[violaine]

Today at the meeting of commissioners –

I spoke briefly with the secretary to commissioners prior to 9:30 meeting, and asked her if the statistics would be on the agenda. She handed me a copy of the agenda, and there was nothing pertaining to the animal control shelter. Secretary told me the statistics would be available, and the chief animal control officer would be present next meeting on Tuesday- 9. Feb. 2010, at 9:30 A.M. I wasn’t sure if I could bring up the topic of the statistics anyhow, and secretary said that I could when the commissioner called for “wishes to be heard”. My goal was to get a word in about having an Animal Advisory Board established [like it used to be before the Chief AC Officer disbanded it years ago]. With an Advisory Board, a lot of great changes could take place.

The meeting began as scheduled, and after about ten minutes, I could hardly believe my ears.... NOTHING was on the Agenda for today about the AC/shelter, yet one commissioner began addressing the complaints at our animal control shelter, plus their awareness of the FB citizens concerned about the AC/shelter page.

Thank goodness on staying to be a presence there, as I almost left since the secretary and agenda made no mention of the discussion!

The commissiners were looking at an investigation of the AC/shelter by The Animal Board of Health [who are NOT on our team]. A few areas where Animal Advisory Boards/Board of State Federation of Shelters and ABOH do cross paths, i.e. rabies holding periods, and abuse cases. The ABOH has no background, education, or experience in the animal sheltering department.

I gave comments when the room was addressed to do so, – which should be publicised in the minutes- welcoming and urging the diversity of an Advisory Board. This would not be a cost to the taxpayers- as one commissioner stated budget cuts for AC ahead, and there would be an expense involved with Advisory Board implementation.

If the commissioners want an independent investigation of AC by the ABOH, there will not be anything found- and of course, the AC/ shelter and commissioners come off looking clean. We know this is not the case, and are in desperate need of transparency via a watchdog organisation like Board of State Federation of Shelters. This is heavy artillery in the most positive degree.
For example, when statistics are requested, they need to be sent out, versus never receiving them. Financials, et c.

I telephoned BOSFS today directly after hearing the commissioners. My contact will get on this immediately to the Board of State Federation- and did mention a person she had in mind who has many years of experience, and another individual at a private Humane Society. She will also write to the commissioner who brought this to the agenda.

People/taxpayers might have attended if discussion of the AC/shelter had been posted to their website/agenda. The scary thing is, if the commissioners do not wish to discuss public matters, and only wish to stick to “roads/hwys”, then someone else needs to be the boss of the animal control/shelter!

So, BOSFS is writing to commissioners offering to do an independent investigation of the AC, as this was brought to her attention. Humane society here has already submitted the BOSFS info to a commissioner.