uEST FoRCouycttAcrrox

uEST
FoRCouycttAcrrox
DATE ACTION REQUESTED: Novembet l9'2A12
ohtioo
No.
No.
Motion
-
No.
SUBJECT: Report on policy changes and additions
to the Newberg-Dundee Animal Control Policy.
Information XX-
Contact Person (Preperer) for this RCA.
Brian Casey, Chief of Police
RECOMMENDATION: (Information only)
The purpose is to
Update on policy changes and additions to the Newberg-Dundee Animal ControlPolicy.
and care ofanimals handled by
keep the councii informeO and aware ofthe policies in place for the protection
Newberg-Dundee animal control.
EXECUTIVE STIMMARY:
on
septemb er
3,20l2,Animal Control Officer Darleen Harding responded to a c{l regarding
a
disoriented
turning in circles.
and/oipossibly wounded cat. When she arrived the cat was found in the middle ofthe road
was
Hardin! notei the cat appeared to be missing an eye and had a long scar across its chest. The cat
the
thought
Harding
her
experience,
on
Based
difficult to control and pirceived to be potentially dangerous.
cat was feral andior diseased.
in the rear kennel of
When Harding returned to the shelter, the cat's demeanor had not ahered so she left it
that the cat's
observed
her truck in hopes it would cahn down. Approximate$ two hours later Harding
animals, the
condition and temper had not changed. Harding believed the cat would be a danger to the other
she
volunteers, or heiself, and was either in pain, injured and/or diseased. Based on those observations,
elected to euthanize the cat.
posed too much
Harding did not scan the cat prior to putting it down because she believed the cat's actions
However,
microchip'
a
to
have
of a riik. The cat was scanned after it was put down and was found
identification was not retrievable because the chip was implanted in the UK.
phil White, the cat,s owner, contacted Animal Control on September 4,z}lz,describing his missing cat and
that his cat
confirmed it was his 16-year old cat that Harding had picked-up. Understandably, he was upset
had been euthanized and felt the Cify should have waited 24-hours before taking action.
I,
2012, concerning
addressed the City Council on October
was
euthanized.
his
cat
which
displeasure with the circumstances under
Mr. White
this issue and expressed his
an
Harding has 28 years of experience and there have been no similar issues with her decision to euthanize
animal. However, the police department does recognne that other options could have been considered,
which may have prevented the cat from being euthanized.
In an effort to establish policies and protocol to prevent this situation from reoccurring, Mr' White hasmet
Animal
and worked with members of the Newberg-Dundee Police Department administration, Newberg
parties
have
agreed
Shelter Friends, and the Yamhill Counfy Cat Coalition. From those meetings the involved
City of Nantberg: RCA MortoN
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purchase of equipment, which will prevent similar
changes in policy and protocol, and the additional
quality of service provided by the Newberg-Dundee
incidents from happening again and will irpion" the
to
Animal Control Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
the following equipment:
The Newberg-Dundee Police Department purchased
Avid Mini Tracker with Extension
Tomahawk Live Trap (Squeeze Cage)
Grab Bag (net)
Total
$449'00
$102'96
$85'68
s637 '64
STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT:
law and the euthanasia best practices
Newberg-Dundee Animal control will follow oregon euthanasia
established by the Oregon Humane Society'
without prior approval from a police department
The Animal control officer will not euthanize any animal
supervisor or licensed veterinarian.
before euthanizing'
When appropriate, the Animal Control Officer will use sedation
emergency exists and approval to
No animal will be euthanized without az2-howwaiting period unless an
veterinarian. An emergencyis defined as a
euthanize is given from a police department supervisor iilicensed
dangerous animal, or other condition deemed to
severely injured animal, severely ,irk *irnul, uncontainable
licensed veterinarian'
be an erneigency by a police department supervisor or
and checked for a license or
No dog or cat will be euthanized without first being scanned for a microchip
other form of identification.
by the Animal control officer for all animals
detailed report and log will be completed and maintained
the euthanasia, the
detait the reason the animal was euthanize4 who approved
euthanized. The report
in custody, along
was
period of time the animal
condition of the animal, attempts to identifi the animal, the
with other reporting requirements.
A
iilt
police Department has purchased a new scanner with an extension, a squeoze cage'
The Newberg-Dundee
for sedation and IV training'
and netting, LO *itt consult with a local veterinarian
CttY
of N ewberg: RCA MorIoN
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