict resolution . team building . anger management skills . effective communication . active listening skills . change management . interpersonal skills Recommendation No.4 - Animal Services Website - That PAW design and implement an animal services website to better promote and publicize the animal services available to the citizens of Ajax, Pickering and Whitby. The site would be linked to the local municipal websites. It would provide detailed information about the many services provided by PAW. The website would also offer help and assistance in locating lost pets and adopting homeless pets. Particular emphasis would be placed on educating the public about the importance of responsible pet ownership including pet registration, spaying and neutering, and vaccination. Information would be made available on how to handle animal and wildlife nuisances and what to do should you lose your pet or find a stray pet. Considering the popularity of home computers, the animal services website would undoubtably become an invaluable communication tool to publicize and accesS animal services provided by PAW. Recommendation No.5 - Advertising Program That an advertising program be developed with the assistance of the local news media to better promote the importance of responsible pet ownership, publicize the plight of homeless pets, find good loving homes for unwanted pets and seek the public's assistance in. combating pet overpopulation. Recommendation No.6 - Working Relationships with other Ani.mm Agencies - That animal services staff explore new ways and means of improving communications and working with local pet fanciers such as veterinarians, pet stores, area animal shelters, rescue groups, etc., to find good loving homes for homeless pets and to promote responsible pet ownership. PAW's goal is to reduce pet overpopulation through public education and to adopt out as many healthy homeless pets as possible. 16 ATTACHME!\!T ) 'TO REPORT#~':,.I/. 02- Treasurer's !{eportJj:em 1-02 (Con~ Recommendation No.7 - Adoption Registry That a registry of prospective pet owners be established. - Often a person is looking for a specific type of pet to adopt, a specific breed, a certain disposition, an approximate age, etc.. Ifthe Animal Services Centre does not have a pet that meets the requirements, the person's name and pet particulars would be noted in the pet adoption registry and they would be contacted when a homeless pet meeting their requirements became available. The registry would help PAW place just the right pet in just the right home. Recommendation No.8 - Pet Foster Program That PAW establish a pet foster program to increase the chances that animals which come to the Animal Services Centre find good homes. ,.,. Animals that come to the Services Centre are often too young, need further socialization or have a treatable illness requiring special attention which prevents them from being adoption candidates. However, they would have an excellent chance for adoption once they were older or healthy again. The need is especially great during the Spring/Summer sèason, when pregnant cats and mothers with litters of kittens are dropped off at the Centre. Until the kittens are old enough to be weaned, and separated from the mother, they cannot be put up for adoption. Foster parents provide a safe environment for the animals to mature, become more socialized or heal from a wound or illness. Once the animal is suitable for adoption, the animal is returned to the Centre to await adoption into a new home. Recommendation No~ 9 - Volunteer Program That people having a sense of love and commitment for their pets be encouraged to volunteer their time to help find homes for animals, unite lost pets with their owners and help prevent the overpopulation of animals by assisting with PAW's public education program.' Volunteers would be recruited to help PAW achieve its objective of finding a good home for every adoptable animal taken in. Also, volunteers would be used to help spread the word about the importance of responsible pet ownership by making presentations to local schools, civic organizations and organized groups. Times would be coordinated depending upon the needs of the group or organization and the availability of staff and volunteers. Volunteers would also assist with the handling and exercising of animals housed at the Centre. They would also help with pet grooming and bathing. Recommendation No. 10 - Lifetime Pet Registration - That, following Whitby's lead, Ajax and Pickering introduce lifetime cat and dog registration. The goal of PAW is to register every cat and dog so that lost pets can be reunited quickly with their owners. Whitby has more than quadrupled the number of animals registered since introducing a lifetime pet identification tag. j-\ ..1" REPORT # .£.~, / / - 02- 17 ¡ Treasurerfs Re ort Item 1-02 Continued - - Conclusions: Alternatives: ..... Existing Policy: Recommendation No. 11 - Nuisance Wildlife That in order to allow animal services staff to put more time and effort into the care and wellbeing of distressed and injured animalsf PAW limit wildlife response to those emergencies involving, . wildlife in the living area of a residence or the occupied area of a business wildlife that has had physical contact with a person or domestic animal, potentially exposing the person or animal to rabies wildlife that is displaying signs or symptoms of rabies wildlife that poses a threat to humans or domestic animals wildlife that is sick or injured .. . . . PAW would no longer respond to situations or provide humane traps where the complainant considers wildlife a nuisance but wh~re no real threat to humans or domestic animals exists. These would include the followingf . wild animals living under decks, storage sheds, porches and the like (typically groundhogs, skunks and raccoons) wild animals inhabiting or frequenting populated areas (typically squirrels, deerf foxesf raccoons, skunks, wolves and coyotes) wild animals in attics, basements, garages and storage sheds (typically squirrels, raccoonsf bats and snakes) damage to lawnsf gardensf flower beds, ornamental shrubs (typically rabbits, squirrels, deer, groundhogs and raccoons) . . . There are a number of private pest control agencies listed in the telephone directory that offer professional assistance with nuisance wildlife. The service improvements proposed in this report are in keeping with PAW's mandate of providing animal care and control services that represent the highest quality and most effective delivery possible within the resources that are available. The recommended service improvements will go a long way in promoting responsible pet ownership, improving the quality of animal care and reducing the number of homeless animals that are destroyed. Staff will keep the PAW Committee updated on the status and success of the service improvements initiatives. N/A N/A Financial Considerations: Provision has been made in the approved 2002 animal services budget to . implement the service improvement recommendations set out in this report.