08/25/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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J. Dog Control - The joint session was called to discuss and attempt: to bring about a consensus on dog control program in the metropolitan area. Copies of report prepared as the result of meetings between staffs of all three agencies were previously dis- tributed to elected officials of Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County. The report set out goals and objectives for the proposed dog control program: ( 1) Cons tructi on e of an adequate dog control pound as soon as possible; (2)increased effectiveness of the dog control program through decreasing the number of dogs running at large, the number of complaints relating to dog control, and to give timely response to com- plaints; (3) provide a forum for greater communication and co-ordination of dog control efforts; (4) provide uniform licensing, dog population control programs, pound service and adjudication process in the three metropolitan agencies; (5) stabilize the number of dogs in Lane County, especially in the metropolitan area; (6) license all dogs in the county with a first-year objective of 32,000 licenses. Eugene Assistant Manager Keith Martin reviewed the staff recommendations made in re- sponse'to those goals: -To create a tri-agency pound, the site and financing to be the subject of future dis- cussion. However, whichever agency finances its construction is to be reimbursed by the other agencies on a pro rata basis over a five-year period. Management and super- vision of the pound assigned to single agency, and a tri-agency group established at the staff level to determine administrative practices for its operation. Estimated budget figures were included in the report of $110,183 or $118,318 depending upon the facility constructed and included $12,000 for a new veterinary program. -Enforcement action to be provided by a single agency for all three jurisdictions. It was estimated that only 70% of dogs in Lane County are now licensed and the present program is operating at a deficit of almost $100,000 annually among the three agencies. A change in the present pickup policy was recommended - that any dog running at large would be impounded, placing tqe responsibility on the owner to find the animal. -Change licensing program to reflect some consideration for a neutered or spayed e animal - for those animals not spayed or neutered the license fee would go to $9.50 or $9.75. It was recommended that there be a single agency responsible for enforce- ment although it would be possible for each of the three agencies to provide its own enforcement program. In any event uniform enforcement practices would provide greater control throughout the entire area. The question of rabies shots as a prerequisite to licensing was considered moot because of recent state legislation requiring rabies vaccinations. -Establish a more aggressive licensing program that would increase the fee to $9.50, spread the licensing process throughout the year rather than issuing them all during one month, use of a licensing agent by all three agencies, requiring license before release of impounded or adopted~ogs. A breakdown of costs was included in the report. -The dog control program to be self-supporting based on revenues from $9.50 license fees and $15.00 impoundment fee; all three agencies to make use of a hearings officer on a regular weekly schedule in dealing with infractions; and steps to be taken to provide a comprehensive rabies vaccination program as required under state law. ~ssistant Manag:r said that staff people saw the major issue as one of uniformity ~n the ~etropol~tan area regardless of whether the agencies were ready to have self- s~p~ort~ng programs or some subsidy. If an individual agency felt it wanted to sub- s~d~ze ~ts own progra~, that could ~e done,.but staff felt that uniform licensing and enforcement pract~ces was the pr~me concern. He reminded the officials that if the staff report was accepted a future major decision would be necessary with regard to the site of a pound. . Mayor Anderson pointed out that this joint session was for the purpose of arriving at a consensus, not to make any hard and fast decisions. 8/25/75 - 14 4--:7. e,