HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Welfare Minutes 5/25/1995June 4, 1995
Board of Selectmen
Town of Mansfield
RE: May 25, 1995, Animal Welfare Committee Meeting
Present Absent
Susan Talavera Mary Webster - Baublis
Geanine Parks Barbara Galizia
Matt Miller
The Animal Welfare Committee met on Thursday, May 25, 1995, at the Town Hall. A
majority of the five members were present to establish a quorum.
Mr. Miller reported that he contacted the past chairman of the Committee, Linda Sohn,
and received a briefing about the Committee and its past accomplishments. Ms. Sohn
was to deliver the Committee records prior to the May 25 meeting. To date, Mr. Miller
has not received these records.
As requested at the May 11 meeting, Mr. Miller met with the shelter volunteer
organization on May 12 and invited them to attend the May 25 Committee meeting to
discuss their goal of building a new shelter. Three representatives from Today's
Alternative Animal Rescue Association (TAARA) were present at our meeting — Tara
Deveau, Maurice and Sharon Brodeur.
TAARA is a newly formed, non - profit organization that has been raising money to build
or acquire a building for a new regional animal shelter. None of the members of
TAARA are Mansfield residents and they are looking for a building in the area, not
necessarily in Mansfield. Their original intent was to locate the proposed shelter in
Mansfield, however, they are not sure now and plan to go "where they can acquire the
land and get the cooperation."
Their goal is to raise about $500,000 over a three- to five -year period.
We reiterated our interest in plans for a new shelter and expressed our desire to work
with them, however, they advised us that they discussed working with the Animal
Welfare Committee with their attorney, and that he advised them not to work with us to
raise funds because of legal problems. The Committee expressed regret with this
opinion and decision, and requested a clarification of this opinion. We also asked for
a proposal that both they and their attorney would be comfortable with.
We advised the TAARA representatives that we were wide open to ideas and were
committed to improving the situation as is. We asked them to reconsider working with
the Committee since both groups have the same common goal. They agreed to do
this and plan to attend our next Committee meeting with a response.
The representatives of TAARA indicated that they wish to continue as volunteers at the
Mansfield animal shelter. We discussed a list of concerns they presented that
included both animal care issues and the current animal shelter. (Because members
of the Animal Welfare Committee are new and we haven't received the records from
the past chairman, we pointed out that we were not in a position to make firm
commitments about the shelter's operations until we have become more familiar with
what our responsibilities are. Specifically, we are not presently sure of what we have
the authority to support and fund.)
Issues raised by the volunteers included animal care (heartworm testing, distemper
and rabies shots), spay /neutering program, interaction and relationship with
veterinarians, outdated checks that have not been cashed, animal euthanasia, stolen
dogs (they requested Town workers to lock the gates), and the broken heater in the
dog room.
We also discussed the development of signs or posters for the shelter that would
explain to visitors the Town by -laws, rules and fees. We elected to discuss Chapter
Eight of the Town by -laws at our next meeting.
Finally, we set Thursday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. (at the Town Hall) as the next
Committee meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
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