MEETING
AGENDA
Thursday, May 13,
2010
5:30 PM
Room 408
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett
Place
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
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Laurie Kennedy-Routhier, David Gordon, DVM, Angela L.
Padilla, Andrea Brooks, Sally Stephens
Philip Gerrie, Pam Hemphill, Vicky Guldbech, William Herndon, Bob Palacio
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Mailing Address: City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B.
Goodlett Place,
Room 362
San
Francisco, CA 94102
Commission
Voicemail: (415)
554-6074
Website: www.sfgov.org/awcc
Commission
Chairperson: Sally
Stephens
(Note: Public comment will be taken on each
item. Items are first introduced to the
Commission, and then there is public comment.
After public comment, the Commission may further discuss the item and
vote if it is an action item.)
1.
Call to Order and Roll Call
2. General Public Comment
Members
of the public may address the Commission with comments or recommendations on
items within the Commission’s jurisdiction other
than the items on the agenda at the beginning or end of the meeting, but
not both.
3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the April
8, 2010 Meeting
[Discussion/Action
Item]
4. Chairperson’s report and
opening remarks
A) Update on Rules Committee hearing to fill
expiring appointments to the Commission.
5.
Status and tracking of letters of recommendation approved by the
Commission, requesting action by the Board of Supervisors
A) Update on the status of a resolution
passed by this Commission to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they
pass an ordinance amending the Annual Salary Ordinance to create a
classification for a Senior Animal Behaviorist/Trainer and an Assistant
Behaviorist/Trainer or other methods to increase funding for these positions.
[Discussion only] [Commissioner Brooks]
6.
New Business
A) An invited presentation of an overview of animal
welfare and related management issues at the San Francisco Zoo by Deniz Bolbol,
a critic of the Zoo and local activist who works with zoo experts and animal
welfare organizations. Bolbol’s presentation will include a recap of events
that have taken place over the past two years, current issues, the Zoo’s
future, and recommendations for the Commission. [Discussion only] [Commissioner Stephens]
7.
Unfinished Business
A) Continuation of
discussion and possible action to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that
they pass an ordinance prohibiting the sale or transfer of dogs and cats in
companion animal (pet) stores. An exemption for dogs and cats in the care of
rescue groups would be allowed. This ordinance is intended to stop the sale of
dogs and cats from puppy mills, and is similar to an ordinance adopted in West
Hollywood and other California communities earlier this year. Representatives
of local pet stores will be invited to speak about the proposed ordinance.
[Discussion/Action Item] [Commissioner Gerrie]
B) Discussion
and possible action as the Commission continues its exploration of a "No
Kill" policy that would ensure that no adoptable animal (including those
that need medical and behavioral intervention but would be adoptable after
that) is euthanized in San Francisco shelters. The discussion will include an
ordinance proposed by former Commissioner Bill Hamilton and a "Sense of
the City" resolution from ACC Director Rebecca Katz (both attached at the
end of the agenda). A representative of the SF/SPCA will also speak on SPCA
objections to proposed legislation and report on recent shelter statistics.
Possible action will include a decision whether or not to ask the Board of
Supervisors to adopt an ordinance that would require No Kill policies at San
Francisco shelters, or whether or not to ask the Board of Supervisors to adopt
a "Sense of the City" resolution supporting No Kill principles and
encouraging all relevant parties to work together to reduce the number of
euthanasias in city shelters. [Discussion/Action Item] [Commissioner Padilla
and Stephens]
8. General Public Comment
Members of the public may address the Commission with
comments or recommendations on items within the Commission’s jurisdiction other than the items on the agenda at
the beginning or end of the meeting, but not both.
9. Items to be put on the Calendar for Future
Commission Meetings
[Discussion Item]
10.
Closing Review of Task Allotments and Next Steps
[Discussion Item]
11. Adjournment
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Disability
Access: Room
408 is wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible BART Station is Civic
Center, three blocks from City Hall. Accessible MUNI lines serving this
location are: #42 Downtown Loop, the #71 Haight/Noriega, the F Line to Market
and Van Ness, and the Metro stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic
Center. For more information about MUNI accessible services, call 923-6142.
There is accessible parking at the following locations:
two (2) designated blue curb spaces on the southwest corner of McAllister
Street at Van Ness Avenue; the Performing Arts Garage (entrance on Grove Street
between Franklin and Gough Streets), and at Civic Center Plaza Garage.
To
obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in the
meeting, please contact Carla Vaughn at 252-2500 (voice) or 252-2550 (TDD) at
least two working days prior to the meeting.
In order to assist the City's efforts to
accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple
chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are
reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based
products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.
Policy
on Cell Phones, Pagers, and Electronic Devices: The
ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound-producing
electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the
Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible
for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing
electronic devices.
Know
Your Rights Under the Sunshine Ordinance: Government's
duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the
public. Commissions, boards, councils
and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's
business. This Ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the
people and that City operations are open to the people's review. For more
information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San
Francisco's Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the Ordinance,
contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force.
The current Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Administrator, Frank Darby
Jr., can be contacted at the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall, Room
244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4689; Office
(415) 554-7724; Fax (415) 554-7854; E-mail: [email protected] Copies of the
Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force,
the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s Web site at
http://www.sfgov.org/sunshine.
Attention:
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to
influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San
Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (SF Administrative Code 16.520 - 16.534) to
register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist
Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 1390 Market Street, #701,
San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone (415) 554-9510; fax (415) 703-0121 and web
site http://www.sfethics.org
Documents for Public Inspection: Any documents related to an item on
this agenda that are distributed to the
Commission in advance of the meeting are available for public inspection and
copying at the Government Information Center, 5th Floor, SF Main Public
Library, 100 Larkin St (at Grove), open seven days a week. They are also
available on the Commission website: http://www.sfgov.org/awcc.
SUPPORTING
DOCUMENT #1 FOR AGENDA ITEM 7B:
Animal
Control and Welfare Commission
May
13, 2010
RESOLUTION PROPOSED BY REBECCA
KATZ, DIRECTOR OF SF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL (proposed at the April 8, 2010
meeting of the Animal Control and Welfare Commission):
T.A.I.L.S.
(Transferring Animals Into Lifesaving Situations) Resolution
WHEREAS, abandoned, sick or injured
animals are a community challenge that require a community response; and
WHEREAS, through tolerance, respect and
collaboration of all stakeholders progress can be made; and
WHEREAS, local government and non-profit
animal welfare organizations must embrace TAILS and develop support, trust,
partnership, resources and improvements for all animals; and
WHEREAS, the TAILS resolution recognizes
that improving conditions for animals in our community requires action by major
stakeholders including: animal welfare organizations, animal rescue
organizations, animal care business, governing bodies, individuals, and the
community at large; and
WHEREAS, without the collective focus
and effort of each stakeholder we will be unable to improve our life saving
efforts on behalf of all animals in our City’s shelter; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that all stakeholders join
forces to benefit San Francisco’s animal population, and commit to
- Support
and expand efforts to address the plight of homeless, at-risk, and injured
animals
- Support
efforts toward adequate, stable and predictable sources of funding for
animal welfare programs
- Create
and pursue solutions for short and long-term actions that will result in
positive outcomes for animals both in local shelters and in the community,
- Collaborate
with one another and with other local organizations.
SUPPORTING
DOCUMENT #2 FOR AGENDA ITEM 7B:
ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY FORMER
COMMISSIONER BILL HAMILTON (proposed at the April 8, 2010 meeting of the Animal
Control and Welfare Commission):
The
At-Risk Animal Adoption and Welfare Act of the City and County of San Francisco
[draft
proposal, April 5, 2010]
by
Bill Hamilton
Definitions
Professional
animal behaviorist, as used herein, means an animal
behaviorist experienced in evaluating and predicting the behavior of shelter
animals and trained by an Associate Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Certified
Applied Animal Behaviorist.
Unsavable
(medical), as used herein, means that animals
present medical illnesses, conditions or injuries diagnosed by a licensed
veterinarian as immediately life-threatening, causing irremediable suffering,
resulting from multiple causes, or requiring a testing and treatment expense
that neither the shelter nor a rescue group, competent rescue worker, foster
caregiver, or animal sanctuary is willing to assume; or animals present as
neonatal without their mothers and are less than ten days old.
Unsavable
(behavioral), as used herein, means that a dog’s
behavior over the course of his or her state-mandated holding period is deemed
consistently vicious or dangerous by a professional animal behaviorist, or his
or her socialization or behavior modification would require an expense that
neither the shelter nor a responsible trainer or rescue group is willing to
assume.
Findings
1. San Francisco Animal Care and Control
(ACC), as an open-door municipal animal shelter, is required by the San
Francisco Health Code to impound all animals presented to it, no matter what
their medical or behavioral condition.
2. In calendar year 2008 the California
Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health Section reports that ACC
euthanized almost 18% of all impounded cats and dogs.
3. In fiscal year 2008-2009 ACC reports
that it euthanized 18% of all impounded dogs and cats. Of those, 77% (almost
13% of the total impounded) were for behavior, less serious injury (“Injury
1”), less serious illness (“Sick 1”), owner request, or for being underage.
4. Annually, on average, ACC reports
that it euthanizes approximately 20% of healthy, adoptable small animals (other
than dogs or cats), including pet mammals, birds and reptiles.
5. ACC does not provide statistical data
to the public or on its website on the medical or behavioral reasons for the
euthanasias of animals euthanized at owner request, the outcomes of animals
transferred to the SF/SPCA, the specific injuries or illnesses that were deemed
to warrant euthanasia, or the ages at which “underage” animals were euthanized.
6. Although ACC and the SF/SPCA entered
into an adoption agreement in 1994, popularly known as “the Pact,” which
resulted for over ten years in the transfer of approximately 80% of “adoptable”
and “treatable” dogs and cats a year from ACC to the SF/SPCA, that percentage
dropped to 32% in FY 2008-2009, largely due to the rejection of ACC’s dogs and
cats by the SF/SPCA.
7. San Francisco’s two major animal
shelters, ACC and the SF/SPCA, which after implementation of the Pact, achieved
the highest live release rate in the U.S., slipped to number five by 2008,
ranked after the local-government-run shelters in Vigo County, IN; Tomkins
County, NY; Berkeley, CA; and Albemarle County, VA. (That ranking may have
changed since 2008.)
8. Rescue groups repeatedly report that
many animals exhibit undesirable behaviors at ACC, but that such behaviors
improve or disappear after leaving ACC.
9. Witnesses report that more than one
behavioral evaluator at both ACC and the SF/SPCA has either misdiagnosed the
negative behavioral factors of animals or overestimated their severity, or has
rejected animals for adoption by relying solely on evaluation reports of others
without performing their own complete evaluation.
Ordinance
This ordinance would amend the San
Francisco Health Code, Article 1, as follows (with additions underlined):
San Francisco Health Code, Article 1,
Animals, Section SEC. 41.4. - ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DEPARTMENT;
ESTABLISHMENT; APPOINTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER; POWERS AND DUTIES OF
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
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(c) Animal Care and Control and other
licensed animal shelters in the City and County of San Francisco shall not
euthanize any animal except those determined by a licensed veterinarian to be unsavable (medical) or determined by a
professional animal behaviorist to be unsavable
(behavioral).
(d) All animals at-risk for euthanasia
other than those specified in paragraph (c) must first be given immediate
palliative medication and routine emergency medical care if appropriate to
relieve suffering. If their condition remains stable they must then be offered
to a willing rescue group, competent rescue worker, foster caregiver, animal
sanctuary, or responsible trainer for treatment or other appropriate attention.
Said group or caregiver will have up to 24 hours to
respond to such an offer and must sign a
full liability waiver. In such cases adoption fees will be waived, and any
costs for health care previously provided by ACC or another shelter may be
waived at the discretion of ACC or the other shelter. Only if such animals are
refused by a willing rescue group, competent rescue worker, foster caregiver,
animal sanctuary, or responsible trainer, may they be euthanized.
(e) It shall be unlawful to transfer any
animal to another facility, organization, institution, or individual inside or
outside the City and County of San Francisco, unless said facility, organization,
institution, or individual signs an agreement to abide by the provisions of
this ordinance. Said agreements shall be kept on file at ACC and made available
for public inspection upon two working days' notice or posted continuously
online.
SEC. 41.5. - ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER;
POWERS AND DUTIES; BADGES.
(a) The Animal Control Officer shall
have the following powers and duties:
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3. To keep a record of the number,
description, and disposition of all animals impounded or otherwise taken into custody,
including the euthanization of impounded animals or other animals in their
care, showing in detail in the case of each animal the date of receipt; the
species, description and likely age of the animal; medical or behavioral
diagnoses; steps taken to stabilize or reverse unhealthy or unsafe diagnoses;
and, if not euthanized on site, the location of the facility to which the
animal was transferred; the date and manner of disposal, the name of the
person reclaiming, redeeming, or purchasing said animal; the fees, charges and
proceeds of sales received, and such additional records as the Controller of
the City and County may prescribe. Such records shall not be removed except
upon written order of a court of competent jurisdiction or other duly constituted
authority and shall be made available for public inspection upon two working
days' notice or posted continuously online.
