Animal Care & Control Save-A-Pet Program Mayor and Council November 22, 2011

1. Animal Care & Control Save-A-Pet Program Mayor and Council November 22, 2011

2. Save-A-Pet Program • Background Information • Initiated by Mayor Tomlinson • 9 Major Components

3. Cat & Dog Statistics 20102011 Return to Owner 788 601 Adopted 325 1,002 Other Agencies 623 643 (Rescue Groups) Total: 1,736 2,246 * January 1, 2011 thru October 31, 2011

4. Reasons for Euthanasia • Wildlife • Sickness • Injury • Biting dogs or cats • Capacity • 2010 2011-YTD • 78% 64%

8. Shelter Operations • Regulated By: • City Code – Chapter 5, Animal and Fowl Ordinance • State Law – Georgia Department of Agriculture Animal • Industry Division • Formal Inspections annually by Georgia Animal • Protection Division • - Last Inspection on 6/27/11 • - Results posted on city website • - Passed on all counts • Frequent informal visits by Department of Agriculture

9. Shelter Capacity • City Shelter until 2009 on Sacerdote Lane • - 20 dog runs • - 20 cat cages

10. Current Shelter Dogs have: - 40 general population runs - 8 puppy cages - 6 isolation runs for sick animals - 6 quarantine runs for biting animals

11. Shelter Capacity Cont’d • Cat Cages: • - 25 general population cages • - 11 isolation cages • - 10 quarantine cages • Note: For safety and health it is best not to double up animals in cages

12. Shelter Staffing • Same staff as in old shelter • 7 days per week operations • 5 shelter personnel • - 1 Supervisor • - 4 Shelter Animal Control Officers • Pick up dead animals at 17 veterinarians twice per week and “road kill” six days per week for appropriate disposal.

13. Save-A-Pet Program Components • Comprehensive Adoption Program • Rescue Groups • Volunteers • Feral Cat T-N-R (Trap-Neuter-Release) Program • Foster Care Network • Medical and Behavioral Program

14. Save-A-Pet Program Components Cont’d 7. High Volume/Low Cost spay and Neuter Program 8. Pet Retention Program 9. Proper Pet Care

15. Comprehensive Adoption Program • 2010 …………………………………….325 Adoptions • 2011…………………………………..1,002 Adoptions • Off-site Adoptions • Rescue Groups: 2010 2011 • 623 643 • Return to Owner: 2010 2011 • 788 601 • - Every animal checked for microchips • - Check tags • - Maintain lost animal board • Photos on website

16. Comprehensive Adoption Program – Cont’d • City website – photos of every animal for owner ID and possible adoption • Petfinders – now operating with city input • Facebook – Revising with upgrades • Adopt-A-Pet website

17. Comprehensive Adoption Program – Cont’d • Future initiatives • - Pets For Vets • - Rescuegroups.org – posts on 15 other websites • - More info on our own website

18. Rescue Groups • 2010: 623 2011: 643 • Works regularly with 12 groups • - Southern Souls • - Animal Ark • - Claws and Paws • - County Animal Rescue Center • - And others

19. Rescue Groups – Cont’d • Animals are selected at 9 am, before opening • Return for animals around 11 am each day • Any shelter with a state license is welcome to register and • pull animals.

20. Volunteers • To Volunteer, You Must: • Apply • Interview • Attend Animal Safety training • Review and sign volunteer handbook • Sign confidentiality agreement • Be assigned a time and task

21. Volunteers – Cont’d Successes: - Paid PT Volunteer Coordinator - Volunteer Manual – Currently being Produced - Confidentiality agreement approved by City Attorney - 23 Trained Volunteers - 41 Applications ready for screening

22. Volunteers Cont’d Outstanding Issues: - Have current volunteers review and sign - Complete identification of areas to use volunteers - Develop work schedules

23. Feral Cat T-N-R • Several feral cat colonies existing in Columbus • Recognized by clipped ears • All are micro-chipped, spayed or neutered and have all • inoculations • Nationally recognized component for cat population • control • Currently working to identify the colonies on a GIS map • Work needed on our T-N-R program • Goal – to put cats back in the colony and not in the • shelter • Incomplete

24. Foster Care Network • Very paperwork intensive program • Governed by State Law • Research underway • More work is needed • Incomplete

25. Medical and Behavioral Program • Angel Program line item now established • Allows donations into a special account specifically for • animal medical needs • - Rabies • - Other vaccinations • - Pain relief • Continuing to fine tune program

26. High Volume/Low Cost Spay & Neuter • Required for all adoptions • City provides low cost vouchers valued at $50 • Ordinance needs “teeth” for enforcement • - Changes drafted and under review • THIS IS THE KEY TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING EUTHENASIA!!

27. Pet Retention Program • Work with owners to help them deal with health and • behavioral issues • Encourage them to work with animals • Offer alternatives to the shelter for those insisting on • giving up their animals

28. Proper Pet Care • Education for New Pet Owners • School Programs upon request • - Pet Care • - Safety • - Response When Attacked

29. Donations • Food – vendors are generous • Medicines – vaccines are donated and our new Animal Angel program will add to that • Toys and Blankets – generally a problem because of • health, safety and sanitation

30. Donations • Karunda beds • Working with Karunda to identify other items • Donations ARE appreciated through Karundabeds.com