AGENDA ITEM 6A:  PROPOSED ORDINANCE RE: ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL EUTHANASIA ALERT POLICY/PROTOCOL

PART I: City/Health Code Section XXX is amended to add new definitions of “irremediably suffering,” “licensed veterinarian,” “rescue organization,” “severe injury,” unprovoked biting,” and “interested person(s)” to read as follows, and to renumber the definitions accordingly:

1. (1) IRREMEDIABLY SUFFERING means an animal who has a poor or grave prognosis for being able to live without severe, unremitting physical pain even with comprehensive, prompt, and necessary veterinary care, as certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian.

2. (2) LICENSED VETERINARIAN means a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the Stare of California.

3. RESCUE ORGANIZATION means an organization that is:

1. (a) Described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code; and that is also

2. (b) An animal rescue organization, animal adoption organization, or organization formed for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

4. SEVERE INURY means any physical injury from an animal bite or injury that results in broken bones, permanently disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery, other surgery or nerve damage.

5. UNPROVOKED BITING means biting that is not provoked. Biting is provoked if, among other things, it occurs because an animal was being taunted, or the animal was acting in defense of self, a person, another animal, or property, or the animal was acting from maternal instinct, or the animal was reacting to hunger, pain, or fear, or the animal bites accidentally, as when playing.

6. INTERESTED PERSON(S) means any person(s) not affiliated with a rescue organization but has a professional or personal interest in the well being of an animal.

PART 2. City/Health Code Section XXX is amended to read:

Not less than 48 hours prior to the euthanasia of any animal, Animal Care and Control must:

1. (1) Notify or make a reasonable attempt to notify by verifiable, documented communication any rescue organization that has previously requested to be notified before animals are to be euthanized;

2. (2) Unless there is evidence of neglect or animal cruelty as certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian, notify or make a reasonable attempt to notify by verifiable, documented communication to the “owner”/guardian who surrendered the animal to Animal Care and Control; and inform that person(s) that the animal is scheduled to be euthanized, unless the person(s) request not to be contacted;

3. (3) Notify or make a reasonable attempt to notify by verifiable, documented communication the finder who surrendered the stray animal, unless the person(s) requests not be contacted;

4. (4) Adhering to current protocol, surrender the animal to one of the partner rescue organizations or interested parties notified under Part 1 (3) and (6).

5. Post adoption/rescue information on all relevant social media sites used by Animal Care and Control.

PART 3: Animal Care and Control may not euthanize any animal without making the notification required by subsections PART 2 (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5).

1. This section does not apply to:

2. An animal who is irremediably suffering as described under Part 1

   (1);

3. An animal whose release to a rescue organization would violate a

   court order; or

4. An animal with a documented history of unprovoked biting that has

   resulted in severe injury to a person, as described in Part 1 (5).

5. This section also applies to animals in utero when a female animal is

   visibly pregnant and irremediably suffering.

AGENDA ITEM 6B:  TEMPORARY FERAL CAT MANAGEMENT POLICY