SAN FRANCISCO COMMISSION OF

ANIMAL CONTROL & WELFARE

Meeting Minutes May 16, 2019

 

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

Present: Shari O’Neill; Nina Irani; Bunny Rosenberg; Russell Tenofsky; Jane Tobin; Brian Van Horn, DVM

Absent: Annemarie Fortier; Rachel Reis; Lisa Wayne; Officer Ryan Crockett

 

2. General Public Comment
   1. Members of the public concerned about changes to the feral cat management policy of the Department of Animal Care and Control (“ACC”) and the San Francisco SPCA comment:

 

• John Rockwell (volunteer for ACC/SPCA) commented that the previous process, where ACC/SPCA would call volunteer trappers when kitten litters were spotted in public, was a key part of the Trap Neuter Return policy and worked well for about 20 years. Two months ago, this policy changed, and ACC/SPCA will now leave these animals in place until they are old enough to be weaned and put up for adoption. He hopes to ask the Board of Supervisors, Naomi Kelly, and Virginia Donahue to direct ACC to reverse the policy for the benefit of the public and the animals.

 

• Marianne Goley (volunteer for ACC/SPCA for 25 years) commented that the new policy is heartless and cruel, and that the feral cat and kittens she is currently fostering, and in general, are better off with volunteers than left to their own devices.

 

• Maria Conlin (volunteer for ACC and Gimme Shelter) commented that she is supporting the abandoned cats and kittens of San Francisco, and that the policy change is regressive and leaving kittens outside is inhumane.  The claim is that captivity is too stressful for a feral cat and kittens, but kittens left outside may get killed or reproduce and add to the feral population.  The small amount of time in a foster environment may be stressful but not as stressful or deadly for the kittens as being left outside.  She questions whether there is a safe place for cat moms and kittens outside in San Francisco. 

 

• Nadine May (involved with feral cat trapping and rescue for about 20 years) commented that long-time volunteers never had a problem with mother cats during their foster time.  The feral cats were happy to be inside, warm, able to nurse, and to get food, and at the right time, would be put up for adoption and the mothers would be fixed and go back to being feral.  She requested that ACC make public the study on which the change is based, and to put this issue on next month’s agenda.  She recalled kittens being left in a dumpster, kittens attacked by raccoons, and kittens with eyes almost shut due to health issues.  She is opposed to any policy change regarding feral moms and kittens.

 

• Dr. Mark Lameer (volunteer for ACC/SPCA for 10 years) commented that he believes that under the new policy, the plan is to let kittens grow to two months old and then bring them into the system. He commented that a cat who is two months of age is much harder to socialize. Getting them into the system when they are young and can learn not to be afraid of humans, and bringing them in as early as possible for adoption, is best.

 

• Janna Cunningham (volunteer for ACC/SPCA/Homeless Cat Network for 23 years) commented that she wanted to share success stories of rescuing moms and kittens:
  • A mom cat gave birth to four kittens in a barbeque pit, and unfortunately, one had been attacked and killed by wildlife and another had a belly wound and a leg that was hanging by a piece of fur.  She brought the injured kitten to the SPCA and it was euthanized immediately.  The mom and remained two kittens were taken by a foster. 
  • A pregnant mom cat rescued from a woodpile gave birth to four kittens and a foster home was found for them.
  • A mom cat gave birth to five kittens in the Sunset and she was able to rescue them.
  • In all of these cases, the animals are inside and clean, with room to nurse. 

She urges ACC/SPCA to contact volunteers to get the moms and kittens off the streets, and reinstitute the nursery at the SPCA.

 

• A member of the public (volunteer for Trap Neuter Release program) requested that this issue be put on the commission agenda, and commented that: she wants to read the studies referred to; the policy change isn’t normal protocol for stabilizing colonies; the policy change will result in precious time lost to socialize kittens; she feels that money concerns are behind the policy change; and that volunteers know what is best for these cats and were never consulted.

 

• Roseanne Capel (volunteer for ACC) commented that she is concerned about the policy change and the new policy needs to be brought up with the Board of Supervisors.  She is concerned that the animals will pay a price.  She also commented that she was told not to bring stray cats into ACC, a policy which is not published on their website.  She finds the UC Davis study to which the ACC refers regarding the policy change to be heartless.

 

2. Commissioner Tenofsky responded to the public comment by thanking the volunteers and stating that this issue will be on next month’s agenda.   

 

3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the April 2019 Meeting

Meeting minutes approved

 

4. Chairperson’s and Commissioners’ Reports
   1. Commissioner Rosenberg reports that Muttville has been working with the Mayor’s office on a proclamation that Thursday, June 6^th will be Adopt a Senior Pet Day, for all senior animals.
   2. Commissioner O’Neil reports that the groundbreaking for the new ACC shelter was well-attended and lovely, and there are pictures posted online. 

 

5. Old Business
   1. Review of City Charter Establishing Commission on Animal Control and Welfare
      • Commissioners move to defer this issue until next month when Commissioner Fortier is present and can update the Commission.

 

2. Revision to San Francisco’s Pet Tethering Ordinance
   • Commissioner Irani comments on research conducted since last meeting, including gathering ACC data to assess whether tethering is an issue in our community, and speaking to Oakland and Austin ACCs to gather information on enforcement of their tethering ordinances.
   • Commissioner O’Neil comments on ACC data:
     • ACC tethering data is coded into categories, including “investigation: tethered,” which usually means dogs tethered in backyards, and “stray: tied,” which usually means dogs tied on public property.  The categorization can be somewhat subjective depending on the officer responding to the call.  Some calls involving tethering may also be coded as leash law issues.
     • The outcomes of the calls are also coded.  Outcomes include warnings given to owner-guardians, impounding of dogs who are later redeemed by their owner-guardians, canceled calls, “gone on arrival” where the dogs are no longer present, and resolved, where the owner-guardian is present by the time the officer arrives.
     • “Investigation: tethering” calls seem to be more serious, because they usually involve additional welfare issues.
     • “Stray: tied” calls may also include abandoned animals.
   • Commissioner Van Horn comments about the possible burden on enforcement officers if the ordinance is changed. 
   • Commissioner Tobin comments on finding out how these numbers compare to other large cities.
   • Commissioner Irani comments on whether the number of calls is a burden on officers, and that Austin ACC reported that their tethering prohibition led to a decrease in the number of tethering calls.
   • Commissioner O’Neil comments that the burden on officers is unknown, and that the hope is that the outcome is not always punitive, including for the homeless population that needs a way to confine pets without being punished.
   • Commissioner Irani comments that Oakland ACC treats tethering calls relating to homeless owners on a case-by-case basis depending on whether there are other signs of neglect and whether the owner is present.
   • Commissioner Van Horn comments that tying up and leaving animals in public is a problem, but whether it should be prioritized, given the city’s resources, is unknown. However, officers in states that passed more restrictive laws reported needing more authority to enforce tethering issues.  If San Francisco officers feel similarly, then they need tools to address the issues as well. 
   • Commissioner Tenofsky comments that it would be interesting to see which neighborhoods the calls come from.  This issue seems geographically specific as urban areas lack tethering space.  Asks if it is possible to ask officers if they feel they lack enforcement power.
   • Commissioner O’Neil comments that officers are empowered to seize an animal when there is a welfare or health issue, and they do. It seems a main concern is dogs getting stolen and used as bartering tools, which officers are seeing happen more.  Public education on this issue would be welcomed. 
   • Commissioner Tobin comments that it seems education resources would need to come from within ACC.
   • Commissioner Tenofsky asks if the numbers include repeat offenders.
   • Commissioner O’Neil comments that impound numbers include repeat offenders, but whether calls do is unknown. And, the number of dogs coming into ACC because of tethering seems low when considering there are 10,000 animals coming in per year.
   • Commissioner Irani asks to look into the number of animals impounded and then redeemed to find out the reason for impounding.
   • Commissioner O’Neil suggests next steps are: to look at the cases of redeemed animals to assess reasons for impounding; assess if there are repeat offenders; and geocode calls to assess whether they are neighborhood specific.
   • Public comment:
     • A member of the public comments that she often sees dogs tied up outside of stores in the Richmond, and is concerned about them being stolen.  If the dog is friendly, she often stays until the owner returns and discusses the possibility of theft, but the response is usually dismissive.  She recalls two dog thefts outside of her local supermarket.  She asks whether it is illegal to leave dogs tied up outside.
     • Commissioner O’Neil responds that the situation described is a violation of the leash law, because there is no owner-guardian present on the other side of the leash. 

 

6. General Public Comment

None

 

7. Items to be put on Calendar for Future Commission Meetings
   1. Review of City Charter Establishing Commission on Animal Control and Welfare
   2. Revision to San Francisco’s Pet Tethering Ordinance
   3. Animal Care and Control Live Release Numbers
   4. ACC and SPCA Feral Mother Cat and Kitten Management Policy

 

8. Adjournment (approx. 6:35 p.m.)