01-30-06 Special Called City Council Retreat Meeting of La Porte City Council

Browse Search

C� • Proposal for New Animal Shelter The Current Animal Shelter has 21 runs in the kennel with no separate quarantine or isolation area for sick dogs. The proposed shelter would have 46 runs, 38 being in the general population area with 2 of those being extra large for puppies, 4 quarantine runs and 4 isolation runs in separate areas. The current quarantine runs do not meet quarantine standards, but the State has currently not failed the shelter at this time stating that it is a design flaw. The 38 general population runs could be indoor/outdoor runs if location of the proposed shelter permits that type of construction. If this type of construction is permitted if needed we could divide the runs and have 76 runs. 38 runs being indoor and 38 runs being outdoor. The current shelter has 21 cages in the cattery with no separate areas for quarantine or isolation for sick feline. The proposed shelter would have 30 cages in the general population cattery, 6 cages in the quarantine area and 6 in the isolation area. The cages would be larger than the current cages that are being used, which will allow the use of litter pans to help in the cleaning and reduce problems with animals being adopted. The proposed shelter will also have a larger food preparation area that will include a commercial sink with three sections for cleaning food bowls and other items. In the current facility they are using a bar sink to perform these functions. It will also include a washer and dryer so the towels, blankets and other items can be washed and reused; they • are currently being disposed of after one use. There will be a larger area to store food in; they are currently not being able to take advantage of some of the food being donated due to room. It will also have a Pet Acquaintance Room so that people can interact with the animal, which will help with adoptions. People currently have to interact with the animals in the kennel area with all the other animals or in the office area with other people and officers interrupting. This room will help make sure that we are putting the right animals with the right owners and lower the return rate of animals. In the Office area there will be a reception area where business can be conducted. All business is currently being conducted in the office area where officers are working on other cases and all the records are kept. On several occasion citizens have picked up items off of the desk and started going through them. There will also be an office for the supervisor who is currently working on documents like evaluations with the officers that are being evaluated in the same room. Officers will have their own work area to do reports or talk with subjects privately. In the current building there is no private area to conduct interviews where everyone in the building does not have access to the conversation. There will be a break room where officers can eat their lunch, were they are currently eating at the desk in the officer where business is being conducted. There will be separate bathrooms for the public and the employees. The employee restroom will include a shower.