St. Mary's County, MD Animal Control Advisory Board for St. Mary's County, 2 Mar 2022

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From YouTube: 3/2/22 Animal Control Advisory Board for St. Mary's County

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A

A

Good evening and welcome to the march 2nd 2022 advisory control board for animal control.

A

We did have to cancel our january meeting because of weather, and so we do have a full agenda.

A

What I'd like to do is first, take roll call and start over on this side with.

A

Steve steve tuttle citizen member david, lankford, retired veterinarian member rita.

B

Weaver representing farm bureau, I'm pat richardson chairing the board susan morris health department.

C

Cesar van gaal citizen member diane harris feral cat rescue joy, wilson, supervisor of animal control.

A

Thank you, we do have a quorum, and so we can continue. The first order of business is to approve.

A

The minutes from the last meeting, I think everyone's had a chance to review them and.

A

Check to see if there were any changes that need were needed.

A

Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? I moved to the prove the minutes of november 3rd 2021.

B

Meeting as presented a second okay, it's been moved and seconded all in favor aye, aye aye. Thank you.

A

Next is old business and we're going to begin with a shelter update. Mr walker.

A

D

Good evening, good evening, I'm going to let drew talk about the building. First, I've got a couple.

D

Things to have okay uh good evening everybody, my name- is drew kelly uh project manager, uh pwnt.

E

Since our last meeting john d, dietrich has retired, um I we have been assigned a new director, mr jim.

E

Gotch, but he was unable to make it this evening, and so I'm just filling in for the department.

E

But I've had a lot of progress over the last few months and uh really excited to kind of.

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Share where we are in the project and just give you you know very brief, update um still on track.

E

Right, so that's the high level all right here. The next slide.

E

um Animal adoption and resource center of saint mary's county is the new title for the building.

E

I believe that is also new news. I don't know if I'm stealing your thunder there, okay.

E

Completed since last time, uh our last meeting in november, uh the plumbing and electrical reference.

E

We've placed all the almost all of the concrete on site. There's a small section of sidewalk that.

E

Still needs to be placed on fdr boulevard, but all the other concrete has been poured on site.

E

Before the weather got too cold and asphalt plant plants closed down for the winter we were able to.

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Get a base course down to really cut down on a lot of the mud on site and inside the building as well.

E

The uh roof has been uh completed. um I think the last time we still had.

E

uh We had shingles on, but we didn't have any of the flat roofs. um Now we have.

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Membrane roof over the conditioned dog areas and then we have kind of a translucent roof.

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Over the exterior dog kennel area, so some lake can come into those areas. The.

E

Hvac units have been installed, we're actually going to be starting. Those up tomorrow.

E

Generator has been installed and permanent power was turned on on. I think the 17th of.

E

February insulation has been completed throughout the building and we've got drywall actually, since.

E

I wrote this, which is probably on your next slide here. Most of the painting is complete.

E

Flooring finishes: will all the tile is actually already in place in the public areas, restrooms.

E

Locker rooms, that kind of stuff, but the upgraded epoxy floors.

E

We really kind of need to move the rest of the trades out of the way before we can.

E

Get to that, but we'll probably be done by the end of the month here in march.

E

As I mentioned, the hvac startup is happening this week. Siding has started going up on the sides of.

E

The building I heard some folks mentioning they've, driven by and seen some of that.

E

So that looks really good ceiling grid has been installed in.

E

The public areas and some of the staff areas not quite done in the kennel areas, yet.

E

Door, doors and door frames have been installed or are being installed. Excuse me in the building.

E

Some of these actually most of these are old issues that are on this list here that had to do.

E

With some change, orders and disputes that we had with the contractor, which have since been resolved.

E

Photos of the back side of the building, the dog kennel areas.

E

And then the site work on the bottom right corner here shows one of the storm water ponds.

E

E

I believe we're actually going to be finished with most of the buildings finishes in may,.

E

The as I'm sure everybody is aware, there's supply chain issues with everything and construction is.

E

No different, um the dog kennel areas where the actual dividers and dog runs are not going to.

E

Be available until mid to late june, so pretty much going to have a building done in may, but.

E

um Without those we're the county's not going to accept the building until those are complete, but.

E

Currently are still tracking for that early july completion of july, 2nd and.

E

I'll, let steve talk about when it's opening, but I just have fall 2020 on here or 2022 on here.

E

Any questions a photo of ceiling grid and tile here I can take from the board at this time.

E

If you want to pull up that other picture, oh that's true, I see the grout looks.

F

Dark in there and that's a very good thing, because uh when we were doing our hospital.

F

Animals have accidents, and if it's not dark, it is staining and it's hard to deal with that.

F

So uh two things on that: we actually used a little bit darker grout than.

E

What you see on the tile there- um and we also use an epoxy grout, which is supposed to help with some.

E

Of that staining as well, it's a little more costly material yeah. I think that was good long term. Yes,.

E

That was the intent and then uh emergency services was able to get out and take a drone.

E

Photo here this past week, once the siding got installed and you can see some of the finishes.

E

That we have on the front of the building, still don't have gutters, and you know some of the other.

E

Stuff, but generally that's what you're going to be looking at when you pull up to the building there.

E

Plus some porta-potties and steam rollers is that the uh barn that's just showing up in.

E

That yeah and you can actually see on the front side uh the stall doors um we had a little design.

E

Issue, remember: the stall doors are what's facing: the shelter yeah, so there's stall doors facing.

E

The shelter um so that animals can be brought directly into the stalls from the parking lot.

B

And where will the um outdoor run area be? Will that be to the left or.

B

uh To where the barn is or um there's a pile of rocks kind of in the middle, where the.

E

Tree line comes to a v. Can you kind of see where that is in the in the middle? There, oh yeah.

A

There you go so that pile of rocks uh to the to the left of that pile is going to be the.

E

What I would call like shelter, dog exercise areas, okay to the right of that pile.

E

Is um not quite that far um but before the dirt kind of changes color um is going.

E

To be uh the canine training yard, okay um and then uh beyond. That is the future pasture area and the.

E

Piles of dirt will be off the site and it'll be more level back there than it currently is. Okay,.

F

I can't recall if the exercise area will be fenced in is yes, there's.

E

I believe three separate fenced areas.

E

Going off of memory here, but I believe there is one area that has like a.

E

Artificial turf kind of area um which is supposed to be where like public, could.

E

Bring a dog to interact with another dog if they were going to be adopting.

E

Depending how the manager wants to run things, but there's kind of like a.

E

Bonding area that could be for public and then there's like two separate.

E

Exercise yards that kind of surround that smaller yard and I believe.

E

The larger exercise areas are just grass, but I think that smaller one is that artificial yeah.

E

Do you have a picture of the back of it at all? uh I do, um but nobody will pick that up right now.

E

Okay, um I can try and get one to the board. uh If that's, I would like to see that and.

D

We've got some drone pictures of that and you see all the runs. It really looks very.

D

Nice that would be really nice to see that yeah very nice. Any other questions for drew.

A

I'm going to turn to joy for a minute. She didn't know this, but I know you've been.

A

Working very closely on this is there anything that you wanted to comment on.

G

Other than my excitement at the moment, uh no, we couldn't have a better partner, drew.

G

Puts up with me on a pretty regular basis, um but no the areas for all the outdoor areas.

G

Were pretty important in a lot of our decision making, so there's a lot of outdoor areas, not.

G

Only for the small animals, for you know for dogs, but also for our livestock, because we.

G

Did not want them to have to be kept inside of a barn all the time. Okay, so thank you.

A

Mr walker, so there is a construction meeting every week and they have been been very generous.

D

In letting us join, that joy does do that and then should calls me into to discuss some issues when.

D

They need to be, but we are having an integral part of of what occurs within the construction of it.

D

And we thank you for that. So so, when are we going to open so july, 2nd, it should be done. um I'm kind.

D

Of hoping that it gets turned over to us, maybe three weeks after that, does that sound, reasonable.

D

Yeah, so the kind of plan is we'd, start to move into that and when I say move into animal control.

D

Certainly, the shelter manager who you know hopefully is on board by then and, and they.

D

Would start to occupy and start doing that certainly frees up some space for us, but we do.

D

Have a target day for opening, so we have notified charles county of our intent to move away from our.

D

40-Year contract with the tri-county animal shelter on september 12th, so that is our planned.

D

Opening date- and we hope that we'll be done, which rolls right into the manager search that is going.

D

Very well I'd love to give you more details, but I think that by next week I'll give you some great.

D

Information so we're hoping that that will be complete concluded by next week.

D

A couple of the things about that that are very important is that.

D

You know some of the marching orders are that within the you know, first 90 days that.

D

I expect the policy development to be done, shelter, policies and I expect that our staff will be hired.

D

And then just ironing out all of the details ready to open up to shelter. So it's going well.

D

Very excited about that and and again hopefully give you some good information next week. So.

A

Can you just remind us of the positions that are st are going to be needed? In addition to.

D

So we need a shelter supervisor, which is the supervisor she's. Our field supervisor does a.

D

Great job, there's she's got a counterpart, that's in the building, and then we have.

D

A and maybe you can help me with these because I know we've got some animal care. I think four.

D

Of those we've got some, I I don't remember all the positions we have some there's some animal care.

G

Positions that would be caring directly for all the animals that are in our care. There are.

G

Animal tech positions where they're gonna be more in charge of probably everything from medicating.

G

Caring for animals that are coming in, you know evaluating those that are coming into the building.

G

Then you're going to have quite a few administrative positions.

G

That's true one of the admin positions. We made a change in our budget request. We hope to get that.

D

Approved and that in in that there's quite a bit of autonomy, the way the building runs. So we have.

D

Asked for one of the admin positions to be changed to a fiscal specialist: they will pay bills, they.

D

Will do payroll, they would do all of those things and I think that's important one other position.

D

We did take out, we didn't think we needed it just yet, and that is the one that's going to.

D

Transport animals. We can use the animal control officers to do that and that may be added later.

D

And of course, still on the table is a veterinarian in there, but let's see the data. So that's not in.

D

The budget requests: that's something that we'll consider in the future, as we show the needs so and.

D

We might be able to do that. So. Thank you. Questions. Have you chosen the director yet well, I'm the.

D

Director, okay, but our shelter manager, we're work, we're working on it, we're very close and when.

H

Will those interviews be done or have they been done I'll? Let you know something next week: okay,.

D

So hr personnel stuff so we'll we'll have some good information next week. I think so.

A

Okay, any any other questions for either drew or steve.

A

Nothing okay! Thank you very much, we'll be in touch. Thank you.

A

As part of shelter update, we circulated a couple of letters, as you recall,.

A

Melissa had drafted a letter for rescue groups and we were looking to send that out just to give them.

A

Informational update on where we were what was happening and also to thank them for all the.

A

Work that they have been doing that some of you are involved in directly that you have been doing.

A

And she has given me permission even though she's no longer on the board she has given.

A

Me permission to use that letter and then we also have thanks to dr langford a letter to the local.

A

Veterinarians, giving them information about the shelter more detailed information about the scope.

A

The volume and I'm going to ask dr lankford, if you wanted to say anything about your letter.

F

Thank you pat. I spent a lot of time researching and and collecting my thoughts, and I also.

F

Talked to steve and drew to get all my facts correct. I wanted to make sure the veterinarians.

F

Knew exactly what was coming down the pike and the fact that we really wanted to be partners with the.

F

Veterinary community, because we want a win-win situation for the animals for the citizens and.

F

The veterinarians in practice are will be an integral part of that, because animals that are.

F

Injured dropped off that are, you, know, very sick and injured. They need to come in to play there.

F

And even when we get a veterinarian which we're hoping to get at some point.

F

They'll be referring some of the more serious cases to them, so sometimes the animal.

F

Welfare organizations don't always communicate completely to veterinarians as a whole, and so.

F

This is an effort that we had that from the beginning to to communicate to them and bring.

F

Them up to speed, so I'm looking forward to it. I've talked to a couple of my colleagues already.

F

Just to talk to them about it, and I think this will be a good thing.

A

Were there any questions about either of the letters I did get some feedback.

A

I incorporated that, um but are there any additional questions.

A

The process would be uh we would, if, if the board is in agreement and I'll ask for a.

A

Vote in a minute, we would then move forward. Send the letters to our director, mr walker,.

A

And he would involve elisa cassis, who met with you earlier about developing a communication.

A

Plan and we would take it from there so that being said, is there a motion to proceed.

A

With the two letters to the local veterinarians and the rescue leaders.

B

I move that we proceed to send both letters to the local veterinarian and the.

B

Local rescue groups to.

B

Steve walker, the director.

A

Is there a second second emotion? Okay, it's been moved and seconded.

A

uh All those in favor.

A

And he opposed okay, we'll move forward on those the next order of business for us every year. We.

A

Do this, we would have done it at the january meeting, had it not been for the weather, but.

A

It just sometimes works. That way is election of officers and.

A

What my role is is to open the floor to nominations, and I will.

A

Move to enter into election of officers for the positions of chairperson vice chairperson.

A

And secretary for the animal control advisory board for the year of 2022.,.

A

Is there a second, I second, okay, moved unseconded all in favor aye. Any opposed motion carries.

A

Do we have any nominations for chairperson of the animal control advisory board for this year?.

B

I nominate pat richardson for chair.

H

I'll second, the motion, thank you. Are there any other nominations for chair.

A

So moved by rita seconded by diane, um all those in favor aye. Thank you any opposed.

A

All right that motion carries the next office. uh We need a motion.

A

Or a nomination for the vice chair of the animal control advisory board for this year.

H

Have you asked people if they want to do this? Yes, normally I don't make any motions.

I

I'll motion to um ask rita weaver if she would be vice chair, okay, and would you agree to accept.

A

That nomination, okay is, is there a second, I second, it any other nominations for vice chair.

A

Okay, all those in favor of rita weaver for vice chair.

A

I and any opposed so the motion passes and the final.

A

Office is secretary of animal control advisory board for this year. Do we have a nomination.

I

I'll make another suggestion. If I may, I would like to nominate dr lankford for secretary.

I

If he so accepts, yes, you would accept that. Okay, uh is there a second a second, it's been moved.

A

And seconded are there any other nominations for secretary of the animal control board.

A

Hearing none all those in favor of dr lankford being the secretary for the year.

A

Please signify by saying aye aye many opposed. The motion passes unanimously.

A

The next order of business that we have.

A

Is the annual report which again we also would have completed and in our january meeting, but.

A

It we're ready to do that now. Everybody has had a copy of it, a chance to look at it. We.

A

Have gotten some feedback? We've made some edits.

A

Are there any other questions or changes that board members see needed.

A

Okay, is there a motion to approve the 2021.

A

Annual report of the saint mary's county animal control, advisory board.

C

I want you to approve the 2021 annual report. That's america's county animal.

C

Control advisory board. Okay, do we have a second.

A

I'll suck second, the motion. Thank you all. Those in favor of the uh approving the report.

A

And sending it to uh the county administrative office say aye aye aye. Any opposed motion carries.

A

And the next thing we wanted to do, we.

A

Had talked about, and actually went so far as to create a subcommittee on cat colonies,.

A

This is in reference to some of the concerns with the passive park in lexington park.

A

And the we have been asked for some feedback by the commissioners. Unfortunately, this came.

A

About around december right before everyone got very busy and the weather got not so good.

A

And so we were not able to have those have that subcommittee really become activated.

A

And we then looked at where we are as a board right now. We technically have eight members.

A

Seven voting one non-voting, and so we thought this is a small enough board that we can.

A

Have that discussion at the board with all of us, and my suggestion is that we have a discussion.

A

We're looking specifically for recommendations when we'll take each recommendation, one at a time.

A

If there is majority support for a particular recommendation, then we will include that in.

A

A letter to the county commissioners, if we can't come to consensus on a recommendation.

A

Then we will not include that so that being said, uh who would like to start the discussion.

A

I can start the discussion. Okay, thanks diane. I I have some information. I don't know if.

H

When, when feral cat rescue first started in 2007, they were euthanizing an enormous amount of cats.

H

At tri-county shelter and it was 533 a month and statistically all through the years it's gone down.

H

Every single year and I believe it's because of spay neuter and trap neuter return.

H

The person who started feral cat rescue in 2007 had been on the board of small for three years. St.

H

Mary's, animal welfare league and they were dealing with domestic cats and she saw litters being taken.

H

In but the feral mothers not being spayed and neutered, so she wanted to do something about.

H

That and she started feral cat rescue and last year in 2020, the number of cats being euthanized.

H

Was 60 a month, so this shows that it's working and what we have been doing is betting about.

H

550 cats a year about 200 to 300, 300 of them are returned to their colonies, and then we.

H

Take in very few domestic cats, but sometimes we have room in our foster system and we take in.

H

Kittens and I have um the statistics from a few years from 2007 till now, if anybody's interested.

H

And and we do trap neuter return, that's that's our basic mission.

H

And it reduces the overpopulation and I wrote up and typed up uh a proposal for a tnr policy.

H

In saint mary's county, it was actually uh given to me by a woman at an attorney at alicat allies.

H

I can pass it along or give everybody a copy, but this is what I would like to recommend to the.

H

County commissioners, but we can all look at it and see what we think.

A

Thank you, while diana's passing those out. I will also add that I had a conversation with.

A

Alice burton- and she was the person who did that tnr presentation for us not so long ago.

A

And she once again has offered if there are questions, if we need her assistance in any way.

A

She is more than willing to help us.

A

Diane, would you walk us through it please I I just handed them all out.

A

Okay, you want me to read this. I real, I think we probably want you to walk us through it, go ahead.

A

uh Ear tip a mark identifying a community cat as being in a tnr program, specifically the removal.

H

Of approximately 3 8 of an inch off the tip of the cat's left ear in a straight line, while the cat is.

H

Under anesthesia community cats, that's a cat that is under socialized to people and typically.

H

Avoids contact with humans, uh community cat care caregiver any person who, in accordance.

H

With a good faith effort to trap, neuter vaccinate and return, the cat provides volunteer care to a.

H

Community cat cat care givers shall not be considered the owners, keepers, harborers or.

H

Custodians, I did not bring any water will someone else continue to read for me, please.

I

Trap: oh, go ahead. Oh sorry, miss metal! No, you go ahead. Trap neuter return or tnr is a non-lethal.

I

Approach to the cat population control where cats are humanely trapped, sterilized.

I

And vaccinated ear tipped and then returned to the location where they are originally trapped.

I

The new section number one or item one trap: neutral return shall be permitted and cat.

I

Caregivers organizations and animal control are allowed to carry out the tnr item. 2.

I

An ear tipped cat trapped by animal control will be released on site unless veterinary veterinarian.

I

Care is required if an ear tipped cat is removed from sight and taken to the county, shelter or a.

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Vet office because veterinarian care is needed, the exact location from which the cat is taken will be.

I

A matter of public record when deemed healthy, the cat will be returned to the exact location, we're.

I

Trapped item three ear: tipped cats shall not be impounded merely for being at large or a nuisance.

I

Item four cat caregivers are empowered to reclaim impounded or yes, impounded feral.

I

Cats without proof of ownership item five, a cat caregiver who returns a community cat.

I

In conjunction with tnr is not deemed to have abandoned the cat. Thank you, steve. No problem.

I

Cesar just gave me a minute, so hopefully that will help diane did you want to add anything? I.

H

I think, as the discussion happens, I I may add more. You know. I know that for myself I want the.

H

The cats in the park to continue to live there, um we've really taken over managing them and we're.

H

Really making a huge effort to spay and neuter all the cats in the park. I know that um I have records.

H

Now, for 16 cats that have been spayed and neutered and three have been removed from the colony and.

H

Placed elsewhere to to in adoptive homes, uh and one was euthanized because it was too sick, so.

H

We're getting a big handle on the colony so that there will not be overpopulation.

H

Can I ask a question on this one? I don't know if this is really something that needs to be proposed.

B

But you said you're keeping records, so you know which ones have received their vaccines.

B

And which ones haven't and you're keeping a record so that, like the yearly or every three years, when.

B

They need to be updated that you can figure out which ones needed to have they're just you know.

H

We have just started microchipping them. We haven't done that in the past, because that.

H

Costs money and when you're vetting 500 cats a year times ten dollars a microchip. What is that.

H

Five thousand dollars, so we don't normally do that, but because this has been a serious situation for.

H

The county and the county commissioners, we just recently have only microchipped one cat.

H

And the colony trapper has uh the: what's. It called the this kind of the this yeah, the scanner to.

H

Figure out, uh oh I, this cat's ear tipped. Is this one? That's uh needs rabies. I would say that every.

H

Cat in there, if we catch them again in their ear tipped, we're gonna take it in to get an update on.

H

Rabies because some of the 16 were vetted five years ago and although technically and legally.

H

Vaccines run out in a year, but um it's been said, like alice burton from alicat allies.

H

Said that they can last really seven years, but you know if a cat is caught. That's ear.

H

Tip we're gonna, get it re-vaccinated, but you can't guarantee that every single cat will be.

H

Re-Caught you do the best you can and we're trapping. Every week we trap every thursday, okay.

A

I'm going to turn to mr walker for a minute, because I think we need some.

A

Clarification on are we being asked to provide general recommendations.

A

So, for example, we are supporting a tnr program and would like the commissioners to.

A

Endorse or support that or are we looking to weigh in on a specific issue, so I think really.

D

What they're looking for is you know what is the desire of the animal control board? Do you want.

D

To have this kind of a program, or do you recommend some other? You know the policy is good, but I think.

D

That the policy development is probably going to come out of our office because mr weiskopf will.

D

Certainly have to approve that, because it's going to be a policy from the commissioners.

D

It could be going into code, I don't know that, but I I think really it's you know is there. Is there.

D

A recommendation for this policy to occur within the in the county she's, making that recommendation.

D

If the board endorses it, that certainly is there. There are a lot of other questions. I think that.

D

Need to be answered, but, but again I think that starts with. What's the board's recommendation do.

D

We have these tnrs, or do we not have them? I think that really is it. There is no policies on that.

D

Right now in the county and that's the question is: what does the animal control board desire? What do.

D

They recommend to the commissioners, so I have a couple of questions to everybody. As I'm reading.

I

This it says, cat, caregivers organizations and animal control are allowed to carry out. Tnr are.

I

We going to identify as a board who these organizations are, so we know that they are.

I

Working on behalf and helping us out, or is anybody going to be allowed to bring a cat in for tnr and.

I

My second question is: if we adopt a tnr program, are we going to have to have a line item in the.

I

Budget to cover this, I'm assuming the taxpayer and the county will be covering these procedures.

I

I have three dogs and two cats and when you do rabies and fixing and stuff like that, it can be.

I

Well, my great dane's going to cost me 1 500., so that's just for the fix, so I guess my question.

I

Is where would we get the funding and do we have the funding available to carry out a tnr program.

D

So that would be a budget request and- and I didn't mean to to jump in but.

D

You know in response to what you're asking so, if you look at what calvert county did.

D

They have developed this program, but they've developed it where they did a agreement with.

D

A very specific organization, so the county simply gave authorization, they did not fund it, but this.

D

Specific organization is identified and there's a very specific location that they have authorized.

D

This organization to do that reading the policy- and I don't have it in front of me- but if.

D

If I recall- and I think you've you've read it so tell me if I'm saying something wrong, but.

D

I would think the way this would work is that if there are cats identified, they could take them to.

D

That location put them in there and become part of that colony. This organization maintains that.

D

Responsibility to take care of it county, animal control does not so simply this organization.

D

Made an agreement with the county to be able to move forward on that. The county authorized.

D

The policy to allow this to occur because, again like us previously, they just had no policies on it.

D

No codes, nothing that authorized it so and I think that does that sound, accurate. It's.

G

Very accurate for calvary county. Yes, if I may add, though, in most other counties, that's.

H

Not how things are done and that's not what I envisioned for st mary's county any person. That's.

H

Educated and knows about trap, neuter return and finds themselves feeding a cat in their yard. Can.

H

And dub and they do uh take the cat to a veterinarian and get it uh ear, tips spayed.

H

And neutered and put it back outside and continue to feed it, and they may have only one or two cats.

H

In their little colony, or only one, um people that let 20 cats happen before they seek help.

H

That that becomes a problem, and so those individuals, though, that bring in the animals.

I

They're actually covering the cost correct, yes, and through all this time, the the county government.

H

Has never given us any money, we raise money to do this and, as I said, we're vetting, probably about.

H

550 cats a year to do this if the county wants to in the future. That would certainly be welcome, but.

H

Rescue organizations also seek grants from all kinds of different foundations. We've received.

H

Thousands of dollars from petsmart charities, the snyder foundation, the aspca.

H

You know it doesn't have to be, and I've never said to the county. Please give us money to do this.

H

We just want to do it and when cats are ear tipped, we don't want our work. I don't want.

H

To vet five cats at somebody's house that live at the end of a cul-de-sac by the woods.

H

And vet five cats and spend 450 and then have uh the county, uh pick them up and take them to.

H

Tri-County shelter to be euthanized. Okay, thank you for the clarification. I appreciate that sure.

A

Comments and questions, because I'm still not clear on what our role I do have a question.

C

Here um you're talking about policy and usually that doesn't correlate to any ordinance ordinance.

C

For the county, so how how that policy will be enforced? If, if it goes to the commission.

C

The policy would be based on the ordinance. We have to be able to react and enforce that ordinance.

D

We have a policy on how we would do that, so the ordinance, if you're, going to write an ordinance.

D

Then we have a policy on how we're going to be doing that. That's what we do now when we do our.

D

Animal control enforcement so, but I still think the role is first, is you know the recommendation.

D

uh And we can certainly send for clarification from the commissioners. They want to know what.

D

This board would like to do. Do you want to do cat colonies? Do you not do you think it's feasible.

D

Do you not if there's a funding issue, you should ask that if, if that's something we want to do.

D

Again, that's additional resources on animal control. If we were to get into that, but again.

D

That's a funding issue that the commissioners need to do it, but I think the first question is: does.

D

This board want to endorse cat colonies in the county. I really think that's the first question.

D

That you need to answer: if you do, that, goes to it, they could then direct me or my department.

D

To develop a policy, certainly because you guys are involved, would need to be a part of that.

D

And then discussions with a county attorney on whether this should be codified and become an.

D

Ordinance so, but I think the first question is: what do you guys want to do? Do you want to get.

D

Colonies in the county right now, there's nothing right now. If we were to follow the codes we'd go.

D

Out and pick them up, we've been trying to be as as patient as possible and hoping the board will.

D

Come up with some direction to the commissioners so and this policy that they've been following.

H

Led to 550 cats a month being euthanized for decades of doing that. So this is why I'm proposing.

H

That we advocate doing trap neuter return in our in our county and that, uh if we want to have.

H

A low-kill new shelter that we're spending what close over seven million close to seven million on.

H

We we need to have a tnr policy and they have tnr policies steve presented in november uh different.

H

uh Policies: pg county, uh I think hartford county, the city of bowie, baltimore, county baltimore city.

H

I'm hoping st mary's will do the same, and I'm hoping that all of you will advocate for.

H

uh Having cat colonies in saint mary's county legally putting it in the animal ordinance, it's.

H

Not there right now, so I'm going to ask a question and it it's I'm not not being disrespectful to.

I

Anybody here so don't please, don't take it. My my grammar sometimes doesn't come out correct. How.

I

Many dog packs do we have in st mary's county that the county manages under the current ordinance.

D

Because we pick them up and we take them to the shelter, so my question is: why are we treating.

I

Felines differently: well, we don't except we're being patient and trying to allow this to occur.

D

We file a policy but again we're. We are trying to allow this board to to take action or make a.

D

Recommendation so we don't do anything different. We follow our codes and do what we normally do.

H

And that perhaps might be, because I would think dog packs would be more dangerous and more.

H

Aggressive feral cats run from people. I don't know the last time we've seen a dog pack in this county.

D

Yeah, so I guess it's a non-issue okay like well. The question is, will be brought up and.

I

It's been brought up to me from citizens is well. We don't do that for dogs. Why we do that for cats.

I

That's the question that's been brought up, and some people are, all of them are personal.

I

Friends of mine, an animal lover, so I just wanted to clarify you know: that's what we.

I

Do uh since we don't do that for dogs, I wanted to know why they're adopting it all trap neuter.

H

Return all over the world, it started in the 90s. My daughter lived in bethlehem for two years and.

I

Jerusalem, it's in rome; no, no, I'm not disagreeing with the policy. I'm just just asking the question.

H

It's a way to manage the overpopulation of cats, I'm still seeing two separate items, I'm seeing.

A

Are we supporting tnr program, which originally I was thinking that might be a grant.

A

Opportunity that could come through the shelter, but I was not tying it to.

A

Do we do we ask for cat colonies where the county then identifies locations.

A

For these cats, which I think is what you were describing at calvert, that is what calvert has.

D

Done done so, I'm still seeing it as two separate things. Some of us may agree with one, but not.

A

Both, I would say there is two. There is two separate issues, but I think the two separate.

I

Issues are being combined into one. The question is: do we want to separate them and make them two.

I

Separate issues and then decide on that, or do we want to make them one issue clumped together.

I

And that's a question we have to ask ourselves and calvert county isn't exclusively doing just that.

H

They they do have a colony that unwanted feral cats that they, I don't know if they still have it.

H

But I think that's what joy and steve are talking about that they manage friends of feline manages.

H

A large colony where they've taken unwanted unwanted cats but still trap neuter return, is.

H

Going on all over the county, it goes on all over the whole world, especially in developed countries.

A

And I'm hearing trap neuter return has pretty high support from anyone. You explain it to.

A

But I it hasn't necessarily been tied to a particular group of cats at a particular park.

A

I'm not I'm not hearing that if you do trap neuter return and you support trap, neuter return.

H

Then you support trap, neuter return all over the county, so it would be anywhere. So it would.

I

Be on public and private land everywhere, a lot of cats live behind restaurants and.

H

Eat out of dumpsters, and we get a lot of restaurant people contacting us and we'll go in.

H

And set traps and get them spayed and neutered uh oftentimes. Most often there are colony caregivers.

H

That are taking care of the cats and feeding them and, seeing oh, that cat's eating out of a dumpster.

H

I don't want that. Let me provide food and water for it and and they'll explode. If you don't do.

H

Trap neuter return because they, their gestation period, is 60 days. They have three to four litters.

H

A year in this area- and uh you know, there's four kittens on average per litter, so.

H

One cat can turn into 35 or 40 in a year. They start mating at what six months dr lankford yeah.

H

It's like bunny rabbits. I have a question about under the news section.

F

Item three: your tipped cats shall not be impounded merely for being that large or a nuisance.

F

It seems kind of a broad statement, because over the years frequently, people would bring their cats.

F

In that have been wounded, because a feral cat attacked their cat when they let it outside.

F

Is this saying that if a cat is ear tipped in, it is a new public nuisance that nothing can be done.

F

As far as with that cat, if it is causing an issue- because I just I just concerned about.

F

That we can adopt anything, we want, we could cross off or a nuisance, but the problem is.

H

And, and what has to happen is you can solve nuisance problems? Usually, cats that are aggressive.

H

Like that aren't spayed or neutered, that's usually aggressive males or fighting for food, but.

H

There are some people, they don't want them walking on their car. For example, you can get out a water.

H

Hose you can blast horns. Alice burton has gone before the commissioners and different meetings.

H

Throughout the years, and has explained that you can deter them from coming to your property.

B

I guess what I'm saying is: maybe we should just as an overall.

B

Just decide if we would like tnr and then, if the county commissioners agree, then I think then it.

B

Should go back to look at how we're going and also you know the attorney, how we would then go.

B

Through and develop um definitions and- and things like that, but I think right now we just.

B

Need to do an overall without getting into the weeds um of if we want to have tnr.

B

And not doing about you know doing the cat colony specifically, but just.

B

Tnr in general, so you're suggesting talk about tnr, give it to the county.

I

Commissioners, if they do decide to accept that get into the nuts and bolts and identify.

B

Do that later I mean because I don't think that we should get in the nuts molds now, because.

B

We could say this and they might not agree with it. So it's all for not. You know just the discussion.

A

I think I would be a little more comfortable with that, especially since we don't have a.

A

Manager in place at this point, and it would seem to me that that person's opinion and experience.

A

Has to count because they would be overseeing this. So is the group comfortable with a more general.

A

Recommendation, or would someone like to put a general recommendation.

A

Forward can I suggest something? Maybe so if you do that generally then you open it.

D

Up completely, and then I mean, and all due respect with the policy you're written is basically not a.

D

Policy, it's just a restriction on animal control from doing anything, that's what you've written.

D

So what I would suggest is that you know you and again this is my suggestion. My thoughts.

D

Is that if the board were to endorse tnr and then perhaps ask the commissioners to assign.

D

The department of emergency services, animal control to develop some policies that would.

D

Come back to you and then you guys would be able to have some input into that and then and then we.

D

Could move forward in that way, but first is that you know that. Do you accept it and if you guys.

D

Do then, yes, and then ask for assistance from des to be able to develop the policies on it.

D

So again, just my thoughts, if, if that's probably the way, if you want to go that way so.

D

If you don't, then that's okay, too, and less workload on us so endorse the program. Tnr.

A

And and advise the commissioners to have department of emergency services, development.

D

Policies, assistant writing policies and come back to us with the policy and we will pull in from pg.

D

And from charles and montgomery and all the other counties that has done that and see, what's.

D

A reasonable thing we will run with a county attorney to make sure that everything's legal.

D

Do you want to make comments um yeah I feel like this is more of a guideline of.

G

Some of the things that maybe somebody would like to see in an ordinance which was kind of.

G

Where I wanted to go earlier is that I see these as recommendations and maybe if it's something.

G

That you want to be able to recommend to the commissioners. You present them in that fashion.

G

So just just like mr walker's talking, um I mean a lot. All of it will be taken into consideration.

G

And of course, it comes down to the county attorney because they're, the ones that have to.

G

They're, the ones that have to decide whether or not any of the policies or ordinances that we come.

G

Up with now for any other animal control, related issue or animal welfare issue has to go through.

G

The county attorney's office, at the same time we have some guidelines. We need to be following.

G

With the health department we have to, we have to comply with what they have to meet from a state.

G

Estate point of view, um so I think if it's the thing that if you want to look at it as something.

G

Take your wording, the things that you'd like to see in a proposed ordinance put them together.

G

And present them to the commissioners and then let the commissioners act from that point on.

G

Then give us a chance to pull everything from surrounding jurisdictions, see how they're handling.

G

uh You know possibly even give you know, give susan and I a chance to look at. What's.

G

Surrounding health departments, how they're handling certain things with bite reports and.

G

Yes and things like that to be able to make an ordinance something that one is enforceable.

G

Something that looks out for everybody involved we're all here for the animals, but from emergency.

G

Services point of view: I have to also be here for public safety reasons, so I have to look at.

G

That too, but what it's going to boil down to is, if the commissioners are willing to push it forward,.

G

To let the county attorney make a decision on how to incorporate it into an ordinance.

G

I'm not sure that that addresses what you want to discuss about with park, but it's that's what.

G

I'm saying I think this is a process, so I don't think what you did tonight is going to resolve.

D

It in one clean, you know, I just don't think it's going to happen, but this would start that process.

D

Okay, if you think about where we are you've, been asked to do something. My department has not been.

D

Given direction okay, they have not, so you know we. We could try to do that, but I need to know.

D

That that's what the commissioners would like us to do, and one of the things that you said was.

H

For us to, if we want tnr, to make a recommendation for tnr and for the department of emergency.

H

Services to create a policy and then go over it with the county attorney, which is standard.

H

Yes, but I I would like to see when you're creating that policy. I want us to also recommend.

H

That it isn't just the department of emergency services, that's making the recommendation that.

H

People like myself and other people, we will bring it back to this board. We could have a committee to.

H

Talk about it, what are you saying back to this board and have discussions and make alterations.

D

As we need to right, I have some concerns um because we're sending something so vague up.

I

It's not given anybody on the county, commissioner level anything to really work with, so I don't want.

I

To spin our wheels in something and not accomplish what we want to accomplish as well, I mean we need.

I

To come up with at least some with the tnr some recommendations that we all can agree on. So the.

I

County commissioner steps in something to work with, at least that's just my opinion. It's just.

I

The bare bones, so they can kind of get the idea of what the tnr would look like in the county.

B

So I guess I would like to see it in general, but maybe have someone that provide them.

B

Information, what does tnr mean correct, and maybe somebody already has, but that way they.

B

Know what they're now giving to emergency services to then start developing an ordinance? I think just.

B

An overall for the county commissioners to say yes or no we're for or we're against.

B

It I think, that's where we need to be to start out and then we can get more in depth.

B

At a later time, correct- and I think maybe they should be provided some information before or as.

B

They as we recommend or not, recommend this be provided some information. What does.

B

Tnr really mean, and also is this board going to identify the organization or organizations.

I

That are going to handle that, since the we're, not the county's not paying for, are we going.

I

To identify it at this time, or will we do it later on? If we do decide, can I say something.

G

About that, the way that I interpret this coming from a law enforcement point of view.

G

Is I'm in I'm interpreting this that is saying that the program that everyone would want.

G

Would be that they're making it broad enough that if an organization or a group or a citizen decides.

G

To maintain a certain number of animals on their property that they're keeping as community cats.

G

Or feral cats that they have the right to do that and that animal control has the right to do that.

G

If they choose to do that, it doesn't say that they're going to or that we're going to say.

G

You you you and you are the only ones that are allowed to do this program. Okay, I think it's.

G

Leaving it broad to say if somebody comes forward and wants to do this, that they have a right to do.

G

It does that make more sense. It does make sense after I've heard that again completely agree.

I

But we are also talking about private property. Are we not? Yes, we are okay yep. So if we ask.

A

If we endorse it as an advisory board, we advise the commissioners to task the emergency services.

A

Department to develop policies which automatically is part of the process will be reviewed by the.

A

County attorney's office and this board they would then come back to this board and we would ask that.

A

The county attorney be present at that meeting so that we know exactly what is allowable. What is not.

A

Then I think the next step is getting into the more detailed.

A

Information and by then we would hopefully have a manager.

A

Who could be a part of that discussion? I I'm really now I'm looking at a person who's going.

A

Who's going to be managing really should now at this point, have a voice in almost any of the.

A

Decisions that we would be making and advice that we would be giving would that is that appropriate.

A

In terms of you, you would be the one who would be taking it to the county, commissioner, so I'm going.

D

To write a cover to your letter and- and I am going to say those things- the one piece- that's really.

D

Missing here, for me, is that there needs to be a lot more research on what works on what policies.

D

Are in place other other places, what's legal, there's some research that needs to be done before.

D

A policy is written, you know and again give direction from from the commissioners to me to us.

D

We'll do all that research and we'll get it done. I can't tell you it's going to happen overnight.

D

We've already been two months into this, so but we will begin on that and, as you said, I think that.

D

You know, that's that's something. The shelter manager should lead and and and head up so.

D

So it still will come back to us. Yes, uh before anything is finalized. You are an advisory board.

D

And you will be advising on this. Okay, you will be telling the commissioners what they should do.

D

And then they'll decide the colony in lexington park, I'm sorry and the colony in lexington park.

H

It'll, just continue to we'll just continue to do trap neuter return as we're doing.

D

We're not returning at all we're not trapping we're trying to. We are feral cat, rescuers.

D

We we have signs up for no feeding and we're going to be reaching out to get people not to feed.

D

Because that's violation that we'll work on that so again we're trying to be patient to get this an.

D

Opportunity to to work through- and this gets us to the next point- this gets us to the next step.

A

Right so is there a motion to have me draft a letter and send it out to all of you.

A

That is pretty general in nature. Basically says that this board is endorsing the tnr.

A

Program that we would ask the commissioners to task the department of emergency services.

A

To develop policies and bring them back to the acab for reaction or response.

A

Does that work? One thing I wanted to ask: did you just say there are signs saying that uh people are.

H

Not allowed to feed over there. What does that have to do with her motion? Because she went to.

H

That, before I could ask you the question, I think you should respond, but why don't we do the motion.

H

And then because it's two different subjects: okay um and I don't know if I'm going to get.

B

It all correct, but I moved that the chair write a letter on our on the board's behalf to the county.

B

Commissioners to support the tnr program and then to be sent over to emergency services to develop.

B

Policies and to and go to the county attorney and then brought back to the board for our input.

A

Is there a second to the motion? I second, it.

A

A

All those in favor.

A

Opposed one opposed okay, the motion carries, and I will send that as a draft to all of you.

A

And then you can react to it and I will do it rather quickly.

A

D

Signs, yes, there are signs up that says no feeding in the park. Isn't there a maryland.

H

Law saying that you can't stop feeding animals, can you show it to me yeah I'll I'll email it to you.

I

Are we getting ready to address this cat colony or are we going on to a different topic.

A

That was that was it. This is so we are that's it. I got the cat calling it. Okay.

A

The next item is: oh, go ahead. I have a question for mr wolf. Oh okay, yes! Well,.

C

In your speech, it seems like there is a little bit of pause from the commissioners.

C

Regarding the situation, so I'm concerned to see if, if that's the case.

C

What is the risk? If we don't act fast? We have, we have ordinances in place. You know the risk.

D

Is she doesn't want cats picked up? We we have to do our duties, okay, so we we need to get this done.

D

So we decide which way we're going to go either we're going to go back and do what we do.

D

Normally, animal control and pick up animals or we're going to change the policy where.

D

It's allowed and I suggest we work on it as quick as possible. Again if it comes to us.

D

We can work on it as expediently as we can. Okay. So that's it when you say the pause. Commissioners are.

D

Looking for help from you, that's all they're doing they're asking for your assistance as a board.

D

What does you as a board recommend that's what the commissioners are doing.

D

So we just this has been two months now we need to. We need to get this resolved, it understood, but it.

C

Seems like there is a sense of urgency in your part when you were expressing so is. There is a.

C

Time frame that we should be concerned or because obviously we talked about not having this object.

C

Here, for you know, six months or whatever the time frame truly is is as we get into warmer weather,.

D

We will hear from the parks again to have these cats removed. Okay, as you've heard less right now,.

D

It's winter, but as people start to populate the parks again, we will start to get complaints again.

D

About removing the cats, that's the urgency. I appreciate that. I don't think we're going to.

D

Make it? Because this will take a little bit of time to do some research and write this.

D

And the commissioners have to agree that this is what they would like to do.

D

So and it would have to then then it would have to be put into ordinance and even once going through.

G

Ordinance changes in this county before even once the commissioners agree, or they put together their.

G

Ordinances or county attorneys ready to present them a finalization. It has to go in front of.

G

Public hearing all ordinances in our county have to go in front of a public hearing. Well, let's just.

D

Let's not get ahead of the game; let's just do what we're doing and work through this we'll.

D

Work as quick as we can, so we will be patient if something doesn't get resolved. What will happen.

H

Is or what could possibly happen is the parks will complain again to animal control? They will.

H

Pick up the cats, they will be taken to tri-county, shelter and euthanized, and one of the things that.

H

Steve said at our november meeting was that I- and I don't know why you brought this up, but.

H

He said that tri-county shelter doesn't euthanize kittens, and I didn't think that that was true.

H

And I did contact kim stevens the director of tri-county shelter since november and I.

H

Emailed her and I asked her, don't you euthanize kittens and she said uh yes, we do if there are.

H

If we can't get rescue to take them, then they are euthanized and I think steve was given.

H

Misinformation uh from his the the employee that told him the next question is when's. The last time.

D

They did a euthanization, because everything I hear is kittens go they don't they don't stay.

D

I didn't ask that, but I asked them: do you euthanize kittens? Yes, they do.

D

I would like to know the last time they did because madam chair adopted yes.

I

There is the elephant in the room, it's been in, our room needs to be addressed and it's leading the.

I

Conversation leading right back to where we didn't want to be in. We need to address this colony in.

I

A way that we can put some emotions and some ideas in the middle of the road so that we can.

I

Move forward what we need to do for the whole county as a whole, which we've adopted the tnr.

I

But it sounds like from my understanding and emotions right now that that's not going to.

I

Be enough, and that takes time we know the wheels on the government. Bus are square.

I

We need to find a temporary fix until we can get to our permanent fix that everyone can agree on if.

I

You know what I mean. I do steve, I'm just trying to keep clear what is the role of our board.

A

What are we responsible for and what is the role of county staff who are under contract to.

I

Fulfill because personally tnr on private property, you do whatever you want to do. It's your property.

I

I, like tnr, I think it's a great idea, but when it comes to public property, that's a whole different.

I

Scenario for me, there's liability, there's insurance, there's danger, there's sickness.

I

There's disease there's so many scenarios and I love animals. I've got three dogs and two cats.

I

You know I hate to say this: it's gonna sound cold, but we can't save every cat.

I

It's going to be impossible. I know we want to save as many as we can, but we've.

I

Got to find a way that something that works for everybody, so that we can move forward as a board.

A

And I'm not trying to pass the buck. I'm truly not. I know that, but I just want to make sure.

A

That we stay in our lane and I think the scope of our responsibility right now is.

A

To get it started with the letter, okay and then let the staff draft policies, because.

A

You've heard all the conversations, a variety of feelings, but you we're just one constituency.

A

Right, you also are hearing from people in the community who may feel differently than we do.

A

And all that has to be taken together so are: are you comfortable with us just taking this.

A

First step, I am totally comfortable with with taking tnr to the county commissioners.

I

Okay, I'm fine with that. I am a little uneasy if we're just talking about if we're, including public.

I

Land, I'm a little uneasy with that and I think we need some clarification because public land.

I

Is not just for animal lovers, it's for everybody who uses the park and to me the commissioners.

A

Are going to have to look at all their different functions and all their different constituencies.

A

And figure out where the balance should be fair enough. Okay, um our next order of business is.

A

Board member time does anyone have a report or anything they would like to mention.

A

Everybody has said what they needed.

A

Okay, then I see we do have some public uh members here tonight. So.

A

Do we have a list of public comment speakers.

D

Mr sloan robertson, could you come to the front table where you have a microphone.

A

More comfortable, well, I don't know about that. Welcome. Thank you.

J

I guess I'd begin by asking the question, as you were, holding this discussion, I raised my.

J

Hand- and I assumed then, that the public can only provide input during this designated.

J

Period correct that you cannot contribute to a conversation. That's ongoing, correct.

J

Okay, I appreciate that clarification. Thank you. um I have spoken to this board before and I may be.

J

Repeating some things, but I think they're relevant to what's going on here. I have some concerns after.

J

Reading this, I appreciate being able to have the copy to look at while here at the meeting.

J

At the outset, uh from our past ceilings, as you.

J

Know with animal control, we had a local cat colony in saint indigo's.

J

Private land lots of acreage down there, it's once it gets out of the college. There's a lot of.

J

A lot of big open spaces and animal control was absolutely wonderful and working with us, as I.

J

Have mentioned to you, my wife did most of the trapping and we ended up with something like.

J

17 18 animals, they do expand in population and can rather quickly. I would very much be.

J

Against seeing animal control constrained from exercising their best judgment in what to do in.

J

Individual situations so that if they had a trapped animal, they had no choice about.

J

What they were going to do with it, whether that be trap, neuter in return or some other.

J

Policy that is decided upon by the county. They are professionals, they know what they're doing.

J

One of the things that also happened in this colony was the person who had been feeding.

J

Them was moving away if the cats had been trapped, neutered and returned to that area.

J

One of their primary sources of food would have been gone, and winter was coming on.

J

There were kittens that were trapped and there was a good chance. They were going to be adopted and.

J

Following up on your comment, I think that the kittens that were taken up to tri county were.

J

Eminently adoptable, and so, if you mandate that any animal that is trapped must be returned to.

J

Its original location, regardless of whether it's a kitten, an adolescent, adoptable or not, then that.

J

Means that animals going back to where it was, and it might end up having a pretty miserable life.

J

One of the cats that we caught was tipped. We released it, we started feeding it, we brought it.

J

In last winter, it's in our home at night, it's with two brothers that we adopted from tri county who.

J

Are 12 years old? Sometimes they have a little bit of tension, but by and large they get along fine.

J

The reason we first became aware of the colony in its size was because there was a very aggressive.

J

Male, who attacked one of our cats and that cat ended up at the emergency area up in calvary.

J

County did we actually see the cat injured by the other cat? No, but I think that that's what happened.

J

So the fact that if a cat is at large for a nuisance.

J

What constitutes a nuisance, for one person is endangerment for their own pets.

J

And the two boys that we have stay near the house- they're not roamers,.

J

But feral cats are, they have wide territories and they can have multiple partners, and so I guess my.

J

Feeling is is that there are various extenuating circumstances depending on individual cases,.

J

And that to set a rigorous policy that does not allow for interpretation or doing what you think.

J

Really is best for the animals for the county animals that needs to you know. I question that.

J

I think that's about what I have to say right now. Thank you. I appreciate your time. I do think that.

J

uh We all, oh, the other, I did have one other thing: the new shelter, the name in it is adoption, and I.

J

Think if there are cats that are captured that are adoptable and the decision is made that they can.

J

Be adopted, every effort should be made to do that. I don't like to see cats euthanized, particularly.

J

If they're young cats, if they could be basically given homes that are really good homes,.

J

And if there is a steady support, you know a supply food for a colony and the person does.

J

Not mind keeping the colony going and doesn't mind having it on their property. That's their business.

J

And that would be fine, and then I guess what you need to decide is whether.

J

This shelter is going to be responsible for it or whether independent organizations such as diane's.

J

Really are the place that people need to be able to go to if this is something that they support.

J

Thank you. Thank you very much, mr sloan. Thank you. Do we have any other speakers.

A

Melinda um melinda brown: do you need address on this one mechanicsville? If that matters.

K

A couple of points I didn't have really anything coming in tonight to talk about, but just want to.

K

Talk about a few things from tonight's discussion, so one of the things that stood out to me was.

K

There was, there appeared to be a lot of concern about the county, taking on tnr as a role and.

K

However, that works out in any draft policy is fine, but typically what we've seen.

K

Work is where there's some sort of friends of the shelter, a non-profit, that's not directly.

K

Tied to the shelter, but their mission is to raise funds for programs that go.

K

Kind of adjacent to the shelter- something like a tnr, so they would be in a position to try to.

K

Get grants to try to get fundraising done to try and bring in volunteers to support these efforts.

K

There's lots of things like that foster programs that the shelter isn't necessarily.

K

Directly involved in, but they support it through some sort of friends of so that's kind of more.

K

What we see work in a combination municipal like in a county where they accept tnr, but.

K

The county isn't directly taking care of it. Let's see what else did I want to cover here.

K

um Also any kind of tnr policy, I would not foresee um overriding trespassing. You know violating.

K

Someone's private property, so that's something I think they could probably be addressed separately.

K

I understand this is not a wholesale solution, but I think there are some good points here, so I just.

K

Wanted to share my thoughts on that did really quick, non-scientific research as to why we handle.

K

Feral cats differently than we handle feral dogs and societally. I think there's just an acceptance.

K

That feral dog packs become very aggressive when they're out hunting together, whereas feral cat.

K

Colonies, don't tend to do that so again, completely non-scientific, but to respond to that question.

K

I heard a lot of questions about cats causing harm and and this policy specifically that no one's.

K

Adopting limiting animal control's ability to pick up a nuisance cat, I think there's language in the.

K

Current ordinance that defines what is a dangerous dog, and that should also apply to cats. And I would.

K

Think a cat causing harm to a person or an animal would definitely qualify as a dangerous cat and.

K

That would fall outside of the realm of a nuisance cat, so that would be further definition. That's.

K

Needed in the ordinance beyond nuisance, there would need to be something about dangerous cats.

K

I would like to suggest that in two parts I think this this board the staff. I think everyone.

K

Involved has had many many months, tnr cats- all of that has come up for years now and very, very hotly.

K

In the last four months, three to four months, but I keep hearing a lack of education, I don't know what.

K

Is common, I don't know you know what the research says can. Can you guys agree to go, get the get.

K

The data and become educated on that so that the conversation can stop being a perpetual.

K

Discussion of what isn't known and needed to find out so get the information. And then you know.

K

Taking that a step further beyond just educating on what kind of nationally the research says.

K

You know what charles county does: what calvert county does it's great to know those things there.

K

Are local sister counties? However, I think there are, you know maryland as a state doesn't have a.

K

Great record on animal welfare, and so perhaps who we should be looking to or some p you know.

K

Some organizations and some municipalities that have done this very successfully both for their.

K

Citizens and their animals see what's working and let's model ourselves after that, just like.

K

We tried to build a state-of-the-art shelter that really addresses things in a current environment.

K

Instead of looking to what calvert county adopted, who knows how long ago, and maybe it's working for.

K

Them but you know maybe let's take a look at a little broader spectrum and what really works.

K

Out there in that combination, world of animals and citizens, so those are my thoughts. Thank you.

A

Very much thanks, really good thought. I liked the idea of let's look at what's working where.

A

Any other public comment: okay, I'll, take a motion to adjourn the meeting. I moved.

A

Is there a second a second all, those in favor.

A

Motion passes, we are adjourned.

A