HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal welfare Minutes 8/10/1995August 20, 1995
Board of Selectmen
Town of Mansfield
"C-
95 AUG 23 AN 3: 57
RE: August 10, 1995, Animal Welfare Committee Meeting
Present
Susan Talavera
Geanine Parks
Matt Miller
Absent
Barbara Galizia
The Animal Welfare Committee met on Thursday, August 10, 1995, at the Town Hall.
A majority of the four members were present to establish a quorum. Also attending the
meeting were shelter volunteer Tara Deveau and Mansfield resident Suzanne Gott.
Carol Shachat and Dawn Klaver, co- chairs of the Mansfield Women of Today Family
Pet Day, also were present.
Our initial discussion was about the resignation of Barbara Galizia who verbally
phoned in her resignation to the Chairman. She was going to submit a formal
resignation to the Board of Selectmen. Suzanne Gott expressed interest in joining the
Committee and we will request that the necessary paperwork be sent to her. We also
talked about the need to seek out and encourage others to volunteer for the AWC.
The Chairman reported that he had several phone conversations and one meeting
with Humane Officer Jeff Collins. The discussions included the numbers of animals
coming to and being adopted from the shelter every month (the shelter is currently
receiving about 10 dogs and 20 cats per month); shots, heart worm and related
medical care; the rationale for euthanizing animals; and how he is presently handling
funds from the shelter that belong to the AWC.
The Chairman also had a phone conversation with Chief O'Neill about funding for
animal medical care; recent repairs at the shelter; and the Committee's funds. The
Chief has never met with former AWC Chairman Linda Sohn and wants to meet with
her before turning the Committee's account over to Chairman Miller.
We briefly discussed the Committee's financial account, which totals at least $25,000
— most of which has been designated for a new animal shelter. The Committee
hopes to expedite the Sohn /Chief O'Neill meeting and to retrieve the account.
According to Humane Officer Collins, he has been turning all adoption and related
money over to the Chief during the interim period.
The AWC formally requested that the Mansfield Women of Today consider donating
funds from their annual Family Pet Day fund - raiser to the AWC for the new shelter.
MWOT members Shachat and Klaver discussed the event and said that they were
considering our request. They offered a table at the September 17 South Common
event for AWC fund - raising, education material and a display board of animals
available for adoption.
Committee member Talavera volunteered to check with the Town Clerk to see if we
could also sell dog licenses at the Family Pet Day.
Among old business discussed: animal health issues, including heart worm, rabies
and distemper shots, and rabies shots for the volunteers — most of these items are
being handled, but without its financial account, the AWC cannot offer to pay for any of
the items not funded by the Town.
Committee members again questioned who had the authority to authorize the
destruction of dogs at the shelter. The Town By -laws indicate that the AWC is the body
to make that decision — and only in the absence of an "active" animal welfare
committee, the Animal Control Officer makes the decision. The question also came up
about Town residence being mandatory to serve on the AWC. Chairman Miller will
formally request a ruling about both issues from the Board of Selectmen.
Regarding fund - raising and plans to build a new shelter, a press release was sent out
August 7 to re- affirm the Committee's intention to build a new animal shelter in
Mansfield. We are actively seeking additional members for the AWC and will be
developing plans to determine the type of structure needed, total funds required, and
where it could be located within the Town.
Tara Deveau reported that an air conditioner had been donated to the shelter and was
recently installed; the existing one in the dog room has been repaired and was also up
and running.
The Committee decided to table for future discussion a formal response to the TAARA
group which had requested funds from the AWC for their animal shelter project.
Finally, we set Thursday, September 7, at 7:30 p.m. (at the Town Hall) as the next
Committee meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
/K16X
Matt Miller
Chairman, Animal Welfare Committee
cc: Committee Members
Animal Control Officer, Arthur O'Neill
Animal Humane Officer, Jeff Collins
Town Clerk, Judith F. Scott