tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218825092024-03-18T21:57:50.836-05:00State of the DivisionPEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.comBlogger3770125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-79432118009170729662024-03-09T16:07:00.002-06:002024-03-09T16:07:38.061-06:00"Breaking Point" for Dog Crisis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw_JPSi2E2LFbl3D6uMkWHfqO6OXgJBXmlxgdLmFZW8oCfdQDtuGJK3sW1A4oiuFzzwXZGeyQkjdXRRJ0SdYUghYY-1_uC_Xtc-vOlEY4GchSaVGC-wLnymGTQxy4XVXsiSjqkivILFMHhG7GJnRZelok_9P80bqwxrx0qhUM6MqCMAEitcxu/s960/Morgan%20response%20to%20JD%20email.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw_JPSi2E2LFbl3D6uMkWHfqO6OXgJBXmlxgdLmFZW8oCfdQDtuGJK3sW1A4oiuFzzwXZGeyQkjdXRRJ0SdYUghYY-1_uC_Xtc-vOlEY4GchSaVGC-wLnymGTQxy4XVXsiSjqkivILFMHhG7GJnRZelok_9P80bqwxrx0qhUM6MqCMAEitcxu/w459-h258/Morgan%20response%20to%20JD%20email.jpg" width="459" /></a></div><p>Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden wrote City Council members in response to a letter from a concerned citizen about San Angelo's loose dog crisis Her e-mail included:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">San Angeloans are in fact at their breaking point. Previously well-intentioned citizens are documented
<b>letting their dogs loose</b> behind restaurants, at homeless encampments, and in residences they’ve moved out of.</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Citizens are dumping their dogs because the shelter choked off intake for the last five years. Neither death nor moving to assisted living are reasons for the shelter to accept a pet. </p><p>Add that the shelter released at least 2,000 unaltered dogs to their owners over the same period. </p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2023 - 358 unaltered dogs</span><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2022 - 674 </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2021 - 708 </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2019 - 730 </span></div></blockquote><div></div>Puppies overran the shelter in September 2022 and are doing so again. <div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">We’ve previously stated the City has no contracts with American Pets Alive! or Best Friends Animal Society, and that
remains true. </span></blockquote>Morgan can parse language. The 2020 RFP for Adoption Services specified the shelter's Pets Alive initiatives and vision under scope of services:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJw_iFjofra2EpRI1vxOpH1t2OZqCXOBcpRDr_0zq6Pk_TdSZOcTEi6s-vopPq-Q_KVaWIY6LrdbO5LbHMOddAHczALH5awR_Jv483clOlD0NxQRz5nVfV270lni-2LmzX2i6u6k5bF0bN3-xgRVCkQbPZgHlmU0e1eASJr1wSuWqlQb44_vY/s720/AS%20rfp%20pets%20alive.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="720" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJw_iFjofra2EpRI1vxOpH1t2OZqCXOBcpRDr_0zq6Pk_TdSZOcTEi6s-vopPq-Q_KVaWIY6LrdbO5LbHMOddAHczALH5awR_Jv483clOlD0NxQRz5nVfV270lni-2LmzX2i6u6k5bF0bN3-xgRVCkQbPZgHlmU0e1eASJr1wSuWqlQb44_vY/w492-h244/AS%20rfp%20pets%20alive.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The city's adoption of Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society "community sheltering" policies sent pets into the streets that formerly went to the shelter. Responsible citizens lost their ability to surrender their pet. Streets in San Angelo and nearby communities have become dumping grounds. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>The shelter hasn't done its part to ensure dogs in its care are spayed/neutered in accordance with city ordinances. A recent enforcement action had marginal results. The latest data shared with City Council showed a mere 44 owners spayed/neutered their pet out of 650 unaltered dogs released from the shelter in FY 22. That's a 6.7% effectiveness rate. It did result in over 400 citations.</div><div><br /></div><div>Morgan's stated solutions to the loose dog crisis at the end of her e-mail:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Animal Services must be a resource to residents before they’re in crisis by <b>offering free microchips</b> to residents
of target neighborhoods, the <b>fence inspection and repair</b> program, and <b>additional Animal Services Officers</b> for
enforcement and outreach</span></blockquote></div><div>There's nothing about using the income from over 400 failure to spay/neuter citations to fund low cost spay/neuter services. The shelter is not loosening its clampdown on intake to actually serve taxpayers. </div><div><br /></div><div>City Council has no appetite to address this issue. It happily spent nearly $100,000 in financing fees/interest on "fast track borrowings" for a snail's pace shelter renovation project. The nearly $2 million in borrowings ran from April to August 2023. The renovation will be bid in May 2024 and projected completion is November 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>As that $2 million went unused the city had the opportunity to earn interest. If the unused funds earned 3% interest over six months, that's $30,000 for low cost spay/neuter support and it's not new money. That amount would buy far more than 44 spay/neuters, the impact of a concentrated "after the fact" spay/neuter enforcement effort.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Morgan made another change in response to the crisis. The shelter now reports transfers and adoptions under one title "transfers." The Animal Services Division Monthly Report for January 2024 states:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">113 animals were transferred to rescue, including adoptions coordinated by to Concho Valley PAWS</span></blockquote></div><div>The two statistics formerly were reported separately. </div><div><br /></div><div>Animal Services has taken a "Let them roam unaltered" approach, while City Council sticks to their "No new money" stance toward the Animal Shelter. </div><div><br /></div><div>I expect City Council to hear again and again from citizens concerned over the deterioration of services and dogs thrown into the streets under the guise of "community sheltering." </div><div><br /></div><div>The crisis grew over five years and will require long term strategies and funding to reverse. I find it hard to believe the people who led us into this crisis are the ones to lead San Angelo out. I'd love to be proven wrong by this City Council and city leadership. That said, I am not holding my breath.</div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-43706260725195439532024-03-08T10:05:00.001-06:002024-03-08T10:05:18.779-06:00Shelter Owner Redemptions: Most Unaltered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgNOXSe4CeBFxqAyYs7xsQkglFEPUIjA-2B4cQVF-64woB1JOqmaeat2pR8yH7JVDIT0UTnEWEBkO5-avHax15rbFtxrTlbzntxQSInuQGlRdYEH9eOE88nv8XNEfLNROIzkMMZLGAjps41BDgK5eO4o9w3j2zj2osqXGSglliS695Kjlukdn/s1024/SA%20homeless%20camp%20dog%20unaltered.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="1024" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgNOXSe4CeBFxqAyYs7xsQkglFEPUIjA-2B4cQVF-64woB1JOqmaeat2pR8yH7JVDIT0UTnEWEBkO5-avHax15rbFtxrTlbzntxQSInuQGlRdYEH9eOE88nv8XNEfLNROIzkMMZLGAjps41BDgK5eO4o9w3j2zj2osqXGSglliS695Kjlukdn/w455-h199/SA%20homeless%20camp%20dog%20unaltered.jpg" width="455" /></a></div><br />Over 61% of dogs released to owners from the San Angelo Animal Shelter in fiscal year 2023 were not spayed/neutered. This occurred in the midst of a focused effort to cite pet owners for failure to spay/neuter their pet after an Animal Shelter stay. Here's the data for FY 2023:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Of 583 dogs stays, 358 left the shelter unaltered. That's 61.4%</span></p><p></p></blockquote><p>It's not clear how many of these owners received citations for failure to spay/neuter. That responsibility shifted from a special effort by the City Attorney's office to Animal Services.</p><p>Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden promised <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/11/bingo-pir-municipal-court-citations-for.html" target="_blank">to provide</a> this information to City Council in a November 2023 memo. I'd hoped to get that one page memo via a public information request. Instead I received a 79 page document. Had staff provided volumes of raw data to Council they likely would have gotten an earful.</p>Releasing unaltered dogs from the shelter is not a new practice. The numbers are below: <div></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2022 - 674 unaltered dogs</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2021 - 708 </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2019 - 730 </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">Eight month period in 2017 - 500</span></div></blockquote><div></div>Director of Neighborhood and Family Services Bob Salas warned of the consequences of failure to spay/neuter pets. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVP-mKLJ4ZDO5lgv8jSzuuXcH4PPIbB1TkS9rEsKBl4c1uO7wj0_rcwfEKC-n8_Kc0OgUz66l5sZngJXlyyckiK3_5_nkvt6reXsKCremufRTX6uNrRBlx1p-pp3hrxfyKgGLc8xAnhbo7e-rQ78Lrh3W6y0R_AF3KfzpEHVt_dVPsrV6WiYGj/s452/unaltered%20pet%20reproduction.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="452" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVP-mKLJ4ZDO5lgv8jSzuuXcH4PPIbB1TkS9rEsKBl4c1uO7wj0_rcwfEKC-n8_Kc0OgUz66l5sZngJXlyyckiK3_5_nkvt6reXsKCremufRTX6uNrRBlx1p-pp3hrxfyKgGLc8xAnhbo7e-rQ78Lrh3W6y0R_AF3KfzpEHVt_dVPsrV6WiYGj/w453-h340/unaltered%20pet%20reproduction.JPG" width="453" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>Council gave Salas the mandatory spay/neuter ordinance tool in 2015.</div><div><br /></div><div>An overcrowded and disgusting shelter in September 2022 was blamed on "puppies." That prompted the focused citation effort for unaltered animals with a shelter stay. The "after the fact" effort has been slow going. Staff informed Council:</div></div></div><b></b><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>June 2023: </b>Owners claimed 956 cats and dogs in FY22, 282 of which were already spayed/neutered. 44 pet owners have since provided proof of spay/neuter. 24 provided proof of an exemption, such as moved outside city limits, pet is medically fragile, pet has died, etc.
This <b>leaves 606 pets still reporting as unaltered</b>.
We’ve cited or filed a complaint with municipal court for almost 400 animals and are moving through the remaining backlog.</span></blockquote><div>Our community has experienced a purposeful combination of strategies that increased the number of loose dogs. </div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #351c75;">1. Releasing unaltered shelter dogs under return to owner, a longstanding practice.</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">2. Failure to enforce mandatory/spay neuter ordinance as promised by Shelter Chief James Flores when Council passed the requirement in 2015. A focused effort by the City Attorney's office had over 600 unaltered animals outstanding from FY 2022.</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">3. Adoption of Pets Alive programming which does not include spay/neuter in their performance measures. Pets Alive programming is specified under "scope of services" in the latest RFP for Adoption Services. The shelter first implemented managed intake for owned pets, then added "found" pets. Owner surrenders fell from the thousands to less than one hundred under managed intake.</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">4. Completely stopping loose animal intake when the dog census hits 180. This hard maximum capacity has been used as a reason for Animal Control officers to not respond to a caught stray dog call. When Council endorsed this strategy the shelter was mostly occupied by large, long stay dogs that are more difficult to adopt.</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">5. Ignoring area dog breeders.</span> <span style="color: #351c75;">Puppies contributed to horrific conditions at the Animal Shelter in September 2022. Recent pictures on the city's <i>Facebook</i> page show puppy after puppy. </span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>City Council took no action on the loose dog crisis in February after discussing the problem in January. "Let them roam unaltered" remains firmly in place.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Credit: </u> The image of the local unaltered dog is from <i>San Angelo Live'</i>s <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/san-angelo/2024-02-15/pets-stray-dogs-compound-problems-san-angelo-homeless-camp" target="_blank">story</a> on dogs in the homeless camp. I cropped the image to highlight the dog.</div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-80264234151758378242024-02-25T18:34:00.006-06:002024-03-07T17:01:51.778-06:00Council Endorses "Let Them Roam Unaltered"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEca-ZCO6IiKzqyFmYD5c24g7fTFnvJm3ZUeZ9rOo_5rtV9FBKZNHtO10m2W9rSodrkcXXuUwAFcXM69doCglt_RdLCsXGKVheuafnSSDgTyBYzVo0CYapp_j4gNHk55q6SgjiOE-DDHBtgXFvyvCyJacayYIgy9QJYDpS1_G-LMh12IVkrvj/s960/Feb%2023%20Tax%20notes%20AS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEca-ZCO6IiKzqyFmYD5c24g7fTFnvJm3ZUeZ9rOo_5rtV9FBKZNHtO10m2W9rSodrkcXXuUwAFcXM69doCglt_RdLCsXGKVheuafnSSDgTyBYzVo0CYapp_j4gNHk55q6SgjiOE-DDHBtgXFvyvCyJacayYIgy9QJYDpS1_G-LMh12IVkrvj/w483-h272/Feb%2023%20Tax%20notes%20AS.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><br />One year ago San Angelo's City Council <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/02/shelter-financing-costs-better-spent-on.html" target="_blank">approved</a> nearly $2 million in short term financing for urgent Animal Shelter renovations. It's been seven months since the city paid back the $2 million and renovation plans are not completed. Borrowing costs <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/08/city-paid-off-one-short-term-note-needs.html" target="_blank">totaled</a> $93,827 in Council approved tax money.<p></p><p>One month ago Council discussed our community's loose dog crisis and asked staff to bring back prioritized recommendations with associated costs for each strategy. </p><p>Last week Council <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2oYOCuEKM&t=5s" target="_blank">heard</a> about Concho Valley PAWS programming. PAWS is contracted to provide adoption and veterinary services for shelter pets. PAWS Executive Director Jenie Wilson made a number of recommendations, most outside her areas of responsibility as a Shelter contractor. </p><p>The Mayor said the city had no money for spay/neuter despite the city <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/10/shelter-released-nearly-1500-unaltered.html" target="_blank">releasing</a> thousands of unaltered pets to owners over a two year period. </p><p>San Angelo's third world loose pet problem took years to develop. At it's base are irresponsible pet owners who refuse to spay/neuter and properly restrain their dog. Add to that people who'd sought support with surrendering an animal due to life changes. The shelter stopped assisting this group when it enacted managed intake in 2019. </p><p>The next group shut out were "good Samaritans" who'd found a lost dog and sought the shelter's help. The Animal Shelter pushed responsibility for found dogs onto the "community." It mattered not if a frail elderly lady found an 80 pound dog in her yard. They were asked to keep it for a few days or turn it back out. Frustrated citizens have been threatened with arrest for trespassing if they show up at the shelter with the loose dog in question.</p><p>San Angelo is five years into choking off shelter intake and the impact can be seen on city streets. </p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">"There are more dogs on the streets than there's ever been"--City Councilman Harry Thomas </span></blockquote><p></p><p>Two years ago I encouraged City Council to consider Animal Services in their strategic planning undertakings. It seemed an opportune time to review the impact of shelter service reductions and I provided <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2021/11/san-angelos-animal-shelter-seven-years.html" target="_blank">a number</a> of charts <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/09/citizens-express-concerns-over-shelter.html" target="_blank">showing</a> changes over time. Council had no appetite to explore shelter changes until roaches <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/08/seven-years-of-spayneuter-ordinance.html" target="_blank">overwhelmed</a> the facility.</p><p>City Manager Daniel Valenzuela conducted a review of shelter operations and implemented a hard cap on dog capacity after Councilman Tom Thompson provided the green light. Citizen access to the shelter did not change. It got worse and the shelter continued taking in fewer animals. That left more on the streets.</p><p>Irresponsible citizens who don't spay/neuter or restrain their pets don't complain to City Council. Other groups do. That's people needing to surrender their pet and good Samaritans wanting to do right by a lost pet. Council will continue to get an earful from these folks until the city stops prioritizing large, long stay shelter dogs over serving citizens. </p><p>Mayor Brenda Gunter essentially said:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">We can't keep throwing more dollars and more people after the problem. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">We keep doing this and the problem isn't solved.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">We'll spend nearly $2 million on the shelter in the next year and a half</span></p></blockquote><p></p><p>The Mayor did press staff to communicate the responsibilities of pet ownerships to citizens. </p><p>Public Information dropped a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBbL35X5QLg" target="_blank">new video</a>, Concho Critter Show EP1.</p><p>Citizens can "access" Animal Services via phone or an online form. The graphic is confusing in several ways. Morgan asked citizens to call the shelter for "time sensitive" issues. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlKm6jCyGIeMXKnp8uKCQ46RE7sDBNW6c5UobEWkckdnxJub0iT8aqUymBKTLKmql6URu5Ns_QUv0t9xfcWmOYjBf75B3Bi6dR-VV9SenLDjmcTKSag0w-yg-VxpgBVIMhTLhpotJXCF1-zV5LncupQkDevtAWE5RPz6TZ7xt7djXnPKmXrI_/s960/Slide6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlKm6jCyGIeMXKnp8uKCQ46RE7sDBNW6c5UobEWkckdnxJub0iT8aqUymBKTLKmql6URu5Ns_QUv0t9xfcWmOYjBf75B3Bi6dR-VV9SenLDjmcTKSag0w-yg-VxpgBVIMhTLhpotJXCF1-zV5LncupQkDevtAWE5RPz6TZ7xt7djXnPKmXrI_/w475-h267/Slide6.JPG" width="475" /></a></div><br />Her list of "call worthy" issues included many of the items physically listed underneath the online form. <p></p><p>Having issues considered "time sensitive" not under the online form may help citizens going forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrSHbBZTOnjfv9u0vRpjpiAzt2r-ljGUTZihbx8QzFYniWCopd3HaH8M94I5eQOVQeXwjD6VJtiojjfJh-VbH229AmoDmlQy_2qChDEgPTFs-1cGF0o9maqzBZN8qox3pCnW3PtKw__BZz6VtF8mhEKKaLBYw71xFXCyBlKA-WHqqiLHwhaDE/s960/Slide7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrSHbBZTOnjfv9u0vRpjpiAzt2r-ljGUTZihbx8QzFYniWCopd3HaH8M94I5eQOVQeXwjD6VJtiojjfJh-VbH229AmoDmlQy_2qChDEgPTFs-1cGF0o9maqzBZN8qox3pCnW3PtKw__BZz6VtF8mhEKKaLBYw71xFXCyBlKA-WHqqiLHwhaDE/w495-h278/Slide7.JPG" width="495" /></a></div><p>I found it interesting that animal bite wasn't listed as those are up 56% according to city statistics. Morgan stated in the video there were over 260 "animal to person" bite cases in 2023, up from 150 in 2022. She said more dogs at large in the community is contributing to more bite cases.</p><p>Residents and San Angelo Police Department know that calls to Animal Services may not be answered, during the day or after hours. They know a "dog at large" may or may not get a physical visit from Animal Control Officer, especially if the shelter is at maximum capacity. </p><p>So it was surprising to hear the interviewer state "in every response Animal Services sends out an Animal Services Officer." Citizens have heard frequently that Animal Services is not coming for the very situations listed.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCSqXqg60MBiYLL-GI7-M60F9e3c2qmV5z5hRoVczQynhcKWpWO8hyphenhyphenV6owzhKYiX9FiMzzIPOpi4D_GiJSYndwwYtNDYVXpOn9k69ndiB2PZRjBZz0wMludPt1dy8ZSxoWvf5zxs_MMjb_Dw5TCSoY1HIMwwnDSH1WvatlYg0_shKdFSG1Za-/s960/Shelter%20ACO%20understaffed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCSqXqg60MBiYLL-GI7-M60F9e3c2qmV5z5hRoVczQynhcKWpWO8hyphenhyphenV6owzhKYiX9FiMzzIPOpi4D_GiJSYndwwYtNDYVXpOn9k69ndiB2PZRjBZz0wMludPt1dy8ZSxoWvf5zxs_MMjb_Dw5TCSoY1HIMwwnDSH1WvatlYg0_shKdFSG1Za-/w494-h278/Shelter%20ACO%20understaffed.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br />At the 12:10 mark of the video the issue of understaffing comes up. Animal Services Supervisor Carlos Carrillo said he believes Animal Control is understaffed.<p></p><p>Multiple times this council turned down setting aside funds for spay/neuter. The city likely earned interest on the $2 million borrowed for shelter renovations as it just sat in the bank. If the account paid 3% interest over six months, that's $30,000 that could be designated for spay/neuter support. It's not new money.</p><p>City Council could decide to dedicate interest earned on shelter renovation funds for spay/neuter. If so, the city should seek bids or approve qualified vendors, similar to its use of outside engineering firms.</p><p>The City of San Angelo gave citizens "let them (loose dogs) roam unaltered." Council's lack of response to this long building crisis is concerning. I hope it's not here to stay.</p><p><b>Update 3-1-24: </b> Minutes from the City Council meeting on 2-20-24 state for this agenda item:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>No action taken.</b></span></blockquote><p></p><p>Council effectively endorsed "Let them roam unaltered."</p><div><b>Update 3-7-24:</b> The latest shelter renovation schedule information is:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">....the bid phase is delayed to May 2024 with estimated construction completion in November 2024.</span></blockquote></div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-63403288109372643702024-02-20T15:47:00.010-06:002024-02-23T15:24:41.317-06:00Council Hears PAWS Infomercial<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqk445aJLl_i603q7aMWb_1oM4YoqWVWAjUpkg5LDGbE9CikJRsspl5s7sAc3zSU3dPRet-muyyb_-TZVSuGru9J3mm5V3CwVQU5UXNCJj7ZVWcZQYu6SKKv2HWxXbMz6qIrmlho0JlTKHOfSg-xaNiUOK7tbu7xXdXz1lnZcJqb-OYmQ3XUx-/s1595/CC%202-20-24%20stepped%20aside.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1595" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqk445aJLl_i603q7aMWb_1oM4YoqWVWAjUpkg5LDGbE9CikJRsspl5s7sAc3zSU3dPRet-muyyb_-TZVSuGru9J3mm5V3CwVQU5UXNCJj7ZVWcZQYu6SKKv2HWxXbMz6qIrmlho0JlTKHOfSg-xaNiUOK7tbu7xXdXz1lnZcJqb-OYmQ3XUx-/w470-h221/CC%202-20-24%20stepped%20aside.png" width="470" /></a></div><br />Last month City Council asked city staff to bring back recommendations to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ99EkULyNk&t=3393s" target="_blank">deal with</a> San Angelo's loose dog crisis. <p></p><p>Today that staff "stepped aside" so Council could hear from Concho Valley PAWS Executive Director Jenie Wilson. PAWS is contractually obligated to provide a number of services to the City Animal Shelter. It's provided adoption services since 2017 and veterinary medical care for shelter pets through several different arrangements.</p><p>Wilson offered up the sparest of data, most came from city budget documents.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7guf51bsEc0JJd2Psrd8hsi-7yFmipmsJRPjyVlz0Sr0ohhquFfE58Xu3csqXuQfNY110EScaA83IM-32FWy3PFLvyXWbdugpPsO3dSSngXHAHny3BYomYjBZ1-o1DJFrhg-i3fpx9HJ61wZbZ3FwZoghkk9CBNVZp6HP8vDR1-rqKHm6H4VM/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7guf51bsEc0JJd2Psrd8hsi-7yFmipmsJRPjyVlz0Sr0ohhquFfE58Xu3csqXuQfNY110EScaA83IM-32FWy3PFLvyXWbdugpPsO3dSSngXHAHny3BYomYjBZ1-o1DJFrhg-i3fpx9HJ61wZbZ3FwZoghkk9CBNVZp6HP8vDR1-rqKHm6H4VM/w475-h267/Slide2.JPG" width="475" /></a></div><br /><p>One might expect to see more information given PAWS is seven years into a contract relationship with the Animal Shelter (with four years of veterinary medical care delivery). The city donated its veterinary surgical equipment to PAWS. It would be interesting to see statistics on its use, spay/neuter and otherwise, for shelter pets, PAWS non-shelter pets and the general public.</p><p>Early in her presentation Wilson referred to city euthanasia statistics, saying roughly 80% of animals were killed for space prior to 2016. City data does not support her assertion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SK7rQgEKbWhU-aP5bFDwQPCYS0xoQBjb7JSFt4AfwhKgUs-MqL2YLGwauGW50d2Tc3wD_qT98n5rFBIXrB2qeJcvWRIF-ysZj9h4f3qfZ4G0SHZhLtqFnorTyr9HpD-oYqwWt2rqcR3aAI1FfZISpap7AdhJOJOOM2gOnq_VkSDQmKghx6fS/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SK7rQgEKbWhU-aP5bFDwQPCYS0xoQBjb7JSFt4AfwhKgUs-MqL2YLGwauGW50d2Tc3wD_qT98n5rFBIXrB2qeJcvWRIF-ysZj9h4f3qfZ4G0SHZhLtqFnorTyr9HpD-oYqwWt2rqcR3aAI1FfZISpap7AdhJOJOOM2gOnq_VkSDQmKghx6fS/w492-h277/Slide1.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><br /><p>She <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2oYOCuEKM" target="_blank">stressed</a> things had changed since COVID, yet produced no data showing those changes locally and over time. Jenie had the opportunity to talk about shelter adoptions in fiscal year 2023 and clarify things for Council and the public. That did not happen. City data showed adoptions down 49 percent.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8tVBBRr_M_HmOHOyweNQ5ltnv2W6u7H9e0wMdsD0pj1K8sljqXy2dO07j7Kz3vCVhinLdRXLfpmDztg5jYh7oy20QAyWM3UnIcwNOR1Wd0367yGkFPNJ7V0GcKZqMoOR6yli0TN6trLOU-2NC5y3QMjnoVK6kFWSIzyfLeXh6CVxW0WJBz8K/s960/Slide3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8tVBBRr_M_HmOHOyweNQ5ltnv2W6u7H9e0wMdsD0pj1K8sljqXy2dO07j7Kz3vCVhinLdRXLfpmDztg5jYh7oy20QAyWM3UnIcwNOR1Wd0367yGkFPNJ7V0GcKZqMoOR6yli0TN6trLOU-2NC5y3QMjnoVK6kFWSIzyfLeXh6CVxW0WJBz8K/w491-h276/Slide3.JPG" width="491" /></a></div><p>Wilson threw up five strawmen that conflated PAWS with the Shelter, even though she stated earlier they are two different organizations:</p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Strawman #1: PAWS allows pets to leave the shelter unaltered. </span></blockquote><p></p><p>Fact: The city allows pets to leave the shelter unaltered. The City Attorney talked about the process of issuing citations to pet owners who retrieved a shelter animal and failed later to have it spayed/neutered.</p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Strawman #2: Concho Valley PAWS puts pets at risk by offering free adoptions</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Fact: People surrender their pet to the shelter because they can't afford it, then look to adopt a new one. Wilson cited this earlier in her presentation to Council</p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Strawman #3: PAWS doesn't allow other rescues to save shelter pets</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Fact: The exclusive relationship between the Animal Shelter and PAWS has driven other rescues away from working with the shelter. Some helped in September 2022 during the roach infestation/horrific hoarding crisis, but that door is now closed.</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Strawman #4: Donor dollars pay staff salaries</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Fact: Money is fungible. A few sentences on a slide does not constitute a financial audit confirming such a statement. PAWS Executive Director is highly paid relative to other area rescues, some all volunteer.</p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Strawman #5: PAWS policies have led to closing shelter intake</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Fact: PAWS supported Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society programming and completed RFP's specifying the implementation of such programming. PAWS representatives served on the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee which voted over time for managed intake to the point that neither "death and moving to assisted living" were valid reasons for an owner to surrender their pet.</p><p>At the end of her presentation Wilson made recommendations to address the loose dog crisis. Most were outside her contracted responsibility for adoptions and veterinary care, further confusing the public about roles and boundaries. They included:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #351c75;">Educate pet owners</span></li><li><span style="color: #351c75;">Hiring another Animal Control Officer (specific position for enforcing spay/neuter)</span></li><li><span style="color: #351c75;">No breeders permits for dog breeds that dominate shelter population</span></li><li><span style="color: #351c75;">Join PAWS efforts to increase citizen access to affordable spay/neuter services</span></li></ol>After Wilson's thirty five minute presentation Council members asked questions. Most members were complimentary of the presentation and the work performed by both Morgan and Jenie. <div><br /></div><div>Council asked staff for a prioritized list of recommendations and associated budget amounts and got what? Not that. </div><div><br /></div><div>I saw the city utilizing PAWS as their public mouthpiece, a common occurrence. People confused about the delineation between PAWS and the Animal Shelter remain confused.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The effusive praise for Morgan and Jenie seemed odd given the state of crisis just one month ago. It also felt out of step given their leadership and programming left citizens needing to surrender their pet few to no options. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDnlV1uHZTUA-EyQ_VVKb5xZAziQTxYhu4kqMChF2iJmgbWhdtk33qCffCneaFYZbFLBpk9EIWNFzXQhnAyplMKQ6Hj8XpfklrH6rwKnIB8_wVZ3WXAg25UXdEPg3Rj5nLB0I6okuczmeeefoZMDQQF2wuCtH_NO1SN-qij2LlzbYXPEtFv5K/s960/Slide5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDnlV1uHZTUA-EyQ_VVKb5xZAziQTxYhu4kqMChF2iJmgbWhdtk33qCffCneaFYZbFLBpk9EIWNFzXQhnAyplMKQ6Hj8XpfklrH6rwKnIB8_wVZ3WXAg25UXdEPg3Rj5nLB0I6okuczmeeefoZMDQQF2wuCtH_NO1SN-qij2LlzbYXPEtFv5K/w486-h273/Slide5.JPG" width="486" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Five years of choking off shelter intake sent unwanted pets away from the shelter and into the streets. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxF3RmEmXuqqyd4chlTlTc91K5bSARWHsXrr2nzmMH2aio2ELveNqAmyX4rhXocLOBQhBjwz4s0vnzgSqUia3xbXgbkeOhBrK0PCc0FbEip9T992uP1DHDz1YF8ETMGksqmMWU6-takMZG_gSobp6uD4_NTu0TSaO4biLWXJSJZ966bDI3Ub4/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxF3RmEmXuqqyd4chlTlTc91K5bSARWHsXrr2nzmMH2aio2ELveNqAmyX4rhXocLOBQhBjwz4s0vnzgSqUia3xbXgbkeOhBrK0PCc0FbEip9T992uP1DHDz1YF8ETMGksqmMWU6-takMZG_gSobp6uD4_NTu0TSaO4biLWXJSJZ966bDI3Ub4/w434-h244/Slide1.JPG" width="434" /></a></div><br /><div>I see nothing changing in that regard, even with the "atta ladies" and pats on the back. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Council spent and hour on the crisis in January and another hour and twenty minutes on it in February. How long before it comes back? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 2-21-24: </b> <i>Concho Valley Homepage</i> did <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/local-politics/cvpaws-suggests-stricter-enforcement-amid-growing-pet-crisis/" target="_blank">a story</a> on the growing dog crisis, the one the Shelter and partner PAWS helped grow over the last five years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Councilman Tom Thompson went from someone concerned about what constitutes proper fencing to restrain dogs to worrying about an Animal Control Officer because they had to "deal with his wife," who has been bitten twice by uncontained dogs while running in her neighborhood.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 2-23-24:</b> Mayor Gunter asked staff to increase communications on pet requirements. A new video is out. Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBbL35X5QLg" target="_blank">said</a> "we exist to help the most vulnerable pets and people..." Data shows the shelter helps large, long stay dogs to the exclusion the increasing number running city streets. The city is five years into "Let them roam unaltered."</div><div><br /></div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-48031341597319550182024-02-18T12:04:00.010-06:002024-02-22T11:46:25.214-06:00PAWS Veterinary Services: Part of Contract?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkFSycVxNKk41S5cK_gAu7-R5kAJP7_z0Wbkwt0LnlGzVS_285kdC1lU5BMtHhtaGmqKKQr8PP-mNnkXWuTQoPyMYBm6R3t5iUb-g9LKMTVeRu6qzFUaVRsqW0I2RQRi4nni3GAU9eGKx-xfIo-9awZaUEWNX_W_pbN2XqDNrY6Q_EgvkAOL1/s960/Adoption%20Services%20RFP%202-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkFSycVxNKk41S5cK_gAu7-R5kAJP7_z0Wbkwt0LnlGzVS_285kdC1lU5BMtHhtaGmqKKQr8PP-mNnkXWuTQoPyMYBm6R3t5iUb-g9LKMTVeRu6qzFUaVRsqW0I2RQRi4nni3GAU9eGKx-xfIo-9awZaUEWNX_W_pbN2XqDNrY6Q_EgvkAOL1/w344-h459/Adoption%20Services%20RFP%202-20.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br />San Angelo City Council will hear an update on the Animal Shelter partnership with Concho Valley PAWS in Tuesday's meeting. The background packet states: <p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Concho Valley PAWS provides additional services at no-cost to the city, such as <b>medical care for pets arriving or residing at the shelter</b>. All program funding outside the vendor contract is raised by Concho Valley PAWS via donations & grants.</span></blockquote><p></p><p>The 2020 RFP specified the adoption contractor provide veterinary care, both routine medical care and emergency medical treatment for shelter animals.</p><p>PAWS 2020 RFP submission stated:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl00Js8wZzhp0sUc4q1-Yf8eJrFaLpDS-MFroDtfi-LlEFNXFfOqmfiHFuv52GdJGhxoW3iq3O7gOI26Ez0nE8Ow-S_BB1wfvCF6XyUUzCyZiG0cSjvl5EluATjaTh_TE7b6mhyphenhyphen3r5aCcbpWvzkS8VyNKw9_d9Hf210gzPepK7Sx_-tI9XY39s/s1500/PAWS%20RFP%20submission%20vet%20care.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1500" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl00Js8wZzhp0sUc4q1-Yf8eJrFaLpDS-MFroDtfi-LlEFNXFfOqmfiHFuv52GdJGhxoW3iq3O7gOI26Ez0nE8Ow-S_BB1wfvCF6XyUUzCyZiG0cSjvl5EluATjaTh_TE7b6mhyphenhyphen3r5aCcbpWvzkS8VyNKw9_d9Hf210gzPepK7Sx_-tI9XY39s/w524-h178/PAWS%20RFP%20submission%20vet%20care.png" width="524" /></a></div><div><br /></div>PAWS committed to employing a licensed Veterinarian. Will Council hear more about PAWS fulfillment of that portion of their RFP response?<div><br /></div><div>The signed contract includes references to a number of documents,. the RFP and PAWS submission:<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6Kp24GP4CuwyF9RAZ1x-MbLTDB4wfw9WIYlQY3ENyJGu32mS0ydcmxLidG3ExNhnj5oDyEdxka9C4Ax9suAHkKCCCNpopeO8XCmWrYYSTGgWg3kZDTjBk4re7tQlXsBxTgVvjpvovSmsKTT6f0lVXKKhLxxDmb3CitqXlOcKYWKBktlPBF7F/s1289/PAWS%20AS%20contract%20reference%20docs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1289" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6Kp24GP4CuwyF9RAZ1x-MbLTDB4wfw9WIYlQY3ENyJGu32mS0ydcmxLidG3ExNhnj5oDyEdxka9C4Ax9suAHkKCCCNpopeO8XCmWrYYSTGgWg3kZDTjBk4re7tQlXsBxTgVvjpvovSmsKTT6f0lVXKKhLxxDmb3CitqXlOcKYWKBktlPBF7F/w527-h290/PAWS%20AS%20contract%20reference%20docs.png" width="527" /></a></div><br /><div>The city is in its fourth year of a five year agreement. I added adoption volumes next to the contracted dollar amount for each fiscal year.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW-COvL3O5qXjnyDT9O7_Fd_9NDHcROVTgRf84w8GReNw0pYnjr3RZgzWEPy5ATFLKM2pL9NKE-JvBAnMmpCMZOIgaf_XVk-qS2YgKrjjkxqsfiqkU9ArRfbo7QkT-9h_IYGfeBRxn73HPWBeM4OZbYl1FuikIONjWKHOboNcaNtWc1qMBwpH/s960/PAWS%20fees%20adoptions%20current%20contract.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW-COvL3O5qXjnyDT9O7_Fd_9NDHcROVTgRf84w8GReNw0pYnjr3RZgzWEPy5ATFLKM2pL9NKE-JvBAnMmpCMZOIgaf_XVk-qS2YgKrjjkxqsfiqkU9ArRfbo7QkT-9h_IYGfeBRxn73HPWBeM4OZbYl1FuikIONjWKHOboNcaNtWc1qMBwpH/w400-h300/PAWS%20fees%20adoptions%20current%20contract.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>PAWS provides more than adoption services to shelter pets. It's often the face of Animal Services with local media. It populates the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee.</div><div><br /></div><div>What will citizens learn about PAWS relationship with the city on Tuesday? Tune in to find out.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 2-19-24:</b> <i>Concho Valley Homepage</i> <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/paws-responds-to-community-concerns/" target="_blank">wrote</a> in September 2022:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;"> PAWS employs a licensed veterinarian to <b>spay and neuter all shelter pets</b> upon adoption.</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">The organization reminded the community that If pet owners would stop <b>abandoning their pets </b>and stop<b> allowing indiscriminate breeding</b>, there would no longer be an overcrowded shelter.</span></blockquote></div>The article came from a PAWS Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CVPAWS/posts/pfbid02H3v2NydQx7P6L7rYEkHRYCD7iVXYs91x6qoQEFX2S2CNg8687osdVYFr4QxhdmJ3l" target="_blank">post</a>.<div><br /></div><div><b>Update 2-22-24: </b> PAWs did not provide current data on deliverables or show its performance year to year or month to month on key measures in its hour long <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2oYOCuEKM" target="_blank">time with</a> City Council. </div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-2211624747469167502024-02-16T17:03:00.006-06:002024-03-07T17:02:07.583-06:00Old Fire Training Facility to Serve as Temporary Animal Shelter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQrSsOfrCJWetq3ugZfRwjYCLMrk7763_oVO7fBvaShh4dxaQai5tPqL9zPkNo5UUhPKJ2-F1HZNiRuY5NFvXbEJC0i6gb07SevAd2pE2EvklzpPY3oS6xnWS64XmIxlOASFvjJMsyzVg10gh3CHfX8l8EzD7DpsoL9WyZ9UEHsrD3Ikva0fm/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQrSsOfrCJWetq3ugZfRwjYCLMrk7763_oVO7fBvaShh4dxaQai5tPqL9zPkNo5UUhPKJ2-F1HZNiRuY5NFvXbEJC0i6gb07SevAd2pE2EvklzpPY3oS6xnWS64XmIxlOASFvjJMsyzVg10gh3CHfX8l8EzD7DpsoL9WyZ9UEHsrD3Ikva0fm/w530-h298/Slide2.JPG" width="530" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div>San Angelo City Council will entertain a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTzEjamizag" target="_blank">zoning change</a> for the former Fire Training facility in order to operate a temporary Animal Shelter at the site while the current shelter is renovated. </div><div><br /></div><div>Planning staff shared that two of the buildings would house pets while a third would accommodate shelter staff.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHSaT9hMshfR_lkWJ9RHU1XAGQ2dTpSZ2HhRmXkzhJYv5s8HQm4izleimizjRFCgmPk1dNGURvwu0VIMkHQwnaQiyh-8m4gtEodwu5aBuku-SG48wbUEa_RERLAAwc43sez154xtDD2aAuMIVbTfKhg61ijqYKeOj07l2DzfiOUwLCULgzQgC/s960/Slide3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHSaT9hMshfR_lkWJ9RHU1XAGQ2dTpSZ2HhRmXkzhJYv5s8HQm4izleimizjRFCgmPk1dNGURvwu0VIMkHQwnaQiyh-8m4gtEodwu5aBuku-SG48wbUEa_RERLAAwc43sez154xtDD2aAuMIVbTfKhg61ijqYKeOj07l2DzfiOUwLCULgzQgC/w503-h283/Slide3.JPG" width="503" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Planning Commission wanted a time limit on the temporary use of the center for Animal Services and asked what would be appropriate. Planning staff said it could take three to five years.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz9XSBwOOjSX8LvAcAL6kopLYAFVJ1bWKWi5tVSN8VFLUGDX0vMMYtoPXjk4ixl9VnFTC52uuQvmCO0GHEue7tcxW5RAmcVfZO8RFp7hDHCIxYiQCE991SxG12k-rZPUNh25pXAdRPO4PLkyOKDuLPqqhaOaXsFg6ICNeMplKylNkIe5zc3Sz/s960/Slide7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz9XSBwOOjSX8LvAcAL6kopLYAFVJ1bWKWi5tVSN8VFLUGDX0vMMYtoPXjk4ixl9VnFTC52uuQvmCO0GHEue7tcxW5RAmcVfZO8RFp7hDHCIxYiQCE991SxG12k-rZPUNh25pXAdRPO4PLkyOKDuLPqqhaOaXsFg6ICNeMplKylNkIe5zc3Sz/w511-h288/Slide7.JPG" width="511" /></a></div><br /><div>Construction Manager Al Torres said otherwise. He noted existing shelter design plans are well under way and construction could begin in April or May. </div><div><br /></div><div>He stated the city needs a place to house dogs during current shelter renovations but that he has yet to be involved in the temporary shelter remodel. <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_8jiEfTBbz86prN5B3dh6MGP-100i0Z9M0ayIOshvXoua6diHIa63ywKa5s4rk8KTNE53t9gZEYTFieZBYWoX8G-PjrijuAiK0yFjuAO7zPL-MXitb6N3suHouvdhxEC6XMLtO93bzJimImuw0iZ66GcSRON-ZUZYruKce1f4lZjzFDIVM57/s960/Slide8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_8jiEfTBbz86prN5B3dh6MGP-100i0Z9M0ayIOshvXoua6diHIa63ywKa5s4rk8KTNE53t9gZEYTFieZBYWoX8G-PjrijuAiK0yFjuAO7zPL-MXitb6N3suHouvdhxEC6XMLtO93bzJimImuw0iZ66GcSRON-ZUZYruKce1f4lZjzFDIVM57/w516-h291/Slide8.JPG" width="516" /></a></div><br /><div>One year ago City Council <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/02/animal-shelter-capital-request-soars.html" target="_blank">approved</a> seeking bids on a $2 million bond with the majority of proceeds to fund Animal Shelter renovations. The city <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/08/city-paid-off-one-short-term-note-needs.html" target="_blank">paid back</a> the money in August 2023 having only hired an engineering firm for $118,000 for design work. Normally construction financing is in synch with actual renovation work. This project has widely missed that mark.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The January Planning Committee meeting came after a year of missed shelter renovation start dates and millions borrowed and repaid for a project that seemed stuck in molasses. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's hard to keep up with the varying stories. What more might citizens hear on Tuesday?</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Update 3-7-24:</b> The latest schedule information is:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">....the bid phase is delayed to May 2024 with estimated construction completion in November 2024.</span></blockquote></div></div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-22325382926076225922024-02-16T11:57:00.004-06:002024-02-17T13:22:35.768-06:00Council to "Accept" Animal Shelter-PAWS Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDID2T5lrsIOhFaztidmq0SAWxF60vovPFBJ8vlJo0Qy8bIykbTQ_0EkVIzhVgpiJK8o2gTa0qGj-NEzWh7DSqZdGtvLUGkj87jNHrCLU7kdLfKl_oDF12MtBlXjH7N7RCJvLG-ll1F6ZuB6k7Ip4YrmvRNc7ZB0jvBoqXg0_CeVWcexjbn8i6/s960/CC%20AS%20PAWS%202-20-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDID2T5lrsIOhFaztidmq0SAWxF60vovPFBJ8vlJo0Qy8bIykbTQ_0EkVIzhVgpiJK8o2gTa0qGj-NEzWh7DSqZdGtvLUGkj87jNHrCLU7kdLfKl_oDF12MtBlXjH7N7RCJvLG-ll1F6ZuB6k7Ip4YrmvRNc7ZB0jvBoqXg0_CeVWcexjbn8i6/w488-h274/CC%20AS%20PAWS%202-20-24.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br />City Council will hear from Concho Valley PAWS and Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden on their partnership at Tuesday's meeting. Together, the Shelter and PAWS adopted Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society programming which <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2021/10/celebrating-shelter-not-taking-pets.html" target="_blank">pushed responsibility</a> for loose pets on to the community by choking off shelter intake. <div><br /></div><div>The City contracted with PAWS for adoption services in 2017 and the push for Pets Alive/BFAS "managed intake" began in 2019. Nearly five years later San Angelo has a significant loose dog problem. <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0WIUWMTR6eAXabzBYUCJsMosec-4jGqM4fSEJqf_U1u7mqYpY4T1kcPPDdZrPSNtnm40ZNOsJFb-sz7ul6pt5AMtzBTWlWk4vnAUR8LPioRqW9bc8EtWxaJDLV_IlOXfcU7Fro-wd4Kq8Tszc8uJAwFrmqiej1GFbODBjamm1v6g95jnAY1h/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0WIUWMTR6eAXabzBYUCJsMosec-4jGqM4fSEJqf_U1u7mqYpY4T1kcPPDdZrPSNtnm40ZNOsJFb-sz7ul6pt5AMtzBTWlWk4vnAUR8LPioRqW9bc8EtWxaJDLV_IlOXfcU7Fro-wd4Kq8Tszc8uJAwFrmqiej1GFbODBjamm1v6g95jnAY1h/w497-h279/Slide1.JPG" width="497" /></a></div><br />Last month Council asked staff to bring back a prioritized list of strategies with corresponding costs to tackle the crisis. That is not on the agenda. This is:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Discussion and review on <b>Animal Services' partnership with Concho Valley PAWS</b> (Presentation made by
Neighborhood and Family Services Assistant Director Morgan Chegwidden and Concho Valley PAWS
Executive Director Jenie Wilson)</span></blockquote><p></p><p>The background packet states:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Summary/History: </b> Concho Valley PAWS is local 501c3 non-profit organization and a contracted vendor for San Angelo Animal
Services to facilitate adoption services for shelter pets, but also provides many other support services. The
purpose of the presentation is to provide the council with additional information and knowledge regarding
the services offered and how the public-private partnership functions.<br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Financial Impact:</b> As a contracted vendor, Concho Valley PAWS will receive $73,792.00 in FY 2024 for the purpose of providing
two full-time adoption specialists to promote pets for adoption and facilitate their placement. However,
Concho Valley PAWS provides additional services at no-cost to the city, such as medical care for pets arriving
or residing at the shelter. All program funding outside the vendor contract is raised by Concho Valley PAWS
via donations & grants.
Through adoption and low-cost spay and neuter programs, Concho Valley PAWS seeks to reduce the number
of animals entering the shelter. Over time, we expect this to help conserve city resources.<br /></span></p><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Other Information/Recommendation:</b> Concho Valley PAWS would like to encourage the City Council to support furthering spay and neuter
initiatives in San Angelo, as Concho Valley PAWS strongly believes that spaying and neutering pets is key to
decreasing the number of stray pets and reducing the burden on city animal services.</span></blockquote><div>The "presentation" is not included in the packet made available to the public. I hope it includes key performance measures like the number of adoptions. City provided data shows adoptions fell 49% from FY 2022 to FY 2023:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwZu_8vXxbXFNIazJ0aQ2s0Q8vtmO9bny5cyn_jCrKkHl5j0bRdZ3cUJLc5cRAGS5MfI8cr2npAahzql9KgESPiv0tfJ3ShfEPwnf2o4s2aIgiyhQw6nuFH2XLnIhaS4pY6olk8tZmT36hHVcNNVw98Q8mpoA-849ZZR2C0nD9J1bq-3XBTTu/s960/Slide3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwZu_8vXxbXFNIazJ0aQ2s0Q8vtmO9bny5cyn_jCrKkHl5j0bRdZ3cUJLc5cRAGS5MfI8cr2npAahzql9KgESPiv0tfJ3ShfEPwnf2o4s2aIgiyhQw6nuFH2XLnIhaS4pY6olk8tZmT36hHVcNNVw98Q8mpoA-849ZZR2C0nD9J1bq-3XBTTu/w469-h264/Slide3.JPG" width="469" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Staff informed the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee that pets adopted or transferred from the shelter dropped 32% from the prior year. <div><br /></div><div>The background packet shows staff recommends Council "Accept" the item that has no attachments and nothing under "funding source."</div><div><br /></div><div>PAWS strongly believes spaying and neutering pets is key to decreasing the number of stray pets and reducing the burden on Animal Services. They should be happy to explain why PAWS stopped issuing low cost spay/neuter vouchers for two multi-month periods <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/09/shelter-pet-labor-day.html" target="_blank">since</a> the September 2022 roach infestation/horrific hoarding conditions crisis. At <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/09/paws-political-power-play.html" target="_blank">that time</a> PAWS promoted their "Be the Change", "Please Spay/Neuter Your Pets" campaign.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92ks0_HDVm1M6nLtjP0F4JipiHULeE9I_VkbzqO_dGpfFFg_xSciu6oTXP46zbaUat73RSQsWxUS73srCmFlIR2sfoikzhI0kG5Eo2d-XSbO58MZ8AATWA4Ceedwcsf6QfZ__cYXKeSq44nP6dqG4ahYb3QjOry5BDDY2nT2E_vCwOhwRk6Mx/s466/paws%20no%20voucher%20for%20you.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="466" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92ks0_HDVm1M6nLtjP0F4JipiHULeE9I_VkbzqO_dGpfFFg_xSciu6oTXP46zbaUat73RSQsWxUS73srCmFlIR2sfoikzhI0kG5Eo2d-XSbO58MZ8AATWA4Ceedwcsf6QfZ__cYXKeSq44nP6dqG4ahYb3QjOry5BDDY2nT2E_vCwOhwRk6Mx/w455-h341/paws%20no%20voucher%20for%20you.JPG" width="455" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The calendar is from December 2022 to September 2023.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>PAWS should also be happy to share data on the their spay/neuter programs. In November 2022 I asked PAWS via e-mail:</div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #351c75;">I am interested in learning the # of Dog and Cat SNIP vouchers PAWS issues per month. What is the current number issued and does PAWS plan to increase that number to serve the City Animal Shelter? <br /></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div>PAWS did not respond. </div><div><br /></div><div>We'll see what questions City Council asks of PAWS and Shelter leadership, the two groups that strategically steered San Angelo into its current crisis. It's been years in the making and will be years in undoing.</div></div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-51421356858182026762024-02-14T13:04:00.005-06:002024-02-14T13:09:40.002-06:00Street Meeting vs. Animal Shelter Open House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJaVlxX934VYaMxaLDH1ESOUatYEumsagphJZs5KhIL7AqciCIfza3ZyunmP2EPU_P6Bq1u7EhD4C6gsEw3XYPC_EYGAC3X6puPimTC0GsX3IKl56CyHvU5Re4uBo8P5wpcQn0HhVS-nsmpqqIBYTs-uRfTbo9fpY-uA8_agcBRIwfQsWKOdb/s960/Public%20meeting%20on%20streets%202-1-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJaVlxX934VYaMxaLDH1ESOUatYEumsagphJZs5KhIL7AqciCIfza3ZyunmP2EPU_P6Bq1u7EhD4C6gsEw3XYPC_EYGAC3X6puPimTC0GsX3IKl56CyHvU5Re4uBo8P5wpcQn0HhVS-nsmpqqIBYTs-uRfTbo9fpY-uA8_agcBRIwfQsWKOdb/w457-h257/Public%20meeting%20on%20streets%202-1-24.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div>The City of San Angelo's public meeting on street construction and maintenance occurred on February 1st. The audience included four citizens. The public received seven days notice of the meeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Contrast this image with the October 2023 Animal Shelter Advisory Committee (ASAC) meeting which had nearly twenty people in attendance, hoping to give public input regarding San Angelo's loose dog problem. The meeting did not happen as the Chair and Vice Chair forgot about <a href="https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/san-angelo/animal-services-board-meeting-canceled/504-32abd922-d040-4d6f-b238-312909b34c47" target="_blank">the meeting</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>In November 2023 sixty citizens involved in animal rescue asked for a meeting with City Council regarding Animal Services and the need for strategic redirection. That <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2024/02/city-goes-out-of-its-way-to-not-hear.html" target="_blank">did not</a> happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the January 2024 ASAC meeting I gave the public comment that I hoped to give back in October. The city stresses economic development but the shelter has not consistently responded to large employers with loose dogs on their property. I assume City Council does not want employers building kennels to house such dogs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I asked for a Town Hall meeting on animal issues, one held at a time when area veterinarians could attend. Veterinarians raised a red flag on increased dog on dog attacks. The shelter raised another red flag on animal to person bites, up 56%. Holding a town hall meeting when veterinarian input could be gotten would aid the city in dealing with its loose dog crisis.</div><div><br /></div><div>The City's Town Hall Meeting on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance <a href="https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/city-of-san-angelo-plans-town-hall-meeting-to-address-accessibility-of-facilities/504-40387ac8-9c6d-4640-b79e-f3f0f62f2e0f" target="_blank">gave</a> citizens two weeks notice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Facing a large number of people who wish to have discussion with policy makers, city leaders did what? Initially, the city said the Animal Services Advisory Committee would "schedule a meeting in the near future for the public to offer comments to the City related to Animal Services." That <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/11/city-planned-to-not-make-up-october.html" target="_blank">did not</a> happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Eventually, city officials offered up an Animal Shelter Open House, complete with a tour of the building (badly in need of renovation). The public received two day notice of the first Open House, later to learn they are weekly through August. The open house is not recorded for the public to view. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Animal Shelter is not an inviting meeting place for public input, which Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden supposedly desires.</div><div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">We’re still wanting to <b>collect data from San Angeloans</b> to determine a widespread support of lifesaving efforts.</span></blockquote></div></div><div>The city can hold a Town Hall meeting at a time when area veterinarians and the public can attend. Give citizens several weeks notice and record the meeting. Provide comment opportunities for people unable to attend the meeting. That is if they really want input from people dedicated to animal lifesaving.</div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-26405482172779331612024-02-08T13:13:00.005-06:002024-02-08T19:50:31.608-06:00Puppies Fill Shelter Again<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtuaMtGWJdLSAyJvuCGZKF-zm34XUahggDeZsG4YZntCsNo6I2iXsPRqPMXhzdSktDzDbtXOD_O-L_KCRwruMTf2UttovPOXN5EZXD972uvCN-e3CuDp6Onl1UzcMPYPq_iq4HpBy_Md-oRPUwhglqwSgUJA0EvEvPLzG4yVzFX_16EnD9ClI/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtuaMtGWJdLSAyJvuCGZKF-zm34XUahggDeZsG4YZntCsNo6I2iXsPRqPMXhzdSktDzDbtXOD_O-L_KCRwruMTf2UttovPOXN5EZXD972uvCN-e3CuDp6Onl1UzcMPYPq_iq4HpBy_Md-oRPUwhglqwSgUJA0EvEvPLzG4yVzFX_16EnD9ClI/w448-h336/Slide2.JPG" width="448" /></a></div><br />The City of San Angelo has a multi-pronged loose <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2024/01/more-dogs-on-street-than-ever.html" target="_blank">dog crisis</a>, uncontained aggressive dogs and unaltered dogs having litters (which are later abandoned). In a January 31 e-mail Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden wrote:<p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">January is traditionally a slow month for intake with 139 dogs impounded so far, but <b>almost
half this intake were young dogs </b>with (1) almost no chance of owner redemption and (2) long medical
observation periods to ensure they’re healthy for adopters.
</span></blockquote><div>This happened eight years into a mandatory spay-neuter ordinance. That should be red flag to City Council, especially as they discussed the loose dog crisis during their January 16th meeting.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/08/shelter-tightens-intake-chokehold.html" target="_blank">Flashback</a> to August 2022:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">"We are so <b>overrun with puppies</b>," stated Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden. She noted puppies and unwanted litters are a major factor contributing to the Shelter's current and ongoing space crisis. </span></blockquote></div><div>Council discussed dangerous dogs in their January meeting.</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">City Councilman Tom Thompson said his wife was bitten by a dog due to inadequate fencing.</span></blockquote></div><div>Shortly thereafter, a San Angelo resident walking his dog in a park was attacked by a dog that jumped a fence. The owner called Animal Control because they believed the attacking dog to be dangerous and the fence inadequate to restrain the aggressive animal. Their pet (the victim) was up to date on vaccinations and injured in the attack. </div><div><br /></div><div>The irony is the victim pet came to their yard in 2022 as an abandoned, injured and sick puppy. No one knows which dog gave birth to their pet (that cost $500 in veterinary bills), but the shelter has a <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/11/bingo-pir-municipal-court-citations-for.html" target="_blank">track record</a> of releasing hundreds of unaltered dogs per year going back to 2018.</div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #351c75;">2018 - Shelter released over 500 unaltered dogs over 6 month period</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY 2019 - City released 730 unaltered pets from shelter</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY 2021 - Shelter released 708 unaltered pets</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">FY 2022 - City released 760 unaltered pets from shelter</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div>In April 2019 the shelter began <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2021/10/celebrating-shelter-not-taking-pets.html" target="_blank">choking off</a> intake through "managed intake" of owned pets. Four months later they extended managed intake to found pets. That eventually turned into "let them roam unaltered."</div><div><br /></div><div>Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society policies have driven shelter changes. Neither group includes spay/neuter compliance in their mandatory measures. Staff warned City Council what could happen if pets remained unaltered over a multiyear period.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymKfhi61cjUIuUDCTK956gc_BxhJdL-NQimZwngoXWOwWgPxvAG_NtGMP-Vq_nEBJ178phMepoRWH13SZhiQih29WCgCR65ObjJx0cI5-cJVF8uj83s1qMKCY8FCA95W8umwbqkEY8wTQnbLt6jvG5yEGCLa9cJEVi-4g0D1BDrvr7fzYt0KV/s452/unaltered%20pet%20reproduction.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="452" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymKfhi61cjUIuUDCTK956gc_BxhJdL-NQimZwngoXWOwWgPxvAG_NtGMP-Vq_nEBJ178phMepoRWH13SZhiQih29WCgCR65ObjJx0cI5-cJVF8uj83s1qMKCY8FCA95W8umwbqkEY8wTQnbLt6jvG5yEGCLa9cJEVi-4g0D1BDrvr7fzYt0KV/w460-h345/unaltered%20pet%20reproduction.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><br />City Council provided the tools:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl43xJr-Y4pI9hTGa_xWEwggYK6LgbGdYEwlAX97B6RMy6rzpilrAPCoAebtvAXt_D1mSGJL6ynzSF5Xmb-LM5hyPG40JbFcYyRXxAfAA1yy85xMvhPhrOme0Xake0Lrq4oOr7Kvsq5aVc70vMIEtwUls8sxdS4Y2rVprgrIhsookzKK49s7eh/s441/Bob%20Salas%202-17-15.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="441" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl43xJr-Y4pI9hTGa_xWEwggYK6LgbGdYEwlAX97B6RMy6rzpilrAPCoAebtvAXt_D1mSGJL6ynzSF5Xmb-LM5hyPG40JbFcYyRXxAfAA1yy85xMvhPhrOme0Xake0Lrq4oOr7Kvsq5aVc70vMIEtwUls8sxdS4Y2rVprgrIhsookzKK49s7eh/w460-h345/Bob%20Salas%202-17-15.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><br />Staff promised a one year adjustment period before enforcing mandatory spay/neuter. Citations for failure to spay/neuter were few and far between until August 2022. At that point the City Attorney's office began a focused review of unaltered pets leaving the Animal Shelter.</div><div><br /></div><div>Staff informed Council in June 2023:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Owners claimed 956 cats and dogs in FY22, 282 of which were already spayed/neutered. 44 pet owners have since provided proof of spay/neuter. 24 provided proof of an exemption, such as moved outside city limits, pet is medically fragile, pet has died, etc.
This leaves 606 pets still reporting as unaltered.
We’ve cited or filed a complaint with municipal court for almost 400 animals and are moving through the remaining backlog.</span></blockquote>The problem can be seen in the recent shelter "at risk for euthanasia" list:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_0yDht-QmfCNDUz5YMMRHIGBy3y58Md8CqN7OuEz8kW4wQlqzEqcX9JqbGNu8qBlTpLlfrFSg2rAEquEvDfnAN7cY5xdfeXt04R8NQNMlOwhTpteyQ6fgbeHnaq8y1naE18YU9Q1lU0AyhpyQEY48mH_FLTBZXr6u-cI5NbtC9QQhYF-MNy0/s960/Recent%20E%20list.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_0yDht-QmfCNDUz5YMMRHIGBy3y58Md8CqN7OuEz8kW4wQlqzEqcX9JqbGNu8qBlTpLlfrFSg2rAEquEvDfnAN7cY5xdfeXt04R8NQNMlOwhTpteyQ6fgbeHnaq8y1naE18YU9Q1lU0AyhpyQEY48mH_FLTBZXr6u-cI5NbtC9QQhYF-MNy0/w456-h342/Recent%20E%20list.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><div>Staff admitted to City Council that "community sheltering" contributed to San Angelo's loose dog crisis. Shelter changes "led to pet owners dumping their animals at the Animal Shelter or letting them loose."</div><div><br /></div><div>It took years for the dog crisis to get this bad and it will take years to reverse the damage done by Pets Alive and Best Friends policies. City Council awaits prioritized action items and corresponding budget commitments. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's much work to be done but it's hard to be encouraged that the people who led us into this quagmire are the ones to lead us out.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update: </b> Four young dogs are abandoned on Knickerbocker. Public safety organizations are not concerned and see no reason to mobilize resources. Do they not remember the <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/crashes/2017-06-29/loose-chow-chow-causes-loop-306-shut-down" target="_blank">traffic accident</a> on Loop 306 caused by loose dogs?</div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-13267600155598799422024-02-05T21:33:00.009-06:002024-02-08T16:48:03.556-06:00Weekly Animal Services Open Houses to Start Feb. 7th<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkASvE-YAZqonYvw5_Mzx0GnyYITazwsxk4SCf4QFI1Tb4oXtdqBkW3afLK0n-JF7CBqY7vuIxpDoujrkwBIk-3D4bsLgsgngPfYHX75lh2hdBS9VoR0NjCuazbnv7DrFTtB6K8VJxB620STGgAMHdOvqyX-X8mAqBprVhZfe58seELn6It5LU/s960/Slide3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkASvE-YAZqonYvw5_Mzx0GnyYITazwsxk4SCf4QFI1Tb4oXtdqBkW3afLK0n-JF7CBqY7vuIxpDoujrkwBIk-3D4bsLgsgngPfYHX75lh2hdBS9VoR0NjCuazbnv7DrFTtB6K8VJxB620STGgAMHdOvqyX-X8mAqBprVhZfe58seELn6It5LU/w470-h264/Slide3.JPG" width="470" /></a></div><br />San Angelo's City Council provided direction to city leadership to seek public feedback on Animal Services via a Town Hall meeting, <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/13906/19?backlist=%2F" target="_blank">similar</a> to what the city did with ADA compliance in March 2023. <div><br /></div><div>Last week the city <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6860/369" target="_blank">held</a> a public meeting on streets. The city informed the public seven days before the street Town Hall and twelve days <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6815/369" target="_blank">before</a> the ADA session. Both the ADA and street meetings were livestreamed on SATV, the city's <i>YouTube</i> channel.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjaHyGKTZZL1jF8w-sjqYIY8qSNHGm3Y6fkbqJDnzEFMDSdCqo7UwhGHOvsdlfZJp-V0pCbwdb1BzhT18dNNtfs_KuCb0p-Ipi_G26Es2SNj03N3PwX6O6OQcRbtouRknYGklDUIEDMYOVksWRttu_81bw3-pJ08HgoaAfWBAcX8J2TAhEmaV/s960/Slide5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjaHyGKTZZL1jF8w-sjqYIY8qSNHGm3Y6fkbqJDnzEFMDSdCqo7UwhGHOvsdlfZJp-V0pCbwdb1BzhT18dNNtfs_KuCb0p-Ipi_G26Es2SNj03N3PwX6O6OQcRbtouRknYGklDUIEDMYOVksWRttu_81bw3-pJ08HgoaAfWBAcX8J2TAhEmaV/w462-h260/Slide5.JPG" width="462" /></a></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/san-angelo/animal-shelter-open-house/504-1940aa1d-6047-4039-941e-cfc88de2ddb0" target="_blank">Fox West Texas</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/animal-services-to-hold-public-open-house/" target="_blank">Concho Valley Homepage</a></i> ran stories on the Animal Services Open House shortly after receiving the city press release. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXbe1san-WXqTlFUqgRshaTgG4O5ZS6L9F52xCPZwG-DGQBPyiT1cdC-7eu5ltksMml26qNrGGRSiqY03GstGsKDUJj0_wX1TPdVPjAcPai_0UM5YoGEl-ScgD1fr76-TFq1Jh8SEYjwAUddTu-W4nEMeU-zt5DKxmXAZTsehuWTKZMztvHkS/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXbe1san-WXqTlFUqgRshaTgG4O5ZS6L9F52xCPZwG-DGQBPyiT1cdC-7eu5ltksMml26qNrGGRSiqY03GstGsKDUJj0_wX1TPdVPjAcPai_0UM5YoGEl-ScgD1fr76-TFq1Jh8SEYjwAUddTu-W4nEMeU-zt5DKxmXAZTsehuWTKZMztvHkS/w475-h267/Slide1.JPG" width="475" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wmNv307B2xK9A0es1WR3dKVmYX4Bi_vt3_cQACSO0uitKfLlmDCKmg93Ht3cwUabGXHWuy-EbuYdXLvWCHKM4OVwX1ibxv_fbbHvcv1feTfrTKZe5bA2d9wdO6nqM3ls_wBJVcoTWak4gQJDvCI6VVq9kVKY_5QCWyZ7rGRyEc8ovulGE6MZ/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wmNv307B2xK9A0es1WR3dKVmYX4Bi_vt3_cQACSO0uitKfLlmDCKmg93Ht3cwUabGXHWuy-EbuYdXLvWCHKM4OVwX1ibxv_fbbHvcv1feTfrTKZe5bA2d9wdO6nqM3ls_wBJVcoTWak4gQJDvCI6VVq9kVKY_5QCWyZ7rGRyEc8ovulGE6MZ/w487-h274/Slide2.JPG" width="487" /></a></div><p>Both pieces make the open house sound like a one time event. It's not, according to the City Calendar.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXpUeT0HcyH3O8BwSHOrp85bnb_dhXrtYso71SxbJYsECi33VfGNv5oSvgfW7jeRirzPHD5gZAdJoLAltG4ZfYHSeZcQqjxot7RyHmw9Z8lVohyF194y5LGMoazJpIF7uk6072ielY98A6Xm3sWbNPivq_xn1DHvx8IAP3JxL1s9PuJgkqugq/s960/Slide4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXpUeT0HcyH3O8BwSHOrp85bnb_dhXrtYso71SxbJYsECi33VfGNv5oSvgfW7jeRirzPHD5gZAdJoLAltG4ZfYHSeZcQqjxot7RyHmw9Z8lVohyF194y5LGMoazJpIF7uk6072ielY98A6Xm3sWbNPivq_xn1DHvx8IAP3JxL1s9PuJgkqugq/w488-h275/Slide4.JPG" width="488" /></a></div><br /><p>The information does not state if the weekly meetings will be recorded. </p><p>The <i>Concho Valley Homepage</i> story closed with:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">With an open house on the way and a canine overpopulation crisis growing within the town, it may be up to the community to decide whether San Angelo has gone to the dogs.</span></blockquote>For years the shelter released unaltered dogs back to owners. For years the shelter choked off intake from citizens wanting to responsibly surrender their pet. Neither death nor moving to assisted living were good enough reasons for the Animal Shelter to take an owner surrender. Amelia <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6823/369?npage=2" target="_blank">knows</a>.<p></p><p>City leaders promised a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance combined with required microchipping would reduce the number of loose animals in city streets. Managed intake and a hard cap on shelter capacity did the opposite. Shelter policy effectively turned into "let them roam." </p><p>Releasing unaltered animals back to less than responsible owners meant puppies became part of San Angelo's wandering dog problem.</p><p>Staff referred to enforcing the spay/neuter ordinance and breeder permit purchases as "kicking the ant's nest" in late Summer 2022. City policies and practices helped create our "gone to the dogs situation."</p><p>The shelter applied Pets Alive and Best Friend Animal Society programming, which transfers sheltering to the community. Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden and PAWS Director Jenie Wilson repeatedly stated San Angelo has a large number of irresponsible pet owners. Who would count on them to step up and do more? </p><p>San Angelo is five years into programming that kept unwanted dogs out of the shelter. It should be no surprise that they fill the streets.</p><p>Councilman Harry Thomas said just that at the Council's last meeting.</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">“There are more dogs on the streets than there’s ever been.” </span></blockquote><p></p><p>Yes there are. It's from years of "letting them roam unaltered."</p><p><b>Update 2-6-24: </b> <i>San Angelo Live</i> informed residents of their opportunity to tour the Shelter <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/san-angelo/2024-02-06/tour-san-angelo-animal-shelter-wednesday" target="_blank">tomorrow evening</a>. The city <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6870/369" target="_blank">added</a> the Shelter Open House to its news feed as of 10:00 am this morning.</p><p><b>Update 2-7-24: </b> <i>Fox West Texas</i> reported:</p></div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Open house events will be held from 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays through August.</span></blockquote><p><b>Update 2-8-24:</b> Someone who went to the first Open House noted:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">They had Animal Control Officers (ACO) in one section, to go ask questions, Shelter Chief Morgan was there and people could ask her questions and I saw her talk to three people, two at length, Morgan's boss Bob Salas was there.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">"News" people taking pics and Carlos (ACO) gave an interview and that's about all that happened! And you could go look at the "ROWS" of dogs!
Most of the people that were there were PAWS people and Fosters, and shelter workers. </span></p></blockquote><p></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-4084854661920961852024-02-02T17:13:00.005-06:002024-02-03T11:08:31.488-06:00Minutes Miss the Animal Crisis Mark<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTSGnJDr6KFgRsWNMQlvYk5zHjBdDioWxlEQjt052D9g8jvtZl3VLgkxddfBU9n3JL2QNBgCAi6Oc1-puf0Up2vWVgRLaOOYLiw49aw6GHNHICpE4ccFWo1KRu6sRSJTrxPEXHNtKZEQhJao7OJ06q03_1odxRGpLf1FcwRGlixlESkfr4m6R/s960/Minutes%201-16-24%20CC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTSGnJDr6KFgRsWNMQlvYk5zHjBdDioWxlEQjt052D9g8jvtZl3VLgkxddfBU9n3JL2QNBgCAi6Oc1-puf0Up2vWVgRLaOOYLiw49aw6GHNHICpE4ccFWo1KRu6sRSJTrxPEXHNtKZEQhJao7OJ06q03_1odxRGpLf1FcwRGlixlESkfr4m6R/w455-h341/Minutes%201-16-24%20CC.jpg" width="455" /></a></div><br />City Council minutes went light on San Angelo's loose dog crisis. The minutes omitted a number of <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2024/01/more-dogs-on-street-than-ever.html" target="_blank">comments</a> about the crisis and the problems with unrestrained dogs on city streets. Two of those came from Councilmembers. <p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Citizen Mary Robinson--“I have never witnessed an animal crisis like I've witnessed here."</span><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />Councilman Harry Thomas--“There are more dogs on the streets than there’s ever been.” </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">Councilman Tom Thompson--“The dog that bit my wife still has an open gate where it can get out.”
</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div>Council minutes also failed to note the number of Concho Valley PAWS people mentioned on page 4. Two are members of PAWS leadership while the other two are board members.</div><div><br /></div><div>The city and PAWS partnered on Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society programs that choked off shelter intake and pushed "animal sheltering" back on the community. That's the community PAWS Executive Director frequently calls as having "a large number of irresponsible pet owners."</div><div><br /></div><div>Flashback to 2019 when Wilson <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/business/2019-11-13/san-angelo-animal-shelter-maximum-capacity" target="_blank">said</a>:</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">"San Angelo <b>still has a population crisis coupled with a population of irresponsible pet owners</b> which makes it a constant struggle for the shelter and PAWS to prevent euthanasia for space.”--Jenie Wilson, <i>San Angelo Live</i></span></blockquote>Five years of choking off intake put more dogs on the street. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb8vhK-RZ29Ft5Mnr1v0HcYsRn79vw2PBhg7wwXatPnVJAaPSgTAEzsGvp15AUn9LmgdeXSRWFNa2EQfl6qURpTnMuQdnaDwKf36Xm7NQH1Xhy1ASxzA5GRKZGVr9g1bm4501HrBvn-WU53rPiRrpzR5f2K86i_gOWGmJVU67BCu_-xU8Vu62/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb8vhK-RZ29Ft5Mnr1v0HcYsRn79vw2PBhg7wwXatPnVJAaPSgTAEzsGvp15AUn9LmgdeXSRWFNa2EQfl6qURpTnMuQdnaDwKf36Xm7NQH1Xhy1ASxzA5GRKZGVr9g1bm4501HrBvn-WU53rPiRrpzR5f2K86i_gOWGmJVU67BCu_-xU8Vu62/w459-h258/Slide1.JPG" width="459" /></a></div><br /><div>Combine that with owner failure to spay/neuter and the problem is of another order of magnitude.</div><div><br /></div><div>City Council learned in June 2023:</div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Owners claimed 956 cats and dogs</b> in FY22, 282 of which were already spayed/neutered. 44 pet owners have since provided proof of spay/neuter. 24 provided proof of an exemption, such as moved outside city limits, pet is medically fragile, pet has died, etc.
This leaves <b>606 pets still reporting as unaltered</b>. </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">We’ve cited or <b>filed a complaint with municipal court for almost 400 animals</b> and are moving through the remaining backlog.</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div>Staff had seven months to work this backlog further, but the shelter's releasing unaltered dogs back to irresponsible pet owners compounds our loose dog issue.</div><div><br /></div><div>Council also set an expectation that management would hold a Town Hall meeting on animal issues for the purpose of citizen input. That too did not make the minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>The city's "let them roam unaltered" policy for loose dogs has harmed both pets and people. There are no signs that is going to change.</div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-8197285440986955922024-02-01T13:26:00.004-06:002024-02-08T16:49:01.220-06:00City Goes Out of Its Way to Not Hear Animal Concerns<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1dYalALAGw6e832em7x4xB39spkTiDM4EoQntUvhP69Y0SobS4ckB7hCfEzr21iyOTQ67sSOLonIki0OW5G-3NSYFif3S7mbAGk_LRCC4DFxUAi6d5npT-biHisdy5DHXEeiZSg5JkR4EaH-3WE-wRr1VbOGSdWmybsy0N5Hf0KpQrR2jUPw/s960/Loose%20dogs%20continue%20COSA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1dYalALAGw6e832em7x4xB39spkTiDM4EoQntUvhP69Y0SobS4ckB7hCfEzr21iyOTQ67sSOLonIki0OW5G-3NSYFif3S7mbAGk_LRCC4DFxUAi6d5npT-biHisdy5DHXEeiZSg5JkR4EaH-3WE-wRr1VbOGSdWmybsy0N5Hf0KpQrR2jUPw/w471-h265/Loose%20dogs%20continue%20COSA.jpg" width="471" /></a></div><br />Close to the one year anniversary of the Animal Shelter's roach infestation and horrific hoarding conditions City Council met in a strategic planning session.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>August 29, 2023</b></div><div><br /></div><div>City Council discussed a disturbing dog attack situation on Jackson Street during their planning session. Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden failed to inform Council under direct questioning of the shelter's significant reliance on Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society programs which divert shelter work to "the community" or BFAS funding of <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-friends-animal-society-partners.html" target="_blank">her tuition</a> at their Executive Learning Certification.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>October 19, 2023</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Animal Shelter Advisory Committee failed to achieve a quorum with numerous citizens in attendance wishing to provide public input on the "loose dog" problem created by Pets Alive/BFAS programs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite having three of the five current committee members in attendance staff claimed a quorum did not exist. Missing members included the committee chair and vice chair. Concerned citizens were excused with the promise that "the team" would work to quickly reschedule.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Citizens submit letter</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Sixty concerned citizens<b> </b>submitted a letter to the Mayor and Council asking for an urgent meeting on 11-3-23. This was not granted.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>November 15, 2023</b></div><div><br /></div><div>City staff met with a concerned citizen and asked the public not to attend.</div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #351c75;">We would like to clear up some misinformation regarding a meeting in regard to Animal Services and Code Compliance that has been circulating on social media.
A meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15, was intended as a small meeting with a concerned citizen and members of City staff. This meeting was not intended to be a public Q&A session. </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">The Animal Shelter Advisory Committee will schedule a meeting in the near future for the public to offer comments to the City related to Animal Services. We will post an update on our social media, website and send to media outlets when and where the meeting will take place. </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">Brian Groves, Communications Director for the City of San Angelo.</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;">City staff did not reschedule the October 18th ASAC meeting prior to end of the year. This failure caused the city to violate its ordinance requiring three ASAC meetings per calendar year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>January 16, 2024</b></div><div><br /></div><div>City Council discussed national trends and local statistics regarding Animal Services. Nationally shelters are doing more, while locally San Angelo's Animal Shelter did far less. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of the meeting Councilman Tom Thompson indicated his wife had been bitten by an unrestrained, uncontained dog.</div><div><br /></div><div>Council asked for a Town Hall meeting on loose dogs in the community and for staff to bring back prioritized strategies for addressing the problem.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>January 18, 2024</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The first regular meeting of the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee was held. Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden offered a weekly Open House at the Animal Shelter for people who want to better understand Animal Services programming.</div><div><br /></div><div>I stated this was inadequate given the dire nature of our local situation where area veterinarians are concerned about increased dog on dog attacks and city statistics show animal to people bites rose 56%. A well planned, publicized Town Hall could bring many community voices together to share information that would not be gotten via a weekly Open House with Morgan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Morgan's Open House substitution is yet the latest effort to scuttle public input. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 2-3-24: </b> Oddly Chegwidden claims to want that input (an e-mail to the people at Best Friends):</div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">We’re still <b>wanting to collect data from San
Angeloans</b> to determine a widespread support of lifesaving efforts. 10-12-23</span></blockquote><p>If this is true a Town Hall meeting should quickly be arranged. City Council wants it and Morgan wants data from citizens on the shelter's "let them roam unaltered" policies. </p><p><b>Update 2-8-24:</b> Someone who went to the first Open House noted:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">They had Animal Control Officers (ACO) in one section, to go ask questions, Shelter Chief Morgan was there and people could ask her questions and I saw her talk to three people, two at length, Morgan's boss Bob Salas was there.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">"News" people taking pics and Carlos (ACO) gave an interview and that's about all that happened! And you could go look at the "ROWS" of dogs! Most of the people that were there were PAWS people and Fosters, and shelter workers.</span></p></blockquote><p>Open Houses will occur weekly through August. </p></div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-85393093645427479522024-01-31T13:50:00.004-06:002024-02-04T12:57:33.662-06:00Animal Shelter Overloaded<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsW8jrntEGfzEwlAmMk-VePzZMHoayoU88_1UGd8-qATmt7NOPHrjj9WkDjBgDMsZV5BDDOHF6vRRd0l0pWtX9kIx4lPYWLkeqp1pXrE90pzsBpsuf8-hPStBuYLc63HMZrd_FKNXDV8jqkbmp3C6dwBNqep1ZkqIl3tPcN9yUWAN9v37A74Y/s960/Shelter%20over%20capacity%20again%201-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsW8jrntEGfzEwlAmMk-VePzZMHoayoU88_1UGd8-qATmt7NOPHrjj9WkDjBgDMsZV5BDDOHF6vRRd0l0pWtX9kIx4lPYWLkeqp1pXrE90pzsBpsuf8-hPStBuYLc63HMZrd_FKNXDV8jqkbmp3C6dwBNqep1ZkqIl3tPcN9yUWAN9v37A74Y/w481-h270/Shelter%20over%20capacity%20again%201-24.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><br />The shelter will euthanize 16 dogs if they are not adopted by 3 pm on Saturday, February 3rd. <i>San Angelo Live</i> ran <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/san-angelo/2024-01-31/san-angelo-animal-shelter-faces-capacity-overload" target="_blank">a piece</a> on this but no information exists on the City's <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/departments-services/communications/news" target="_blank">news feed</a>, nor is it on the Animal Services <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/departments-services/animal-services" target="_blank">webpage</a>. <p></p><p><i>Live's</i> piece refers interested adopters to "contact Jen at jen@cvpaws.org as soon as possible."</p><p>Concho Valley PAWS Facebook page has a post on the euthanasia list.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcc96vJTE8psskNAKzpwjfV9IqPRrYpATnPJYMIQmQWgTRs_Iump9U9Ay_FK4BG4aIbdfzkXeMrnJ4PkHu8m6ydvp6Qq_NWvGrpKjjHBaq0reBglbfSuTMYURG2kH9N3DzjoY5itUo7JKwAJVTqmxEA8yzF-zhKQuFrC424bKwikzTw5i9UX9/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcc96vJTE8psskNAKzpwjfV9IqPRrYpATnPJYMIQmQWgTRs_Iump9U9Ay_FK4BG4aIbdfzkXeMrnJ4PkHu8m6ydvp6Qq_NWvGrpKjjHBaq0reBglbfSuTMYURG2kH9N3DzjoY5itUo7JKwAJVTqmxEA8yzF-zhKQuFrC424bKwikzTw5i9UX9/w482-h271/Slide2.JPG" width="482" /></a></div><br /><p>PAWS hours of operation include Tuesday noon to 6 pm (according to Google). This expansion happened in the last few months. PAWS <a href="https://cvpaws.org/" target="_blank">website</a> still shows Wednesday through Saturday hours.</p><p>Prior shelter overloads have been driven by puppies. PAWS <i>Facebook</i> page shows cute puppy after cute puppy.</p><p>This takes us back to October 2015 when City Council adopted a mandatory spay-neuter ordinance and staff promised it would mean fewer animals on the street.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9pdwILaMBDzMZ5Cqbh9MXkG1xfUueMajuH14FMpCM4Y1KEHKNFYoL2JI-AOpfVn3oDelWxg8898Nd8d8K21IQvg2kORFc6FpOz5Mk9of9cgfsEc_DAvv98ihUkPTgL3sTAA4GHP0p82uWhDDF7Fc67lhH1H-jZLHOdPMuaWO9cMyLNOFfBi3/s441/Bob%20Salas%202-17-15.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="441" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9pdwILaMBDzMZ5Cqbh9MXkG1xfUueMajuH14FMpCM4Y1KEHKNFYoL2JI-AOpfVn3oDelWxg8898Nd8d8K21IQvg2kORFc6FpOz5Mk9of9cgfsEc_DAvv98ihUkPTgL3sTAA4GHP0p82uWhDDF7Fc67lhH1H-jZLHOdPMuaWO9cMyLNOFfBi3/w464-h348/Bob%20Salas%202-17-15.JPG" width="464" /></a></div><br /><p>City Council meets again on Tuesday, February 6th. In their last meeting Councilman Harry Thomas <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2024/01/more-dogs-on-street-than-ever.html" target="_blank">noted</a> "there are more dogs on the street than ever."</p><p><b>Update:</b> <i> Concho Valley Homepage </i>ran <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/16-san-angelo-dogs-at-risk-of-euthanasia-after-shelter-overcrowds/" target="_blank">a story</a> on the latest overcrowding. The City informed the public <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CityofSanAngeloTexas/posts/pfbid032qZJMW8q2bSGNK9PJLEzRHaeKRpdk5uDZdBxVpP5yJxam4iZajTv7HHfGdN3xur6l" target="_blank">via</a> Facebook at 11:04 this morning.</p><p>The Animal Shelter webpage also has a section for events. It is below:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEMclvQxeJ6g5aorZLOUYYjSjdoMlDM1DCljanK-kXRrUivsD3oBcAsqr-IPwpblJDA02YebhFnGqsOQGKcA1bgfwsfHlypS8qV0QfvvJJhiNEBbSUMWWMyBiZGa4zj9_CkEQ3IWacyBYzlq7WwB4i2_C_Dp5obrPs1a_Nb1jy6mjPK344P4v/s960/Slide3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEMclvQxeJ6g5aorZLOUYYjSjdoMlDM1DCljanK-kXRrUivsD3oBcAsqr-IPwpblJDA02YebhFnGqsOQGKcA1bgfwsfHlypS8qV0QfvvJJhiNEBbSUMWWMyBiZGa4zj9_CkEQ3IWacyBYzlq7WwB4i2_C_Dp5obrPs1a_Nb1jy6mjPK344P4v/w497-h280/Slide3.JPG" width="497" /></a></div><br />There is nothing about the shelter being overcapacity or a Saturday deadline.<p></p><div><b>Update 2-4-24: </b> All sixteen dogs were adopted or fostered according to PAWS Facebook page.. </div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-49302604495269676452024-01-27T12:24:00.013-06:002024-02-14T11:52:00.882-06:00"More Dogs on the Street than Ever"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK8G7t0qjaWKB6VD660bgupulLRzcpR4wxeTPYiAtAJX_mIkIpPOFNEeUZ0mM625mMbn9vsl3ugFyRUxGYcz0Mc5tpGq_-HA_utw6mnFDOYjL92qVK_gxolJWCtiZv83gIzlMQq4HWVocTqBCRtuSpwrn8hLxtl-UqrMUvAQ8cdsd6w8UU3Tz/s960/Slide4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK8G7t0qjaWKB6VD660bgupulLRzcpR4wxeTPYiAtAJX_mIkIpPOFNEeUZ0mM625mMbn9vsl3ugFyRUxGYcz0Mc5tpGq_-HA_utw6mnFDOYjL92qVK_gxolJWCtiZv83gIzlMQq4HWVocTqBCRtuSpwrn8hLxtl-UqrMUvAQ8cdsd6w8UU3Tz/w466-h262/Slide4.JPG" width="466" /></a></div><br />City Councilman Harry Thomas noted "there are more dogs on the streets than there's ever been" during the January 16th Council meeting.<p></p><p>Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden update Council on national vs. local trends in animal services.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineh1FLBr8YLD9zGLUXs5pd8-NKFlmTUe1-81t8_sLbgmG6Gw4uTQrPIcDw1DbwEfZac5T-kt9iK9gYEeA-TZmMG21oKoNpGEtRq0k2kzZ_JLtSKc-ovuZGNHBKH9HNzL-MAyKEbs8_ycPSudGR_xQBtpGef7gH8-SFDwGrhnGQUlu1yLPvEU2/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineh1FLBr8YLD9zGLUXs5pd8-NKFlmTUe1-81t8_sLbgmG6Gw4uTQrPIcDw1DbwEfZac5T-kt9iK9gYEeA-TZmMG21oKoNpGEtRq0k2kzZ_JLtSKc-ovuZGNHBKH9HNzL-MAyKEbs8_ycPSudGR_xQBtpGef7gH8-SFDwGrhnGQUlu1yLPvEU2/w462-h260/Slide2.JPG" width="462" /></a></div>Nationally, shelters took on more pets. Locally it was less. City Council did not seem concerned that any increases in need were borne by the community, not the Animal Shelter.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWz9pkob4PPrQYHISLWI2cnJAYfs3u8awmZhG8G5MKsXDnb5DNWs49EEYPZy38jaeuiXCZiQw1deAmWOWYMsU44FfVOQH2U05rbW0sII-WaItwAwAIbSG8Zwawl_vdcpoiyU_e_MIAbHa_ndBjuw0NSVNFtqLOMhm3YFOzYe8ueF6BUW3FK0S/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWz9pkob4PPrQYHISLWI2cnJAYfs3u8awmZhG8G5MKsXDnb5DNWs49EEYPZy38jaeuiXCZiQw1deAmWOWYMsU44FfVOQH2U05rbW0sII-WaItwAwAIbSG8Zwawl_vdcpoiyU_e_MIAbHa_ndBjuw0NSVNFtqLOMhm3YFOzYe8ueF6BUW3FK0S/w487-h274/Slide1.JPG" width="487" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Adoptions fell 1% nationally but were down nearly 50% locally. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHP7Mh7h6MHmbuo_uQfbW65ozfcbc58xtT7Vn-ZZOhcOHsedS4gv3xwxhzKPWKUbDPwI_q0vqwn5rRWitMDNJLXDCezMYb-XOFt0tqpw7UlWllHTD7fiI9-58nPkjB2WE6UrHLDfF-22o7sQvst2iQ-4UmcGOoCr_7wqbFXO6dGSMIoFPjUYh/s960/Slide3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHP7Mh7h6MHmbuo_uQfbW65ozfcbc58xtT7Vn-ZZOhcOHsedS4gv3xwxhzKPWKUbDPwI_q0vqwn5rRWitMDNJLXDCezMYb-XOFt0tqpw7UlWllHTD7fiI9-58nPkjB2WE6UrHLDfF-22o7sQvst2iQ-4UmcGOoCr_7wqbFXO6dGSMIoFPjUYh/w460-h259/Slide3.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><p></p><p>Chegwidden reported that 35 dogs were dumped at the shelter over the last quarter.</p><p>Public safety decreased locally with animal to people bites up 56%. Local veterinarians <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/local-veterinarian-sees-rise-in-dog-on-dog-attacks/" target="_blank">report</a> increased dog on dog attacks. </p><p>San Angelo's legions of loose dogs should remain given the Animal Shelter's policies. The shelter is not a resource for citizens needing to surrender their pet. "Moving to assisted living" is not a reason for the shelter to accept a pet under managed intake.</p><p>There is no strategy to ensure "community sheltered" pets are spayed/neutered or microchipped. City staff <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/08/seven-years-of-spayneuter-ordinance.html" target="_blank">promised</a> Council at the adoption of the spay/neuter ordinance:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjg_I-qJ9EfzEVlHHzdGVfRQE_NL1uy92o7AX0CDl_au2geCcQmmaMxVqFTUAUAJJwpL3hj5H1Q4_-z-qqKNtVXi9LyvnJpepsbw-ylRkG_irI4F2xsSqKO5k7rFsQ4Bk8IUQdBBYW8Qm5S6vgnCrsFO6cp8opGi7nOh9stPH5GfEc8Ud0SHDX/s441/Bob%20Salas%202-17-15.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="441" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjg_I-qJ9EfzEVlHHzdGVfRQE_NL1uy92o7AX0CDl_au2geCcQmmaMxVqFTUAUAJJwpL3hj5H1Q4_-z-qqKNtVXi9LyvnJpepsbw-ylRkG_irI4F2xsSqKO5k7rFsQ4Bk8IUQdBBYW8Qm5S6vgnCrsFO6cp8opGi7nOh9stPH5GfEc8Ud0SHDX/w454-h341/Bob%20Salas%202-17-15.JPG" width="454" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The Councilman's "more dogs on the street than ever" comment indicates Mr. Salas and the city have missed their mark. </p><p>Changes have been driven by Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society. Both groups prioritize "life saving" care for pets inside shelters. Their models do not prioritize mandatory spay/neuter, a local city ordinance. City statistics indicated the shelter is occupied by large dogs, mostly Pit mixes, and those dogs have resided in the shelter for a long time. </p><p>In November 2022 City Council approved a hard maximum capacity for the Animal Shelter. That meant more pets would be "sheltered" in the community. </p><p>Loose, unaltered dogs create problems, which impact <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2017/05/aggressive-dogs-torment-area-citizens.html" target="_blank">public safety</a>. Councilman Tom Thompson indicated his wife had been bitten by an unrestrained, uncontained dog in the January 16th meeting.</p><p>City Council held a Strategic Planning session yesterday where public safety received significant attention. The Animal Shelter got no mention but Council cited "public feedback" several times.</p><p>Citizens need to contact City Council representatives with concerns about animal issues. It's the only way elected officials can get an accurate picture of how Animal Services is serving or not serving the community. Staff has a less than stellar track record in that regard.</p><b>
Update: </b>The <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2021/01/animal-services-proposes-restricting.html" target="_blank">slide</a> below shows Pets Alive's expectations for San Angelo. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHzEzqGNj1kNhKu_HQZGhNbDlJpKjxDN4zrqQG-Q993h_mT4rLv6pO0XPTZ7qW1_rkYBvCz_AoGv2W5GJklSGJkg8TlVKzDHIwkvk7S3jHhWD2J_4sfg677U8SHmtd70ZcgXniRMx_xBdGZu5-p1CKphljw8z-0zd9Jnj65XF48oOrqnU2eld/s960/Intake%20diversion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHzEzqGNj1kNhKu_HQZGhNbDlJpKjxDN4zrqQG-Q993h_mT4rLv6pO0XPTZ7qW1_rkYBvCz_AoGv2W5GJklSGJkg8TlVKzDHIwkvk7S3jHhWD2J_4sfg677U8SHmtd70ZcgXniRMx_xBdGZu5-p1CKphljw8z-0zd9Jnj65XF48oOrqnU2eld/w449-h337/Intake%20diversion.jpg" width="449" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Staff got there, only a year later than predicted. Choking off intake filled our streets.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 1-31-24:</b> The City <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6860/369" target="_blank">will hold</a> a public meeting on streets tomorrow evening from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Contrast this with the requested meeting after the August 2023 strategic planning meeting when the public learned about dog attacks and the well attended October 2023 ASAC meeting (which was cancelled due to lack of quorum when a quorum actually existed). </div><div><br /></div><div>The public asked for a Town Hall type meeting on the Animal Shelter and remains puzzled by the City's failure to fulfill this basic wish.</div><div><br /></div><div>The shelter will euthanize 16 dogs if they are not adopted by Saturday, February 3rd. City Council meets again on Tuesday, February 6th. <i>San Angelo Live</i> ran <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/san-angelo/2024-01-31/san-angelo-animal-shelter-faces-capacity-overload" target="_blank">a piece</a> on this but no information exists on the City's <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/departments-services/communications/news" target="_blank">news feed</a>, nor is it on the Animal Services <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/departments-services/animal-services" target="_blank">webpage</a>. <i>Live's</i> piece refers interested adopters to "contact Jen at jen@cvpaws.org as soon as possible." </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 2-3-24: </b>The public meeting on streets is not on the city's <i>YouTube</i> channel. The city's press release said it would be livestreamed. There is no livestream or edited recording to view.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 2-14-24:</b> The public meeting on streets video is on the city's <i>YouTube</i> site. The audience was four citizens.</div>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-37092880045436235992024-01-23T13:55:00.003-06:002024-01-23T13:55:38.040-06:00KSAN Back on DISH After Year Absence<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMzMumjALNwcVsAfmT3RrZVa_-np_dHG92XOdx-pZlXUkuPKH8yPoWfPZ9Bhfo2ZwSpq78DHi5nkSNe4Hr0q3Qir5UaPlgWUcxI8pAJf11XItxEjRjAkkalrSkjwBO1qya9fPN7vhC70uajbr-SaACs6ZKKx1QZZGOh1QLNkUsm-hxgWTLMIG/s960/Mission%20DISH%20end%20battle%201-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMzMumjALNwcVsAfmT3RrZVa_-np_dHG92XOdx-pZlXUkuPKH8yPoWfPZ9Bhfo2ZwSpq78DHi5nkSNe4Hr0q3Qir5UaPlgWUcxI8pAJf11XItxEjRjAkkalrSkjwBO1qya9fPN7vhC70uajbr-SaACs6ZKKx1QZZGOh1QLNkUsm-hxgWTLMIG/w452-h254/Mission%20DISH%20end%20battle%201-24.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br />It took over a year for KSAN's Mission Broadcasting to allow DISH Network to show its programming. The two parties <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/01/dish-ksan-feud-returns.html" target="_blank">removed</a> KSAN on January 6, 2023. Both <a href="https://about.dish.com/2023-01-06-Nexstar-Operated-Mission-Broadcasting-and-White-Knight-Broadcasting-Pull-Local-Channels-from-DISH-TV-Customers" target="_blank">DISH</a> and <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mission-broadcasting-tv-stations-denied-by-dish-301715945.html" target="_blank">Mission</a> blamed each other. KSAN returned the evening of January 22, 2024.<p></p><p>Television stations sell ads and their most profitable years have been those with Presidential elections. I imagine that was the driving force behind the agreement. Can I get the <a href="https://www.pahomepage.com/news/mission-broadcasting-signs-agreement-with-dish-network/" target="_blank">channel back</a> without political ads?<br /></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-62317560218370112592024-01-22T17:01:00.005-06:002024-01-25T16:47:30.440-06:00October ASAC Non-Meeting Had a Quorum<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGImoX3nH6VDDR_4eEfVUWJgMwddqD-6bz18oya6MDoHgc8tMTPIj54QC85wZaIjKHQuO7a053ZbglHChDwKE37j-_ntnOBZ1FEzMHptk-co00yxtEuwkWGmAKsqKkzP3VsEpCIZ0eQMm7UEJzVt3x014Ze2tEMgWCl3mZryAfF10B2Q3m43Mz/s960/ASAC%201-18-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGImoX3nH6VDDR_4eEfVUWJgMwddqD-6bz18oya6MDoHgc8tMTPIj54QC85wZaIjKHQuO7a053ZbglHChDwKE37j-_ntnOBZ1FEzMHptk-co00yxtEuwkWGmAKsqKkzP3VsEpCIZ0eQMm7UEJzVt3x014Ze2tEMgWCl3mZryAfF10B2Q3m43Mz/w470-h264/ASAC%201-18-24.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br />Information received from the City of San Angelo indicates a quorum was present on October 19, 2023 as three of the five standing members of the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee were in attendance. A majority existed on 10-19, even with the absence of the committee's Chair and Vice Chair. <br /><p></p><p>Sgt. Chris Carpenter's resignation was effective after the 8-17-23 ASAC
meeting according to city records. That means only three people in
attendance would be a majority, i.e constitute a quorum. That's the
number of ASAC members on 10-19-23, however city staff indicated a
quorum was lacking and did not hold the meeting.</p><p>Staff did so with a packed room of citizens wishing to offer public comment on the agenda, which had an item regarding the city's significant loose dog problem. The public was not aware that Sgt. Carpenter had resigned. It's likely the City Attorney in attendance had not been informed that Carpenter had stepped down.</p><p>City Council discussed shelter concerns in their last meeting and set an expectation that Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden would hold at least one Open House for community members to attend and share their concerns. I'm pretty sure Morgan does not want to hear them. How many others in city administration feel likewise?</p><p>(The image above came from the January 2024 ASAC meeting and illustrates committee composition in October 2023.)<br /></p><p><b>Update 1-24-25:</b> Chegwidden referred to the "vacancy" created by his resignation in a message to Carpenter on 10-16-23. That was three days prior to the scheduled 10-19-23 ASAC meeting.</p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-30985244657258694292024-01-11T13:34:00.011-06:002024-01-25T16:44:11.349-06:00City Council to Hear Animal Services Challenges<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi156iL2iAmpRuH49zK1R6ipxlfzwPHELuvXZiDQ6oYhfFfPXIj2wzJQfh90c_qlWfm9OiEHBu-yeQ5tyikllbJqQb916KiQdCJaXpE4WMteBUif4iRG9pOllQhnZX11d7G5GRgh84n-eZSwyKWO2a1ua57WpNJ-cHBbBlVD1GiobwbIrNvpGUK/s1605/CC%201-16-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1605" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi156iL2iAmpRuH49zK1R6ipxlfzwPHELuvXZiDQ6oYhfFfPXIj2wzJQfh90c_qlWfm9OiEHBu-yeQ5tyikllbJqQb916KiQdCJaXpE4WMteBUif4iRG9pOllQhnZX11d7G5GRgh84n-eZSwyKWO2a1ua57WpNJ-cHBbBlVD1GiobwbIrNvpGUK/w469-h263/CC%201-16-24.png" width="469" /></a></div><br />San Angelo's City Council will take up Animal Services in Item E of the Regular Agenda in its upcoming meeting. The agenda states: <br /><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Discussion and review on Animal Services and challenges faced by San Angelo and other cities throughout the state/country (Presentation made by Neighborhood and Family Services Assistant Director Morgan Chegwidden)</span></blockquote><p></p><p>City Council may wish to revisit their August 2023 budget session which provided special focus on disturbing events involving loose and aggressive dogs. Shelter Chief Chegwidden contacted Best Friends Animal Society for assistance the day before the meeting. The content of her e-mail is below:<br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Hello (Best) Friends,</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">I’m fulfilling my ELC promise to ask for help, to be brief:</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Certain San Angeloans are speaking out about dogs that Animal Services has been “slow” to respond to. We’ve got call history with prompt response. In short - a resident owned an adult male and female, bred one litter of 8 pups with the intention to sell, pups are now 6 months old and frequently loose killing cats and a small breed dog. Sunday the 8 pups attacked a large breed dog, who received prompt medical care with a favorable prognosis. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Bigger picture, these citizens are speaking against community supported sheltering - the single best resource saving us while (constantly) at capacity. I’m clarifying with management and elected officials - lifesaving programming is never intended to leave dangerous, reactive, or bite dogs in the community. “Leave them be” works for adult, street-wise dogs that are likely less than a mile from their home. These 8 pups warrant a shelter intake when owner fails to take responsible action.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">I’m expecting public comment calling for the end of community supported sheltering/all lifesaving programming at City Council - potentially 8/29/23 workshop or 9/7/23 meeting. Any <b>stats, case studies, language that you can recommend</b> to continue pursuing life first for each animal we serve is appreciated.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>You can view the show </b>at our YouTube channel: <a href="https://youtube.com/@CityofSanAngelo?si=FPgG19422_dZw5yf">https://youtube.com/@CityofSanAngelo?si=FPgG19422_dZw5yf</a></span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Appreciate y’all!</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Morgan Chegwidden </span></p></blockquote><p>Council may wish to consider that its Animal Shelter Advisory Committee failed to achieve a quorum in October with the three missing members the Chair, Vice Chair and a city employee who'd resigned and been told not to attend by staff liaison and committee member Morgan Chegwidden.</p><p>City ordinances require the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee to meet three times a year. It failed to meet this requirement in 2023. </p><p>Council may wish to consider the October <i>Fox West Texas</i> story on the failed ASAC meeting. It stated:</p><div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text">
<p></p></div><blockquote><div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text"><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Several attendees of the event expressed a strong desire to reschedule as soon as possible. </span></p> </div>
<div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text">
<p><span style="color: #351c75;">“It’s something that <b>the team will certainly consider</b> and try to <b>get on the schedule</b> pretty quickly,” Chegwidden said.</span></p></div></blockquote><div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text"><p></p><p>That meeting was never rescheduled. "The Team" <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/11/city-planned-to-not-make-up-october.html" target="_blank">decided</a> by November 14, 2023 to not hold another ASAC meeting and wait until January 2024. The team's decision was never shared with the public.</p><p>The team had their hand's full with a panleukopenia <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2024/01/shelters-november-panleukopenia-outbreak.html" target="_blank">outbreak</a> in the cat colony behind the Animal Shelter. This development was shared with Best Friends but once again, not the public. </p><p>City Council may wish to consider the ASAC's two vacancies, even as they reappoint PAWS Jen Murphy to a third two year term.</p><p>Council approved borrowing $2 million eleven months ago for urgent shelter updates. Construction financing would have the project finished in August 2023. It has not yet been bid. <br /></p><p>Context is important. Council may wish to consider Chegwidden referred to their budget session as "the show" to Best Friends staff. For many San Angeloans the Animal Shelter has turned its back on the people it is there to serve.</p><p></p><p>The City Council background packet has the following information: <br /></p><p><b></b></p><blockquote><p><b style="color: #351c75;">Summary/History:</b></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">National challenges are largely related to domestic canines, as cat programming serves that species
well. Previously, "easy to move" categories, such as purebreds and puppies, languished in both public and
private shelters, creating a bottleneck with increased lengths of stay. American shelters are carrying 245,000
more animals this year than last year. One shelter reports the average length of stay increased from 15-18
days to 28-30 days. With an average intake increase of 5% and adoptions down by 1.2%, many shelters are
making space-based euthanasia decisions for the first time in years. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">San Angelo faces some of the same challenges with decreased adoptions/transfers (32% fewer than the prior
year). Pressures on owners such as economic (inflation for dog food is 16% more than last year), restrictive
housing (prohibited size, breed), managed owner surrenders to animal services, and policy restricting
capacity contribute to more dogs at large and more dogs being abandoned at the shelter (34 last
quarter). Local ordinances set an optimal standard for pet ownership, but families are not operating in ideal
circumstances and need resources to house dogs. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">For fiscal year 2022-23, Animal Services impounded 2,901 animals (28% less than the prior year), 1,491 of
which were dogs (38% less than the prior year) but walk-in traffic, workload, and demands for service
maintained. 49.8% of all animals were adopted or transferred (or 1,476 animals - 32% fewer than the prior
year), 40.9% were returned to owner or wildlife released (or 1,213 animals - 10% fewer than the prior year)
and 9.3% were euthanized or died in custody (or 275 animals). Deaths decreased 55% from 614 to 275
animals. 90.7% of animals were released alive, but the climate wasn't celebratory. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">An increased need for field services was identified and communicated for funding. Animal Services Officers
responded to 6,111 cases in FY23 and investigated 264 animal-to-person bites, up 56% from the prior
year. Additionally, staffing is needed to manage this workload and prevent further increases. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Funding facility improvements ensures continued efforts, but shortfalls have been identified, including (1)preparing a temporary facility to house displaced animals and (2) staffing animal care at two locations. Although originally planned to proceed in November 2023, complex engineering needs prompted a new timeline to break ground this summer. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Funding Source(s):</b> </span></p><p><b style="color: #351c75;">Financial Impact: </b></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Other Information/Recommendation:</b>
Staff recommends a three-prong approach to support these challenges. </span></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">1.
Adopt legislation encouraging pet-friendly housing. Landlords should lift breed and weight restrictions, allowing families to stay together, decreasing owners re-homing their pets, and preventing households from releasing their pets to the neighborhood at large. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">2.
Incentivize community support to increase local adoptions, particularly marketing to young adults. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">3.
Funding (1) additional animal services officers, (2) four part-time temporary shelter workers during construction project, (3) preparation of temporary animal housing, and (4) free microchips to residents of target neighborhoods. </span></p></blockquote><p></p><p><b style="color: #351c75;">Attachments: </b></p><p><b style="color: #351c75;">Presentation:</b></p></blockquote><p><b></b>Note the background packet includes data for adoptions/transfers. Shelter adoptions for FY 2022 were 1,144 cats/dogs. Adoptions for FY 2023 fell to 586 cat/dog adoptions. That's a 49% drop for a service provided by contractor Concho Valley PAWS.</p><p><i>StateoftheDivision</i> has many posts with city provided data on the number of unaltered dogs released from the shelter, the predictable consequences of choking off shelter intake (which resulted in more loose dogs, many unaltered), and the terrible predicament pet owners are put into when moving into assisted living or a nursing home (not an acceptable reason for the shelter to assist).<br /></p><p>San Angelo's Animal Shelter is a Pets Alive, Best Friends shelter which
often means no service and no support for tax paying citizens. City Council has allowed, even encouraged these developments. </p><p>City staff will likely gloss over community problems created by Animal Services in citing national data and other shelter experiences. What's missing is feedback from San Angelo citizens and dedicated local animal rescues. </p><p>Most rescues have washed their hands of the city and its low performing shelter (in actually serving people). I will be surprised if anyone turns up on Tuesday in the bitter cold. The morning low is expected to be 7 degrees.<br /></p><p>The topic is the fifth item on the Regular Agenda. Who will wait patiently in the audience for their turn to speak for three minutes? The <i>Youtube</i> "show" will reveal the answer.</p><p><b>Update:</b> The ASAC agenda for January 18th mirrors the City Council item. </p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Discussion and review on Animal Services and challenges faced by San Angelo and other cities throughout the state/country (Presentation made by Neighborhood and Family Services Assistant Director Morgan Chegwidden)</span></blockquote>Council will have met and "provided direction." Community input? Definitely <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/11/city-planned-to-not-make-up-october.html" target="_blank">not wanted</a>.<p></p><p>City Council will hold a Strategic Planning Session on January 26th. Animal Services deserves a dedicated planning session. I <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2021/11/san-angelos-animal-shelter-seven-years.html" target="_blank">encouraged</a> Council to do just that in 2021.</p><p><b>Update 1-16-24: </b> City Council heard from Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden and three representatives from Concho Valley PAWS, the groups that instituted changes from 2019 to today that choked off shelter intake. In public comment at the beginning of the Council meeting a citizen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew9tVaVLarI" target="_blank">said</a> "I moved here two years ago and I have never witnessed an animal crisis like I've witnessed here."</p><p>Citizens wishing to give public comment on the Animal Services item on the Regular Agenda had to wait until nearly noon to do so. Anyone there before 8:30 am would have waited three and a half hours for three minutes of comment time. </p><p>Council expressed their desire for public town hall meetings on the animal situation and asked staff to work up specific proposals for improving our third world loose pet problem. </p><p>At the end of the meeting Council approved PAWS staffer Jen Murphy for another stint on the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee. Under future agenda items Councilman Tom Thompson indicated his wife had been bitten by a dog. Council person Karen Hesse-Smith asked about following up with Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden about planning the suggested town hall meetings. </p><p><b>Update 1-17-24:</b> Shelter Chief Morgan <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/city-council-discusses-animal-services-challenges/" target="_blank">admitted</a> to Council that changes at the Animal Shelter "led to pet owners dumping their animals at the Animal Shelter or letting them loose." This was <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/search?q=loose+pets" target="_blank">predictable</a>. </p><p><b>Update 1-22-24: </b> <i>San Angelo Live</i> may have well run an Animal Shelter press release in <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/san-angelo/2024-01-22/animal-shelter-crisis-bites-city-council-again" target="_blank">its piece</a> on the recent City Council discussion. <i>Live</i> missed the extreme juxtaposition between national and local statistics, i.e. shelters elsewhere are doing more while for most statistics San Angelo's shelter did far less. It also failed to report Council's desire for a town hall meeting on the Shelter.</p><p><i>Live's</i> Joe Hyde said his publication does not do investigative reporting as it is too expensive. That may explain why <i>Live</i> tends to be a mouthpiece for Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden and contractor Concho Valley PAWS.<br /></p><p><b>Update 1-25-24:</b> The City <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6860/369" target="_blank">will hold</a> a public meeting at the McNease Convention Center on February first. And the topic is ......streets.</p> </div><p></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-32044591246063431492024-01-08T15:15:00.008-06:002024-01-08T15:57:56.774-06:00Outdoor Kennel Status Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUnhOgIKLlUMlWd5ExWPvCJ1J5oVBDrJltZgiH6GCoG6_e3ran_sWaFTGG2rzl3aooXM05PZ93VJAYsdem8zDu1arMjwP1ShOe00sFweNwaHTz91xEO1duytFDsnmtmMmhMC3s9iRtzMEQv3ylapQ32I_9tZ6urdbgEi5CQz9pyKjUONbXsuz/s960/AS%20memo%20to%20CC%2012-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUnhOgIKLlUMlWd5ExWPvCJ1J5oVBDrJltZgiH6GCoG6_e3ran_sWaFTGG2rzl3aooXM05PZ93VJAYsdem8zDu1arMjwP1ShOe00sFweNwaHTz91xEO1duytFDsnmtmMmhMC3s9iRtzMEQv3ylapQ32I_9tZ6urdbgEi5CQz9pyKjUONbXsuz/w470-h264/AS%20memo%20to%20CC%2012-23.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br />San Angelo City Council learned on December 1, 2023:<br /><p></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Concho Valley PAWS is no longer building outdoor kennels and yards at San Angelo Animal Services. <br /></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">City Council <b>approved the construction of 25 outdoor kennels and one large play yard </b>to better serve and improve conditions for housed animals <b>in November 2022</b>. This aimed to provide dog enrichment and improve the efficiency of daily cleaning.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">The estimated $41,750 in private donations will instead be expended to construct these (or similar) amenities on Concho Valley PAWS’ leased property immediately adjacent to Animal Services. <br /></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Animal Services will repurpose the designated land to <b>install a high-volume exhaust system</b> to improve air quality in the building in the <b>upcoming rehabilitation project</b>. The Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) is a unit supplying cooled, dehumidified air in the summer and heated air in the winter to the entire shelter. This improves the visitor experience and provides better conditions for the staff and onsite pets. </span></p></blockquote><p>The memo from Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden came in the aftermath of a November panleukopenia <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2024/01/shelters-november-panleukopenia-outbreak.html" target="_blank">outbreak</a> on shelter grounds. </p><p>Morgan referenced shelter updates which have been in <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/02/animal-shelter-capital-request-soars.html" target="_blank">the works</a> for eleven months. The City borrowed nearly $2 million and only managed to hire engineers before paying that money back. The project is yet to be put out to bid.</p><p>Council received a second memo regarding the shelter's partnership with Concho Valley PAWS. It did not get the promised update in Morgan's November memo, which stated:</p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">We’ll update you on <b>FY23 owner redemptions’ progress </b>next month.</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Maybe that will arrive with the New Year. </p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-7403384879916074232024-01-05T20:56:00.004-06:002024-01-06T10:11:14.926-06:00Shelter's November Panleukopenia Outbreak<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphtyJwm4mXfL9GFfzrHtfaK68kYCa-iZH87j0GeceZ6rOECEfw_cVuXDv5wUHA5z0-qVp3192xy_d98DJlTDeCNmaxSRw5xV-wce7Au8aCogYZzlismyFTivpOpOKo361Cn1gXnRjsSUU-72GygFAD2lP35G9EWcKzBBHk3XiYXdtNYagtIg1/s960/Shelter%20panleukopenia%20outbreak%2011-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphtyJwm4mXfL9GFfzrHtfaK68kYCa-iZH87j0GeceZ6rOECEfw_cVuXDv5wUHA5z0-qVp3192xy_d98DJlTDeCNmaxSRw5xV-wce7Au8aCogYZzlismyFTivpOpOKo361Cn1gXnRjsSUU-72GygFAD2lP35G9EWcKzBBHk3XiYXdtNYagtIg1/w449-h252/Shelter%20panleukopenia%20outbreak%2011-23.jpg" width="449" /></a></div><br />The City of San Angelo Animal Shelter experienced a panleukopenia outbreak in the cat colony behind the shelter building in late 2023. Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden wrote in an e-mail to Best Friends Animal Society on Tuesday, November 14th. It stated:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #20124d;">I’ve got more feedback on our increased deaths of adult cats from our colony. I apologize I wasn’t prepared with the
latest info. </span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #20124d;">San Angelo Animal Services hosts a colony onsite. </span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">The population is largely mature cats born here, marketed for adoption, failed to get adopted for 4+ months,
gently introduced to our barn, if not thriving retrieved back to shelter. </span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">Additional cats wander up/dumped on property, catch, TNVR. </span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">Early October, shelter supervisor Halie caught 10 of the new arrivals, sheltered them in community cat room
awaiting surgery. </span></li><ul><li><span style="color: #20124d;"> 8 appeared healthy, alert, well groomed. </span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">2 didn’t seem 100% thriving, but not snotty, diarrhea; just a bit thin and lethargic, tested positive for
panleukopenia within 24 hours of arrival (not contracted in shelter), PAWS determined too far gone for
treatment, euthanized. <br /></span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">4 more died in custody, their remains were thin, signs of diarrhea in litter box, no signs of URI. </span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">These kennels were evacuated, deep cleaned, disinfected with 409 and Rescue (on a rotation).</span></li></ul><li><span style="color: #20124d;">At least* 8 more mature cats (not neonates, 6+ months) have been found deceased on the property. </span></li><ul><li><span style="color: #20124d;">Their remains appeared to be thin, no signs of URI, not grooming themselves. <br /></span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">One of these cats was TNVR’d to the property years ago, the rest are new arrivals with no vaccine
history/unaltered. <br /></span></li><li><span style="color: #20124d;">*the cats have 10+ acres to roam and natural areas to retreat to when sick/dying.</span></li></ul></ul></blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;"><blockquote>We’re considering rounding up the remaining cats (1) assess their health and administer vaccine boosters and (2)
impound/set up a panleukopenia ward for any identified as sick for supportive care (pen G and fluids).
What would you recommend? Is there a concern panleukopenia lives in the soil onsite for years?</blockquote></span></blockquote><p>Best Friends replied with recommendations on managing the disease and disinfection procedures for the shelter to utilize. One Best Friends e-mail summarized the shelter situation:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">The old colony cats that were already sterilized and vaccinated haven't been impacted much. The cats have been wandering in since the early part of the year but weren't brought in to be fixed until October due to limited surgery capacity. It's once they started bringing them in for surgery that the disease outbreak started. Other cats in the shelter haven't contracted whatever it is.<br /></span></blockquote>The owner of a problem cat colony received assistance from the shelter during this period. The gentleman did not have funds for spay/neuter. <p></p><p>The owner complained about his cats dying after they'd been spayed/neutered at the shelter. Their symptoms were consistent with panleukopenia. </p><p>A more in depth response from Best Friends' veterinarian included:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">The biggest concern is exactly what you’ve identified – the virus can remain viable in the soil for months. In this situation, vaccination is going to be the only thing that prevents infection.</span> </blockquote>Best Friends advised the handling the remaining colony cats:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">For current cats – yes, I would trap/catch and administer FVRCP (modified live, injectable), and assess for illness. Parvo snap doesn’t do a great job of picking up virus prior to the onset of clinical signs, but you could use it to screen – but a negative doesn’t completely rule out very early (pre-clinical) infection. And, if already infected, then the booster vaccine won’t change anything. However, it might help you catch some of the positives (we can see a pos test ~24 hours prior to signs). <br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">At this point, the soil is already contaminated and so I don’t worry so much about additional contamination that would happen from releasing a cat that will then break with disease in a few days, but if you think you won’t be able to recatch cats if they break with signs after release, then you may elect to hold on to them under quarantine and monitoring for 10-14 days. I would NOT hold them in the same iso room with clinical cats – if they’re not infected, we don’t want them to become infected. </span></p></blockquote><p>Treatment recommendations included:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">For treatment of infected cats, I can share our protocol. It includes intensive care, but there is also the outpatient protocol (modeled after a successful protocol for outpatient treatment of parvo in puppies) – SCF, convenia (rather than pen G), Cerenia are the pillars of treatment.</span></blockquote>Going forward Best Friends suggested:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Any time, for the foreseeable future (6-12 months, depending on climate, rainfall), that a new cat appears – it should high priority to catch and vaccinate that cat as soon as possible. These cats can be released fairly quickly if they are adults – they should respond rapidly to a single dose of MLV vaccine (3-5 days). Anything under ~4-5 months of age should be considered high risk and should not be released on site as vaccine response is unpredictable in cats less than 16 weeks of age.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Freezing pauses the clock, and lots of rainfall will help to wash it away – so if you’re in a dry place with little rainfall, I use 12 months as my guideline. Warmer, very wet places can expect elimination at ~6 months or so (but could say 12 to be safe).</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">I would use this opportunity to evaluate shelter biosecurity protocols – it’s now on your property in the soil, meaning it could be brought in by staff, depending on what the geography is like. This would be of particular concern if you have group housing rooms where staff might walk into the room and could track it in (less of a concern if all cats are single housed in kennels). I would consider a footwear change if there is opportunity for contamination in this manner, if staff are out in areas of the property that the cats have a lot of access to. If you don’t have a set cadence for deep cleaning floors in all areas of the shelter, I would implement this now (and use Rescue, as it is effective against panleuk). And, of course, monitor your shelter cats closely – if we start seeing an uptick in shelter cases, then we know we need to investigate further. </span> <br /></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">How are you diluting the Rescue for deep cleaning? What does daily cleaning look like for cats in the shelter (vs. deep cleaning)?</span> <br /></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Also – I recommend that you discontinue the use of 409 around cats. This is a quaternary ammonium compound and, in addition to be ineffective against panleukopenia and other hardy viruses (including parvo and calicivirus), it can be toxic to cats (causes tongue ulcers, fever, pneumonia, death). Rescue is effective and is the disinfectant of choice for<br />shelters.<br /></span></p></blockquote><p>As Best Friends noted prevention is the best method to reduce disease and <a href="https://www.proactiveanimalsheltering.org/post/blog-20-no-kill-is-failing-animals-and-communities" target="_blank">unwanted outcomes</a>. <br /></p><p>The public was not informed of the outbreak in November. A disease outbreak can occur at any time, however once it has, citizens should know. Might that have prevented the distress experienced by the gentleman with unaltered cats that died after shelter spay/neuter? Maybe, maybe not.<br /></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-49500466964317046622023-12-15T13:54:00.003-06:002023-12-15T20:03:38.732-06:00Best Friends, Pets Alive Guided Shelter After Horrific Hoarding Conditions <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSk4FKFOMUEcNbNCvvwlM767auKvjKQtlUftNcRcxtSIxbNXLJFq65XgPrMXSwEP23X6QuF_gi-9AllatM2p2FzaQDIrkjUSd2rQJslf7a8GDQu4kf9y1jCB-HAspH4GUKa6z0MfTLkdFVnRggUfwibtRJYrL53ldw5BKbM8UPBI1wGSw2W_B/s960/BF%20consulted%20with%20shelter%2010-22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSk4FKFOMUEcNbNCvvwlM767auKvjKQtlUftNcRcxtSIxbNXLJFq65XgPrMXSwEP23X6QuF_gi-9AllatM2p2FzaQDIrkjUSd2rQJslf7a8GDQu4kf9y1jCB-HAspH4GUKa6z0MfTLkdFVnRggUfwibtRJYrL53ldw5BKbM8UPBI1wGSw2W_B/w448-h252/BF%20consulted%20with%20shelter%2010-22.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br />Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) helped Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden in the aftermath of horrific hoarding conditions, as did American Pets Alive (AMPA). City Manager Daniel Valenzuela that shelter operations needed to change and that "No Kill" was not working.<br /><p></p><p>An October 4, 2022 e-mail from BFAS Senior Strategist-South Central Region Paula Powell stated: <br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">I am aware of your situation in San Angelo and have a few ideas to run by you and Jenni. I talked with Clare at AMPA and Fraily from our Houston team and I think we can do a bit of an all hands on deck approach with your help. I do not think there is a need for an official assessment as <b>you and Jenni are well versed in lifesaving programs</b>. Can I set up a meeting with you, me, Jenni, AMPA and Fraily (he says he was in class with you at AMPA)</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">#2 are you interested in the Executive Leadership Certification for a Feb 5 start date? If so I can send you all the information again.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">#3 I did email your CM with the El Paso CM phone number to hopefully have discussions of CM to CM on dealing with some of the issues you are dealing with. I do look forward to working with you and one thing I do know is that you will get through this difficult time. I do not say that to everyone but I do know with you there, things will be ok. We will help. </span></p></blockquote><p>Morgan's reply on 10-7-22 included:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Paula, thanks for reaching out! Definitely still interested in ELC, just couldn’t make the Oklahoma travel work for last January.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Happy to <b>meet with the group</b>, I’m available most of Tuesday 10/11 and Friday 10/14. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Appreciate y’all’s support </span></p></blockquote><p>BFAS Paula Powell summarized the call in a 10-17-22 e-mail:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">I wanted to take a minute to <b>summarize our meeting</b> last week and start putting some <b>action items and dates</b> together.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">This is what I have so far and feel free to add and correct me if I misunderstood anything.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>AMPA</b>: Will work on pathway planning, transport and possibly behavior team support.<br /><b>BF Houston</b>: Will work on a medical assessment plan, foster recruitment & an adoption event<br /><b>BF Regional</b>: Intake diversion training and rescue relationships/incentive</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Advocacy: Looking at the $13million and how we can get the City to allocate more to Animal Shelter.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Morgan has done a great job with this but supplementing would seal the deal.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">I will be back next week and will set up a meeting to discuss more details on this plan. I am looking forward to all of us working together on this project.</span></p></blockquote><p>On 11-1-22 City Council <a href="On 11-1-22 City Council placed a hard cap on shelter occupancy. " target="_blank">placed</a> a hard cap on shelter occupancy. The next day the shelter <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/11/animal-services-promotes-shelter-intake.html" target="_blank">closed</a> intake until the end of the month.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizBBs_FtJNMk9VzdlwT-Ss4f86NLqa-kpa01VpdQx_Ew9rq37I2zLr0YGhlD7_0MsjTcGBirh72HL_mOMLEFKq5-1873-2b4pANtjI5H0KE5IWC4xAiLZoslK5zx0flowWoVPxWXzr52da5s9sCpYeiBXB2-13duKXd-nrcLxeiaXDPxZry3E/s960/AS%20closed%20intake%2011-22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizBBs_FtJNMk9VzdlwT-Ss4f86NLqa-kpa01VpdQx_Ew9rq37I2zLr0YGhlD7_0MsjTcGBirh72HL_mOMLEFKq5-1873-2b4pANtjI5H0KE5IWC4xAiLZoslK5zx0flowWoVPxWXzr52da5s9sCpYeiBXB2-13duKXd-nrcLxeiaXDPxZry3E/w490-h276/AS%20closed%20intake%2011-22.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br />On 11-3-22 BF Paula Powell put in an application in for for the San Angelo Animal Shelter to get the same satellite foster program offer that BFAS did with Fix West Texas in Midland.<br /><p></p><p>An 11-9-23 e-mail from BF Paula Powell stated:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">As we <b>prepare for "Operation San Angelo"</b>, I wanted to introduce you to another member of our Best Friends team, the amazing Carolyn Fitzgerald who will be scheduling the medical pieces and perhaps some work on the foster program. I will also be getting with you to do the Managed intake mentorship schedule. Exciting and happy to help San Angelo and hoping you all are well. </span></blockquote>Morgan completed her application for Best Friend's Executive Leadership Certification on 11-17-22. The BF San Angelo Team meet via Microsoft Teams on 11-18-22.<p></p><p>BF Paula Powell wrote on 11-23-22:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Good morning San Angelo team,</span> <br /></blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Happy Thanksgiving. As we <b>ramp up some programs for your shelters</b> in the next few months, I wanted to introduce you to Melissa and Carrie who are the leads on the satellite foster program.</span> <br /></blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">I think a meeting just on that program might be beneficial. I know we have some other folks involved in some additional pieces but getting foster programs ramped up during the holidays could be beneficial.</span> <br /></blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">I am available all next week before I start traveling again if you need me for anything. </span></blockquote><p>A BF Microsoft Teams meeting of the West Texas Coalition invite for 11-24-22 stated:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">We are looking forward to doing some great work together this year! Hope you can make it and if you can't, sending a representative would be great so that we can include all. We are ramping up for some more Grants and wanted to discuss that with you as well as get prepared to show off all your work at Texas Unites.</span></blockquote>The meeting was cancelled due to the Thanksgiving holiday. On 12-2-22 BF Paula Powell informed Morgan she'd been accepted into the class. <p></p><p>On 12-6-22 Morgan wrote BF Paula Powell:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Morning Paula! City management has approved a pilot program limiting canine intake while we research better policies/procedures. They’re very interested in feedback from the coordinated intake mentorship. What timeline are y’all thinking for that training opportunity?</span></blockquote>Paula replied that early January would work and that she would be doing the training.<p></p><p>BF Carrie Lamonde had a challenge setting up a phone meeting regarding satellite foster pet program. Morgan backed out as Jenie with Concho Valley PAWS handles shelter pet fostering.</p><p>Carrie proposed a Teams meeting in a 12-13-22 e-mail:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Paula nominated San Angelo for a Best Friends satellite kitten foster program.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Melissa and I can fill you in on what that would look like in regards to the type of support we can provide. After our last chat, it sounds like San Angelo could greatly benefit from a kitten foster program, primarily focused on neonates. This is a good time for us to start building the foundation on such program to be prepared for kitten season this spring. We look forward to discussing more with you all!</span></p></blockquote><p>On 12-14-22 the City gave a shelter <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/12/city-gives-update-on-shelter-still.html" target="_blank">update</a> for the first time since it shut off intake. The shelter had too many pets and would remain closed to the public until the pet population declined.</p><p>Shelter partner Concho Valley PAWS <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/01/paws-stopped-spayneuter-vouchers-for.html" target="_blank">stopped</a> providing low cost spay/neuter vouchers to the public for December and January 2023. <br /></p><p>The December BF West Texas Coalition meeting was postponed until after the New Year. A different BFAS representative Leah Long <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-friends-animal-society-partners.html" target="_blank">conducted</a> a three day visit in mid-February 2023. That visit was delayed from late January due to icy road conditions.<br /></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-20703630088013136672023-12-13T20:58:00.005-06:002023-12-15T21:28:26.056-06:00Best Friends Animal Society Partners with COSA Animal Shelter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTxizauLRoAX-SGo-arq1YpxNiI4mRzUD0742xJTO1GcoeSi_DnruPhltotOSMRqwuICS9Ief40TJm1kMEG2Y83_rwG4Oqscy7Sy_Wmazhg6QHgGjYys5rwmIwUh-71ZqbuDBCpoRcLkwsqedD14nwREDugUxhLHdN11PJeIX7jE8eXGZDzfT/s960/COSA%20BFAS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTxizauLRoAX-SGo-arq1YpxNiI4mRzUD0742xJTO1GcoeSi_DnruPhltotOSMRqwuICS9Ief40TJm1kMEG2Y83_rwG4Oqscy7Sy_Wmazhg6QHgGjYys5rwmIwUh-71ZqbuDBCpoRcLkwsqedD14nwREDugUxhLHdN11PJeIX7jE8eXGZDzfT/w459-h345/COSA%20BFAS.jpg" width="459" /></a></div><br />One San Angelo City Councilperson expressed concern about Best Friends Animal Society, Pets Alive and their programming, which includes stringent intake diversion (not accepting loose pets) and foisting found strays on community members via "Human Animal Support Services." The August 2023 interchange included:<br /><p></p><p><b></b></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Councilperson Hesse-Smith: </b>The concern is that some of these organizations are very much under fire across the nation and they are under fire because they<u> promote programs and policies that have basically failed</u>, multi-million-dollar lawsuits in some of these communities.</span> </blockquote>Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden avoided the question long enough for Council members to move on. The reality is Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society have been significantly involved in San Angelo's Animal Shelter for years. <p></p><p>A Best Friends Regional Support Specialist visited the shelter early 2023 for a multi-day assessment (see image at the top of this post). The Support Specialist needed the shelter's data for that visit which was postponed to mid-February due to icy road conditions.<br /></p><p>The Animal Shelter has been part of Best Friends' West Texas Coalition since 2021.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc3coeNNKfIMELzzdnE6uoit3UR4hhozq-SaAvksqUmnUYP10RiEkgQHlmhxadSDqMLczTJI7kqYRotDgkzD8aO6AIgJVNLS_gvqVyAU-IEDaaSIkPLz_rH9HlysLh7JDkhWZPCNGz4kZubdsy4goGA2zLQSyYyiqUPwJZYRtImDF1ITy-xXC/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc3coeNNKfIMELzzdnE6uoit3UR4hhozq-SaAvksqUmnUYP10RiEkgQHlmhxadSDqMLczTJI7kqYRotDgkzD8aO6AIgJVNLS_gvqVyAU-IEDaaSIkPLz_rH9HlysLh7JDkhWZPCNGz4kZubdsy4goGA2zLQSyYyiqUPwJZYRtImDF1ITy-xXC/w461-h260/Slide1.JPG" width="461" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Best Friends invited Morgan to participate in their Executive Leadership Certification <a href="https://www.suu.edu/prodev/best-friends/leadership-certification.html" target="_blank">through</a> Southern Utah University and said they would cover tuition costs.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FryB1OvnhvAex6e6_TaApgm4v-90aGAzWTCC-5HA0dW-zqNX_CSyXfMm9PjvdEJx3Yvq6PV57apvJZmQgXygBvsJXTpgG1Q7Rs3yuZuPHHNOg5u-jt4u7Z5XlUQTwaa3oXCeCQsah14TTKejAaetcjuZHzPnvnQcA_D7wDRP5g-Tf2rzDmyo/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FryB1OvnhvAex6e6_TaApgm4v-90aGAzWTCC-5HA0dW-zqNX_CSyXfMm9PjvdEJx3Yvq6PV57apvJZmQgXygBvsJXTpgG1Q7Rs3yuZuPHHNOg5u-jt4u7Z5XlUQTwaa3oXCeCQsah14TTKejAaetcjuZHzPnvnQcA_D7wDRP5g-Tf2rzDmyo/w452-h254/Slide2.JPG" width="452" /></a></div><p><br />Shelter staff have helped Best Friends with their conference presentations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmpoZZUUcFfpOoznFvbKiaJfoo4w4XqtbKUX9zjJB_iVVa1EWwsw4jSrNVqHkAjCY7Rcq1DYTE3PMZ7tLbZd36ANQ9RIge4zwmnkuEOwERqd6zh9BXlrh8w7pleuvjVHWkaaQcIo_a-utnyX5YmA1wSANWl2N14JlypYLyljM5xW5SFGeb8dQ/s960/Slide3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmpoZZUUcFfpOoznFvbKiaJfoo4w4XqtbKUX9zjJB_iVVa1EWwsw4jSrNVqHkAjCY7Rcq1DYTE3PMZ7tLbZd36ANQ9RIge4zwmnkuEOwERqd6zh9BXlrh8w7pleuvjVHWkaaQcIo_a-utnyX5YmA1wSANWl2N14JlypYLyljM5xW5SFGeb8dQ/w480-h360/Slide3.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>I imagine the Best Friends presentation did not include the shelter threatening citizens wishing to drop off a stray pet with arrest for trespassing. I doubt it included the many requests for an Animal Control Officer that were never fulfilled.<br /></p><p>Last month a BFAS leader checked in with shelter leadership and once again asked for data. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dRXVQZ47SYmrBpJPBTj4reEbEtttHthi6rZcFMOJLAfARXgq2taUMAMFH7osdDPG6dY20VYJD6CEVmU_IPGde3kFmUB02y6PrklIjdIpdm_qkyx3L_iN8HSapRBXrmsUwJQursjeh9uAJhRnmU-uWATIHeKXxf8rKhw4ldNvgPTNapB6k-LX/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dRXVQZ47SYmrBpJPBTj4reEbEtttHthi6rZcFMOJLAfARXgq2taUMAMFH7osdDPG6dY20VYJD6CEVmU_IPGde3kFmUB02y6PrklIjdIpdm_qkyx3L_iN8HSapRBXrmsUwJQursjeh9uAJhRnmU-uWATIHeKXxf8rKhw4ldNvgPTNapB6k-LX/w471-h353/Slide2.JPG" width="471" /></a></div> <p></p><p></p><p>City Council asks direct questions of shelter leadership and gets what in return? City documents show a deep and lasting relationship between Best Friends Animal Society and the City Animal Shelter.</p><p>San Angelo's Animal Shelter is a Pets Alive, Best Friends shelter which
often means no service and no support for tax paying citizens. </p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-31937508149317482612023-12-08T11:17:00.002-06:002023-12-13T20:12:24.987-06:00Two Shelter Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrwqBWa-ogwD3AWGbHj2Fu7jcXqDs5MqUXz-KL5MVS8OlBtIaaimBE68K7B3o39tpLGRPaosqkmStJPHXTB8cdULeXCQv4ZEgMqT97OKIGx-1X9KqIVw5W1-XjTowRY0CoAJg3ljyQLULcAykQGoDHDqyF-AKe7CgFgc5K88hHKxh2UcK7m5R/s960/Best%20Friends%20Amelia%20AS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrwqBWa-ogwD3AWGbHj2Fu7jcXqDs5MqUXz-KL5MVS8OlBtIaaimBE68K7B3o39tpLGRPaosqkmStJPHXTB8cdULeXCQv4ZEgMqT97OKIGx-1X9KqIVw5W1-XjTowRY0CoAJg3ljyQLULcAykQGoDHDqyF-AKe7CgFgc5K88hHKxh2UcK7m5R/w487-h274/Best%20Friends%20Amelia%20AS.jpg" width="487" /></a></div><p></p><p>Two stories ran on the City of San Angelo Animal Shelter, one from Best Friends Animal Society and other from the City's Public Information Department. Both stressed city efforts to keep pets at home. The city story noted Amelia's only living owner had to move to assisted living. It's not clear if this gentleman called or visited the Animal Shelter, only to be turned down for assistance (like a number of local citizens since the shelter <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2021/10/celebrating-shelter-not-taking-pets.html" target="_blank">choked off intake</a>).</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Neither death, illness nor moving to an assisted living facility or
nursing home are acceptable reasons to surrender a pet to the City of
San Angelo Animal Shelter. The move to managed intake occurred in 2019.</span></blockquote><p>Keeping pets <a href="https://bestfriends.org/stories/features/texas-animal-shelter-gets-creative-keep-pets-home" target="_blank">at home</a> when there are no owners is not something to be proud of, however "creative" it may be. </p><p>I wrote members of City Council in 2021:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Does the shelter know what citizens are doing with animals they can no longer owner surrender? I hope citizens appear in person (before Council) to share their concerns about animal
problems in their neighborhoods. Choking off intake into the shelter
via Pets Alive practices could have unwanted animals turned loose on
city streets. </span></blockquote><p>Again in 2022 I shared with Council members:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">The public needs help for sure. Regarding intake, when someone has a life event, like moving into assisted living or a
nursing home the City of San Angelo Animal Shelter will not help. If a
pet owner dies, the city will not help.</span></blockquote> Amelia's <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6823/369" target="_blank">story</a> should be a lament for the Animal Shelter. It's not. <p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Did we fail Amelia? Do we blame her people? I can’t think so.</span></blockquote>Can't think.....that may sum it up. <br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-90400048743599270812023-11-30T13:11:00.002-06:002024-01-31T16:14:29.762-06:00Bingo PIR: Municipal Court Citations for Unaltered Shelter Pets<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX6lxN18umEufhOWy1Oh1jeNfZXMnL7Jzg9oOmpvIeOb1L5J1WbEpkonXN2uojLWSyBrkYefN1XKPAge5WaJpKN8Fu2E9fwLBF8hc7mX2BNKv2MufIefaXVSBzHb-OvmcHiG6sFE0SlqghZA5BKWevEwCbFetsi2sAbDZM3425NliiKFQK6Px/s960/spay%20neuter%20reconciliation%20fy%2022%20fy%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX6lxN18umEufhOWy1Oh1jeNfZXMnL7Jzg9oOmpvIeOb1L5J1WbEpkonXN2uojLWSyBrkYefN1XKPAge5WaJpKN8Fu2E9fwLBF8hc7mX2BNKv2MufIefaXVSBzHb-OvmcHiG6sFE0SlqghZA5BKWevEwCbFetsi2sAbDZM3425NliiKFQK6Px/w439-h329/spay%20neuter%20reconciliation%20fy%2022%20fy%2023.jpg" width="439" /></a></div><br />One public information request provided long sought after information regarding the number of citations the City of San Angelo issued for failure to spay/neuter pets that <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6500/369#:~:text=Adopted%20in%20Oct.,age%20at%20their%20own%20expense." target="_blank">had been</a> in the Animal Shelter.<p></p><p>In a series of memos Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden informed City Council of progress in reviewing unaltered shelter animals returned to owners. </p><p>The City Attorney's office created a process that issued citations for citizens who'd retrieved their unaltered pet from the shelter and had not yet provided proof the pet had been fixed. </p><p>Information from Morgan's memos to Council officials is below.<br /></p><p>October 2022</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">In FY22, Animal Services <b>adopted out 1,144 cats and dogs</b>, 18 of which we’re working to collect proof of spay/neuter. Owners claimed 956 cats and dogs from us,<b> 674 of which have yet to prove spay/neuter. </b></span></blockquote><p></p><p>December 2022</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">We’ve <b>cited or filed a complaint with municipal court for over 200 animals</b> and are moving through the remaining backlog.</span></blockquote>February 2023<p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Owners claimed 956 cats and dogs in FY22, 282 of which were already spayed/neutered. <b>31 pet owners subsequently provided proof of spay/neuter.</b> This leaves 643 pets still reporting as unaltered. Several of these have died, moved out of city limits or provided an eligible exemption such as medically fragile. <br /></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">We’ve <b>cited or filed a complaint with municipal court for almost 300 animals </b>and are moving through the remaining backlog.</span></blockquote><p></p><p>June 2023:<br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Owners claimed 956 cats and dogs in FY22, 282 of which were already spayed/neutered. <b>44 pet owners have since provided proof of spay/neuter.</b> 24 provided proof of an exemption, such as moved outside city limits, pet is medically fragile, pet has died, etc.<br />This leaves 606 pets still reporting as unaltered.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">We’ve <b>cited or filed a complaint with municipal court for almost 400 animals </b>and are moving through the remaining backlog. </span></p></blockquote><p></p><p>November 2023</p><p><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">In FY23, Animal Services <b>adopted out 586 cats and dogs</b>, 20 of which we’re working to collect proof of spay/neuter. 19 of the 20 were too young to have spay/neuter surgery when adopted. For those few remaining, we’re working through the legal process to spay/neuter the final pets.<br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">We’ll update you on <b>FY23 owner redemptions’ progress </b>next month. </span></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></p><p></p><p>Releasing unaltered pets from the shelter is not a new practice. The numbers are below:<br /></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2021 - 708</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">FY ended 2019 - 730</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">Eight month period in 2017 - 500</span></p></blockquote><p>In the past the city and contractor Concho Valley PAWS counted a spay/neuter appointment as good as having the surgery. Several years ago they eliminated that practice and track appointments and completed surgeries separately.<br /></p><p>Morgan's memos to City Council <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/11/difficulty-getting-information-about.html" target="_blank">have</a> data that has not been shared with the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee or the public. Recently, I submitted a public information request for spay/neuter compliance data for the last two fiscal years. I received a 58 page document for 2022 instead of the information below. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsSCiet1YUXoDw80Ty7mZRkNaJP8PV4_h6z425jJfB8I20PFlFSzKR-YKIzpzYfqHSgcbUMN8eWl5rAU5Wj6YHArh8uAqa09V77Vqt9PTY1U4k6Z4o9XGf1IwjVRObIEIOhd4WCgpDAkRCk2_XX_FXhTamVgrMdU6kGcc6gLvcyZPJiQ8jlD0/s960/Slide2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsSCiet1YUXoDw80Ty7mZRkNaJP8PV4_h6z425jJfB8I20PFlFSzKR-YKIzpzYfqHSgcbUMN8eWl5rAU5Wj6YHArh8uAqa09V77Vqt9PTY1U4k6Z4o9XGf1IwjVRObIEIOhd4WCgpDAkRCk2_XX_FXhTamVgrMdU6kGcc6gLvcyZPJiQ8jlD0/w480-h360/Slide2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>The following memo was produced one week after I submitted my PIR. The City's response to my PIR for 2023 was a 31 page document. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhVd4fE3DeeFJcojIlqp433WtHb3oxiyTjjZnimHtlYLOFslKjW3YNyN1uSSuuSRKMw-_M1OyI0oG3FoQiG5xXCtPZZomg3iVMFxrcch3xtmeL63658ysEB9rzENMLgRdNaa0Nf_vhyYXNF_9A9kpx-Iwg-4lb3j5vGfBofhFSYZYQECHUTnc/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhVd4fE3DeeFJcojIlqp433WtHb3oxiyTjjZnimHtlYLOFslKjW3YNyN1uSSuuSRKMw-_M1OyI0oG3FoQiG5xXCtPZZomg3iVMFxrcch3xtmeL63658ysEB9rzENMLgRdNaa0Nf_vhyYXNF_9A9kpx-Iwg-4lb3j5vGfBofhFSYZYQECHUTnc/w483-h363/Slide1.JPG" width="483" /></a></div><br />Adoptions are down from 1.144 in 2022 to 586 in 2023. That's a 49% drop. That should be very concerning.PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-9476681014455123482023-11-27T19:05:00.009-06:002024-01-06T10:59:20.120-06:00Shelter Worked with Best Friends<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1tsGXe9y60ZwfqaCQusOTkDeA85wZjOiKWvOCV-iS4pMevkTZvaT3XQmfYqJYTGaKlPdAnUTC4BghpH80HU2mt4wuJ_0_vcLfBQl6EudVJqDI8CiVSjXWKB80ZS2mmGXCaSoECm2iRC8WoOQBtLtABxd2VYeQpxo2O3_BQqeRwhjheP0YmX2/s960/Best%20Friends%20November%202023%20story%20on%20SAAS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1tsGXe9y60ZwfqaCQusOTkDeA85wZjOiKWvOCV-iS4pMevkTZvaT3XQmfYqJYTGaKlPdAnUTC4BghpH80HU2mt4wuJ_0_vcLfBQl6EudVJqDI8CiVSjXWKB80ZS2mmGXCaSoECm2iRC8WoOQBtLtABxd2VYeQpxo2O3_BQqeRwhjheP0YmX2/w459-h344/Best%20Friends%20November%202023%20story%20on%20SAAS.jpg" width="459" /></a></div><br />Best Friends Animal Society ran <a href="https://bestfriends.org/stories/features/texas-animal-shelter-gets-creative-keep-pets-home" target="_blank">a story</a> on the City of San Angelo Animal Shelter. It indicates after the horrific hoarding conditions and roach infestation in August/September 2022:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Best Friends Animal Society Regional Senior Specialist </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Leah Long</span><span style="color: #351c75;"> <b>spent a week</b> at the organization (San Angelo Animal Services) to assist. </span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">...there were still situations where (lost pet) finders weren’t being successfully
converted to temporary foster caregivers. <b>Leah sat down with the staff
</b>to explore the reasons why, and they came up with the idea of offering
“Good Sam kits” to sweeten the deal.</span></blockquote> It goes on to mention the November 2022 limit Council placed on Animal Shelter capacity. <br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote> <span style="color: #351c75;">“Rather than viewing<b> the capacity cap</b> as a barrier to lifesaving, they
sought out opportunities to improve and build upon their programs
further.”</span></blockquote> An August 2023 Budget meeting had the following exchange:<br /><p></p><p><b></b></p><blockquote><p><b>Councilperson Hesse-Smith: </b> Good morning. I’m curious whether or not the animal shelter has contracts with Best Friends, American pets Alive! or the HASS model - which is Human Animal Support Services, and I’m curious because a number of these organizations are being pointed to as culprits in other <u>communities that have been sued for their policies.</u> I can name them if it matters – El Paso is one, there’s been an issue in Abilene, at New York, but these are nationwide organizations. </p><p><b>Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden:</b> The city doesn’t have contracts with any of those organizations. As we set policy to offer life first and then the math is the math, right? It’s not that were trying to hit this magic number of 90%. We are looking at a number of peer cities, other organizations, what they’re pursuing, but there is no contracts with any animal welfare groups – the ones you’ve listed or others. <b></b></p></blockquote><p>After some discussion of Best Friends and Concho Valley PAWS: <br /></p><blockquote><p><b>Councilperson Hesse-Smith: </b>The concern is that some of these organizations are very much under fire across the nation and they are under fire because they<u> promote programs and policies that have basically failed</u>, multi-million-dollar lawsuits in some of these communities.
</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Morgan did not respond to communities being sued for pushing loose animals onto households and any resulting injuries or damages. What's next according to Best Friends for the City Animal Shelter?</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">On the horizon for SAAS is a plan to <b>install kiosks with solar-powered
microchip scanners in city parks</b> within the neighborhoods where most
stray pets come from. The shelter is also gearing up to recruit more
short-term foster volunteers during an <b>upcoming facility improvement
project.</b></span></blockquote><p>San Angelo's City Council approved a $2 million short term bond in February for Animal Shelter renovations. By the time the city paid back the money it hired an engineering firm to work on the project but had paid no invoices. City staff stated the project was urgent due to poor facility conditions. The project is yet to be put out for construction bids.</p><p>The city paid nearly $93,000 in bond issuance fees and interest for non-existent shelter renovations. Surely, a former budget manager can speak to that. That money would pay for a lot of spay/neuter surgeries.</p><p>Best Friends story failed to mention the Animal Shelter's release of unaltered pets, a chronic practice since the city adopted a mandatory/spay neuter ordinance. Pets Alive's shelter measures do not include spay/neuter and Best Friends would <a href="https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/editorials/spayneuter-requirements-saving-lives-or-standing-way-lifesaving" target="_blank">likely agree</a>.</p><p>Best Friends told the story of Kahuna, a large dog reunited with its owner with no shelter stay. It could just as easily told the story of a three time <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2019/12/city-wont-ask-paws-for-compliance.html" target="_blank">shelter stay</a> husky, which gave birth to seven puppies in its third <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/10/unaltered-dogs-released-from-shelter.html" target="_blank">shelter stay</a>. Shelter staff had the pregnant dog for two months before it gave birth and did not get it spayed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZ0muvxJjz5dQh0-dmFmsPHrxKmgl4EN3bshOJ4gXVXGtJXQfHUqzocWpeUEvKv6PuvQOJhQZR9AuA-1hG-htfY1MbHE-M9S8egVwPtgk78ZSkkmfIBtAcPUOUQRCC-PbTl9yhMep0uq5Qh2syJFrpx8XF4WpazH4TLfwJrupZMhmd6Z4hfEo/s960/SA%20Animal%20Shelter%20failed%20pet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZ0muvxJjz5dQh0-dmFmsPHrxKmgl4EN3bshOJ4gXVXGtJXQfHUqzocWpeUEvKv6PuvQOJhQZR9AuA-1hG-htfY1MbHE-M9S8egVwPtgk78ZSkkmfIBtAcPUOUQRCC-PbTl9yhMep0uq5Qh2syJFrpx8XF4WpazH4TLfwJrupZMhmd6Z4hfEo/w448-h336/SA%20Animal%20Shelter%20failed%20pet.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><p></p><p>Which is the better life saving practice? Preventing unwanted pets from being born seems to make the most sense. Less pets - less stray animals - less need for sheltering. That was the <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2022/08/seven-years-of-spayneuter-ordinance.html" target="_blank">promise</a> from city leaders in 2015. <br /></p><p>Not fixing and choking off shelter intake drove dramatic increases in loose pets. Citizens with legitimate needs to surrender their pet receive no help from the city. They are given "a path" to follow. </p><p>Pets Alive and Best Friends policies mean one thing to residents. If you find a stray pet the Animal Shelter will not help. Unwanted pets still suffer and die, just outside shelter walls. </p><p><b>Update 12-1-23: </b> Best Friends and Pets Alive helped the shelter reduce intake <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2021/10/celebrating-shelter-not-taking-pets.html" target="_blank">such that</a>:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Neither death, illness nor moving to an assisted living facility or
nursing home are acceptable reasons to surrender a pet to the City of
San Angelo Animal Shelter. </span></blockquote> The City admitted that very thing with <a href="https://www.cosatx.us/Home/Components/News/News/6823/369" target="_blank">their story</a> of a German Shepherd Amelia. It states:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Financial constraints forced the closure of their small business, their
main source of income for the household. Amelia’s “mom” passed away
several years ago after a long battle with cancer. It appears her “dad”
attempted daily care for Amelia while struggling with his own health but
was ultimately <b>hospitalized and permanently moved to assisted living.</b>
No one was coming for Amelia.</span></blockquote><p>And the shelter does not accept owner surrenders for an owner moving into assisted living.</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">An Animal Services officer picked her up in September 2023.</span></blockquote><p>The story does not say how long Amelia endured on city streets.</p><p><b>Update 1-5-24:</b> A <i>New Yorker</i> <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/01/how-the-no-kill-movement-betrays-its-name" target="_blank">article</a> stated:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">"How do you get to No Kill without spay and neuter?”</span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Best Friends opposes laws requiring that pets be sterilized, on the
ground that such laws are costly to poor people and difficult to
enforce, and it did not object to a recent decision by PetSmart
Charities, which has been a funder of Best Friends, to suspend its
requirement that young animals be fixed before being adopted from a
PetSmart store. In defense of PetSmart, Judah said that leaving
spay/neuter to the adopters encourages them to become “participants.”</span></blockquote><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-55593197978888098872023-11-22T14:16:00.009-06:002023-12-01T13:54:28.211-06:00City Council Operations Challenged<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO2apr_L-GVmbP2Ma9pfjmMnaupM2wOLkJ5Wi2FCsLQF3J0Dx2Yo21n5kAfDCTqkTgy_vJIebt8-dodfhH8qhqhi1Oxs4mfd6GYTBS76cAfZJMuIlfXNWxWmc46sRedoD0uFhrtF_PnMeTZPWFrY5lDGYYmwDxcDjatybvXOo7ExKqkRJyJlM/s960/Bariou%20citation%2011-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO2apr_L-GVmbP2Ma9pfjmMnaupM2wOLkJ5Wi2FCsLQF3J0Dx2Yo21n5kAfDCTqkTgy_vJIebt8-dodfhH8qhqhi1Oxs4mfd6GYTBS76cAfZJMuIlfXNWxWmc46sRedoD0uFhrtF_PnMeTZPWFrY5lDGYYmwDxcDjatybvXOo7ExKqkRJyJlM/w482-h271/Bariou%20citation%2011-23.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br />In my mind two names are associated with the City of San Angelo Development Corporation, Tommy Hiebert and John Bariou. Both men served multiple stints on that board. Hiebert is the current City Council representative for Single Member District #1. <p></p><p>Bariou <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCejevjDCBg" target="_blank">spoke</a> before City Council yesterday, serving legal notice and citing the body for not following the city charter. <i>Concho Valley Homepage</i> <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/local-politics/san-angelo-resident-serves-cosa-citation-during-public-comment/" target="_blank">reported</a>:</p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">John Bariou has served the City on behalf of many voters for the
“intentional, repeated and habitual subversion of the city charter.”
Bariou said that San Angelo is <b>chartered under Texas law as a
Council-manager form of government </b>but claims it is being<b> run as ‘Mayor
run.’</b></span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">“Individually
and collectively, the council, including the non-voting City Manager
aided and abetted by the City Attorney has illegally deviated from the
Charter without voter consent <b>allowing one individual access to the
Manager and directing specific actions without the deliberation by and
specific authorization of the full council</b>,” said Bariou, “All members
of this council are complicit of not openly challenging these actions as
required by ordinance.”</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Council had conflict with two boards, the Development Corporation board and TIRZ board. The Mayor made her positions clear. I don't recall all members doing likewise. </p><p>Mayor Brenda Gunter is a local business person and voices her opinions. Prior Mayors Alvin New and Dwain Morrison did similarly. The difference is New and Morrison tended to speak last, giving other council members the opportunity to share their thoughts and raise questions. Mayor Gunter's style has her speaking first and making her position clearly known. It could be a challenge for other council members to share a differing view, but that's what they are there to do. Their job is representing constituents.</p><p>Compared to prior Council's this version displays uniform silence when it comes to future agenda items. Why do council members not ask for updates on lingering issues or identify new concerns raised by constituents? It leads the public to believe council members aren't interested in the issues raised or are afraid to share their concerns.</p><p>After Bariou spoke City Manager Daniel Valenzuela defended City Council and its accomplishments. What he didn't share is how he ensures this Council directs specific actions after deliberation and specific authorization. </p><p>Daniel did not state why items from the TIRZ board (recommended nonprofit project) and Animal Shelter Advisory Committee (recommended budget amount for spay/neuter) did not advance to City Council after their approval at the sub-board level. Mayor Gunter had not been favorable to these items in prior meetings.<br /></p><p>The Mayor <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/local-politics/mayor-makes-public-comment-addressing-local-issues/" target="_blank">gave</a> public comment after Bariou's citation. She raised three issues, police pay, property taxes and animal services. No elected official commented on the issue of improper Council operations. That may come in the near future. </p><p>An August budget meeting had considerable discussion of aggressive dogs and dog packs. Animal Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden informed Council of her data driven approach yet produced no information in that meeting or afterwards in response to questions raised. </p><p>A public information request on shelter spay/neuter compliance by adoption coordinator Concho Valley PAWS did not produce an updated one page memo as had been submitted in October 2021. For 2022 it produced a 58 page document. For 2023 it produced a 31 page document. Apparently, spay/neuter compliance is not part of the shelter's data driven approach. It is a city ordinance and Animal Control Officers write citations for failure to spay/neuter.</p><p>The City Manager's office should provide the information requested by all council members in official sessions. "I can pull some reports" implies followup and actual data sharing. A public information <a href="https://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2023/11/difficulty-getting-information-about.html" target="_blank">request</a> revealed that did not happen.<br /></p><p>Any City Council member should be able to ask questions, add items to the agenda, speak their mind on issues and ensure information is shared with the public. One year ago this council restricted public information requests in a surprise move. City Manager Daniel Valenzuela said it was targeted at one individual. I wonder how that worked out.</p><p>Six members of City Council heard John Bariou's citation in person. Councilman Tommy Hiebert was not in attendance. Hiebert has seen a number of Council's in operation. It would be interesting to hear his take. </p><p><b>Update 11-24-23:</b> Tommy Hiebert is yet to weigh in, however <i>San Angelo Live</i> offered an <a href="https://sanangelolive.com/news/live-thought/2023-11-24/santa-claus-wants-recall-mayor-gunter-christmas" target="_blank">opinion</a>. Joe Hyde wrote a lengthy piece about John Bariou and city politics. It suggested Mayor Gunther might resign early in order to run for a third term. That's what happens in San Angelo when someone's leadership is challenged? What happened to listening and responding to stated concerns?<br /></p><p>Not answering concerns and threatening more of the same sounds like city leadership. It's sad <i>San Angelo Live</i> <a href="https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/joe-hyde-announces-candidacy-for-tom-green-county-judge/" target="_blank">defended</a> that very behavior. It makes me wonder what Hyde would've done if he'd won the Tom Green County Judge election.<br /></p><p><b>Update 12-1-23:</b> <i> Fox West Texas</i> did <a href="https://www.myfoxzone.com/video/news/live_stream/fox-west-texas-live-at-6/504-b73b2ead-510f-415e-ba20-aef846c45ec1" target="_blank">a story</a> on John's effort to reform City Council operations.<br /></p>PEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.com0