Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Animal Welfare Task Force Minutes

Animal Welfare Task Force
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
2:00 pm
Buena Vista Conference Center
Task Force members present: Sen. Patricia Blevins, Delaware State Senate
Sen. Karen Peterson, Delaware State Senate
Rep, Earl Jaques, Delaware House of Representatives
Secretary Ed Kee, Department of Agriculture
Andy Lippstone, Office of the Governor
Jennifer Ranji, Public Member
Dr. Caroline Hughes, Public Member
Hetti Brown, Public Member
Kathleen Gallagher, Public Member
John Rago, City of Wilmington
Kristin Dwyer, New Castle County
Mike Petit de Mange, Kent County
Hal Godwin, Sussex County
Patrick Carroll, Delaware Humane Association
Anne Gryczon, Safe Haven
Jane Pierantozzi, Faithful Friends Animal Society
Anne Cavanaugh, Delaware SPCA
Kevin Usilton, Kent County SPCA
Dr. Morgan Dawkins, Delaware Veterinary Medical Association

Staff present:
Carling Ryan, Delaware State Senate
Public attendees:
Joshua Jones, PIJAC
Cherly Heiks, Quest
David Bentz, Delaware House of Representatives
C.S. Kidner, DVMA
Bridget Hill, Legal Intern, Office of the Governor
The meeting was called to order at
2:07 p.m.
1. Introductions and Nomination of Chairperson
Sen. Blevins asked each person in attendance to introduce themselves. Following introductions, Sen. Blevins asked if anyone would like to serve as chairperson.

Absent any volunteers, Sen. Peterson made a motion to nominate Sen. Blevins to chair the Task Force. Andy Lippstone and Jennifer Ranji seconded the motion. All were in favor, none were opposed.
Motion adopted. 2  
2. Brief Discussion of Current Animal Welfare Responsibilities Sen. Blevins referenced the packet of information prepared for members of the Task Force. Among other information, the packet included a chart summarizing the various animal control and animal welfare responsibilities under Delaware law. Sen. Blevins noted that such responsibilities are spread across numerous agencies, both public and private.
3. Discussion of Issues to Be Addressed by Task Force
Sen. Blevins opened the floor for discussion about what topics and issues should be addressed by the Task Force. She believes the Task Force should examine animal cruelty laws; training and oversight of animal control officers; which level of government should be responsible for dog control; increasing compliance with licensing requirements; feral cats; the spay/neuter program; the shelter standards law; rabies control; and the overall coordination of government functions.
Several members of the Task Force, including Hetti Brown, Ms. Ranji and Mr. Lippstone, also agreed that coordination of government functions is crucial. Ms. Ranji stated that the Task Force should try to develop an overall legal, governmental and contractual structure that is clear and efficient. This will make substantive policy discussions more productive and cohesive.

Several members of the Task Force, among them Kristin Dwyer, Mike Petit de Mange and Hal Godwin, raised concerns about the way dog control is handled under Delaware law. Ms. Dwyer noted that when primary responsibility for dog control was assigned to the counties, there was some confusion as to how to best meet the counties’ legal obligations. Mr. Godwin stated that Sussex County Council would prefer taking dog control back to the state.

Several members also raised concerns about funding. Mr. Petit de Mange noted that with the growth in legislative initiatives to provide for animal welfare, there was a problem with how to pay for services. He believes that any recommendations by the Task Force should be accompanied by a fiscal note. He also stressed that government budgets need to be predictable, and they can’t suddenly increase when a new program is put into place.

Ms. Dwyer stated that the Task Force needs to have a discussion about which animal welfare services taxpayers are willing to pay for. Several members, including Anne Cavanaugh, agreed that the Task Force needs to look at what services the public expects.

Several members, among them Ms. Brown, Rep. Jaques, Jane Pierantozzi and John Rago, stated that the Task Force should examine what is working well now, both in Delaware and elsewhere. Ms. Brown proposed that the next meeting include a "whiteboard session" of what is working and what is not.

Mr. Usilton, Patrick Carroll and others also raised concerns about the financial impact of the state’s shelter standards law. Mr. Carroll noted that while shelters don’t seek funding from the state, they still feel pressure as a result of the law. Ms. Brown suggested looking at other funding sources for animal welfare programs.

Several members said the Task Force should focus on cat issues, as there are few resources in this area. Sen. Blevins stated that the feral cat issue needs to be addressed. Mr. Usilton stated that he wants to add cats as a whole population, because residents of the state are calling and looking for spay/neuter resources for cats and adoption.

Mr. Usilton also stated that shelters need strong adoption programs, not just warehousing animals. A strong spay/neuter program, a strong adoption program, a strong transfer of return to owner program would provide people with resources. Several other members (Dr. Morgan Dawkins, Ms. Pierantozzi and others) agreed that the Task Force should examine spay/neuter issues. 3
Anne Gryczon said that her goal was to make Delaware a no-kill state. Mr. Rago agreed that the Task Force should examine the feasibility of no-kill. Mr. Carroll said that his shelter has donors from both ends of the no-kill spectrum. He said it would be interesting to know what the tax payer and donors think, and that it is a tough issue.

Other issues raised for consideration include:
 Dog licensing (John Rago);
 Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation (Sen. Peterson);
 Resources for animals other than dogs and cats (Ms. Brown, Mr. Usilton); and
 Emergency response efforts (Dr. Caroline Hughes).
4. Next Steps Secretary Kee said that it would be helpful to know what each organization’s most vexing problem is. Following Secretary Kee’s comment, Sen. Blevins proposed a whiteboard session for the next meeting. In preparation for that meeting, she proposed that members of the Task Force and other interested parties come prepared with the following information:

 The most vexing issue facing each person or organization;
 What resources each person or agency has; and
 To the extent applicable, what other jurisdictions are doing to address these issues.

Sen. Blevins also stated that it would be helpful if the Task Force heard from the shelters about services they provide for which they are not paid. Ms. Dwyer offered to bring additional background information including licensing information (
i.e., how many licenses are sold and how much revenue they bring in), the contract between NCC and KCSPCA and the various responsibilities thereunder, and the number of police calls for animal cruelty. Mr. Lippstone also offered to compile information at the state level.
Suggestions were made to add a representative from the Division of Public Health and a representative from a no-kill organization to the Task Force. Sen. Blevins stated that because the composition of the Task Force is prescribed in the Joint Resolution, the group had no authority to add additional permanent members. However, Sen. Blevins agreed that the Task Force could ask representatives of various groups to attend and provide input. To that end, Sen. Blevins asked members to suggest at the next meeting individuals who could participate in future discussions.
Following discussion, the Task Force agreed that the next meeting would be on Thursday, September 20
th at 2:00pm. Sen. Blevins stated that the Task Force would likely meet once a month.
5. Public Comment Donna Brown, a member of the public, stressed that there should be a focus on one central database for lost pets in Delaware, and recounted her own experience of trying to locate her lost dog.

There being no further business of the Task Force, a motion was made to adjourn. There being no objection,
the motion was adopted, and the meeting was adjourned at 3:17pm