Animal Care Committee

Minutes of Meeting

December 15, 2010

5:30pm Ontario room

IN ATTENDANCE: Terri Daniels, Annabel Musson, Yasuko Naka, Caroline Lane, Janet Andrews, Valerie Burke and Denielle Duncan

REGRETS: Bernice Royce and Andrea Sim

STAFF: Laura Gold, Committee Clerk

GUESTS: Bill Wiles, Manager of By-Laws & Enforcement

		DESCRIPTION	ACTION
1.	opening remarks	The meeting was called to order at 5:37 p.m. with Councillor Valerie Burke presiding as the Chair.
2.	ADOPTION OF THE ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE MINUTES	The approval of the November 17, 2010 Animal Care Committee Minutes was deferred to the next meeting. Caroline Lane was requested to update the minutes as per the Committee’s request.	Revise the November 17, 2010 Animal Care Committee Minutes – Caroline Lane
3.	TRAP NEUTER & RETURN (TNR) PILOT PROJECT-UPDATE	Mr. Bill Wiles, Manager of By-Laws & Enforcement, was in attendance to discuss Markham’s Trap Neuter & Return (TNR) Pilot Program. Members expressed the importance of returning feral cats to the location they were trapped, unless there is a compelling reason to relocate the cat. As the survival rate of these cats is much higher when returned to the location they were trapped. Both the Animal Care Committee and Town Staff shared the belief that the objective of the TNR program was to reduce the feral cat population in Markham. A Member noted the importance of working with local groups with specialized expertise in TNR programs. It was noted that these groups may be able to assist with the feeding and sheltering of the feral cats. There was a discussion regarding whether the Animal Control By-Law needed to be updated to add an exclusion for fostering cats. Ms. Caroline Lane was requested to research other municipalities handling of this matter. Mr. Wiles advised that Susan McGrath, Supervisor of Licensing, is responsible for the supervision of all forms of licensing, , including dogs and cats licenses. She is also the OSPCA’s main contact at the Town. It was explained that the OSPCA handles day to day matters and that serious matter like dog bites are brought to Ms. McGrath’s attention. The Committee believed that the OSPCA was currently not providing pet adoption services and that its website not been updated for sometime. Mr. Wiles advised that Markham is working with the OSPCA through these challenging times. He advised the OSPCA will beproviding regular animal care services in the near future with the re-opening of the shelter. The OSPCA provides 120 hours of animal control service per week to the Town. The ringworm outbreak provided the OSPCA with the opportunity to modernize its animal shelter. The Committee noted that it would like to visit the new animal shelter once it opens. Mr. Wiles reported that Markham is issuing a request for proposal to hire a consultant to review the feasibility of opening an animal shelter in Markham. He noted the following timelines: 1) First quarter of 2011 – hire consultant to complete study; 2) Second quarter of 2011 – consultant will write report; 3) Third quarter of 2011 – consultant will complete report. The consultant will look at the feasibility of different options for building an animal shelter in Markham. There was a discussion about the micro-chipping of feral cats, noting that it is rare to microchip feral cats. The industry standard was to chip the feral cat’s ear before returning the cat to the location it was trapped. The concern was regarding the feral cats becoming the property of the Town of Markham. Mr. Wiles advised that the feral cats were being chipped to assist in measuring the success of the TNR program. Markham Staff and the Animal Care Committee had a mutual goal of providing the best animal care services available.	Research other municipalities Animal Control By-Laws to investigate how they handle the fostering of cats – Caroline Lane Arrange for the Animal Care Committee to visit the new animal shelter when it opens – Bill Wiles Issue RFP to hire a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on having a animal shelter in Markham – Bill Wiles
4.	2011 FUNDRAISING CALENDAR	The Committee thought it had approximately 300 calendars still available for sale. Calendar sales were down possibly because there were 50 less photo submissions then last year. A Member was requested to look into how many customers were return customers and report back at the next meeting. A suggestion was made to ask advertisers if they would allow the Committee to add a discount voucher for their business in next years calendar.	Investigate how many customers were return customers - ?
5.	SHELTER UPDATE	No report was provided.
6.	PARTICIPATION IN UPCOMING EVENTS	No report was provided.
7.	NEW BUSINESS	Councillor Valerie Burke was requested to draft a letter welcoming the OSPCA Manager to the February Animal Care Committee meeting. The Committee requested that the Committee Clerk follow up with ITS regarding creating an electronic process for the 2012 calendar photo submission process.	Write letter to OSPCA Manager welcoming him to the February meeting of the Animal Care Committee – Councillor Valerie Burke Follow up with ITS regarding creating an electronic process for the 2012 calendar photo submission process – Committee Clerk
8.	ADJOURNMENT	The meeting of the Animal Care Services Committee adjourned at 6:51 p.m.