Animal Advisory Committee

CAPTIONING MARCH 26, 2014 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.

>>TIM GOLDEN: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE MARCH 26, 2014, MEETING

OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, ANIMAL ADVISORY

COMMITTEE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL THE MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE SIGNED IN.

AND OKAY, WE'VE GOT THE SIGN-IN SHEET UP FRONT HERE.

I'D NEXT LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO STAND AND OBSERVE A MOMENT

OF SILENCE FOR THOSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR FIRST

RESPONDERS, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SERVE.

NEXT I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GOTTEN A COPY

OF THE AGENDA, AND IF THERE ARE NO SUGGESTIONS OR

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES, I'D HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE

THE AGENDA.

>>LISA WALKER: I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. 2

>>TIM GOLDEN: WE HAVE A MOTION BY LISA.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY DR. ADRIANA.

DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION?

ALL IN FAVOR.

[CHORUS OF AYES]

OPPOSED?

THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

EVERYBODY HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE MINUTES?

ANY CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES, ADDITIONS, COMPLICATIONS?

AGAIN, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS

PRINTED.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY MARY BIRRELL, A SECOND BY DR. CHRISTY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING, AYE.

[CHORUS OF AYES]

OPPOSED?

PUBLIC SIGN-IN AND COMMENT.

CAN WE HAVE THE PUBLIC SIGN-IN SHEET THERE?

WHILE I AM GETTING THAT, I'D LIKE TO READ THIS BRIEF

STATEMENT.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

THE COMMITTEE WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT ANY 3

ISSUE OR CONCERN RELATED TO ANIMAL SERVICES OR ANIMAL

ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOUR OPINIONS ARE VALUED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INPUT TO THE

COMMITTEE MEMBERS; HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED AT THE SAME

TIME WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE THAT COMMENTS ARE NOT

DIRECTED PERSONALLY TOWARD A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OR

STAFF BUT, RATHER, DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES.

THIS PROVIDES A MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE

MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.

THE COMMITTEE HAS SET ASIDE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CHANGES AND THE ADOPTION OF THE

AGENDA AND THE MINUTES.

AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR, THE COMMITTEE MAY AGAIN

HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

PEOPLE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMITTEE UNDER PUBLIC

COMMENTS SHOULD SIGN ON THE SIGN-IN ROSTER.

THEY HAVE.

WHEN ADDRESSING THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND

ADDRESS AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.

THREE MINUTES ARE ALLOWED FOR EACH SPEAKER.

DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WILL TIME?

CAN DO THE THREE-MINUTE TIMER?

WELL, LOOKS LIKE WE'VE ONLY GOT ONE SPEAKER, SO OKAY.

THANK YOU. 4

AND THAT IS BILL GRAY.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS BILL GRAY.

I LIVE AT 6106 WEST KNIGHTS-GRIFFIN ROAD, PLANT CITY.

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF SECOND CHANCE BOXER RESCUE AND SECOND

CHANCE FRIENDS.

WE'VE BEEN KNOWN TO PULL ANY BREED OF DOG AND EVEN A CAT

ONCE IN A WHILE.

AT ONE TIME, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS OUR MAIN PRIMARY

SHELTER THAT WE PULLED FROM.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AS THINGS DETERIORATED, WE KIND OF

SPREAD OUT OVER THE STATE.

WE PULL FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, EVEN LOUISIANA AND

GEORGIA.

BECAUSE I'VE LIVED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEARLY 20 YEARS,

THIS IS HOME, I JUST FEEL A LOYALTY TO HCAS, AND I FELT

LIKE I SHOULD COME TONIGHT AND SPEAK OUT ON A COUPLE OF

THINGS.

MY BIG CONCERN AT HCAS RIGHT NOW AND HAS BEEN FOR A FEW

YEARS IS THE CARE OF THE ANIMALS.

I AM NOT HERE TO BEAT UP ON SCOTT, HE IS JUST GETTING

STARTED, BUT I WOULD EXPECT THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY OF HIS

TOO, AND I WOULD ALSO EXPECT IT TO BE FIXED SOON.

BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES, AND I'LL TALK FAST 5

BECAUSE I WILL NEVER GET THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT WITH

THESE FEW EXAMPLES, I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THIS TYPE OF CARE

IS RAMPANT IN THIS SHELTER.

THESE CANNOT JUST BE THE EXCEPTIONS BUT, RATHER, THE RULE.

THERE'S A DOG IN THE SHELTER NAMES LYCOS, HAD HIM LISTED AS

A BOXER MIX, LITTLE TINY DOG, 38 POUNDS.

CAME IN ON JANUARY 30.

HE HAD VARIOUS ABRASIONS.

HIS END OF HIS TAIL HAD BEEN DEGLOVED, AND HE WAS LAME.

HE WASN'T ABLE TO STAND ON HIS LEFT REAR LEG.

THAT WAS ON JANUARY 30.

BETWEEN THEN AND FEBRUARY 21, PAIN MEDS WERE ADMINISTERED,

BUT AS A VETERINARIAN READING THIS AND I MAY BE ABLE TO

TELL YOU, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE PAIN MEDS WERE

CONSISTENTLY GIVEN.

ON FEBRUARY 31, THREE WEEKS AFTER HE ENTERED THE SHELTER,

THE SHELTER SENT HIM OVER TO BLUE PEARL TO BE X-RAYED AND

FOUND OUT HE HAD A SEVERE FRACTURE TO HIS HIP.

I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THIS DOG.

NO ONE CALLED ME.

BOXER MIX.

THERE'S TWO BOXER RESCUES IN THE AREA.

THE OTHER ONE DOES NOT TAKE MIXES.

WE DO. 6

A VOLUNTEER SENT ME A PICTURE OF THIS DOG, SAID IT'S SCARED

TO DEATH, IN PAIN, AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR WEEKS.

I CONTACTED THE SHELTER, HE MAILED THEM.

THEY RESPONDED THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A RESCUE.

>> YOU HAVE ANOTHER 30 SECONDS.

>> AH, 30 SECONDS.

I AM SORRY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE PULLED THE DOG, GOT HIM TO DR. HEY WHO SAID THEY WAITED

TOO LONG.

HIS HIP WILL NEVER BE REPAIRED.

THIS LAST WEEK, I GOT A PICTURE SENT TO ME BY A VOLUNTEER,

A WHITE BOXER WITH A LITTER OF PUPPIES LAYING IN A RUN WITH

A GUILLOTINE DOOR OPEN.

THIS WAS THE DAY IT WAS RAINING, THUNDERSTORMING, TORNADO

WATCH.

I GOT IN THE CAR, DROVE OVER THERE, VERIFIED WHAT THE

PICTURE SHOWED, GOT SCOTT.

SCOTT CAME AND LOOKED AT IT, AND HE FIXED IT IMMEDIATELY.

BEFORE I WENT TO THAT SHELTER, I CAN FIND NO RECORD WHERE

HCAS EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THOSE PUPPIES WERE BORN.

THEY WERE BORN IN THE RUN BY HERSELF OVER THE WEEKEND.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY. 7

IT WAS AFTER I WENT TO THE SHELTER, THEN IT ENDED UP IN THE

RECORD.

BUT THERE'S ALSO NO RECORD THAT A VET HAS EVEN LOOKED AT

THESE PUPPIES.

THERE'S JUST CASE AFTER CASE WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE NOT

BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

I AM NOT A -- I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON SHELTER MANAGEMENT, BUT

I WOULD THINK THAT TAKING CARE OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE

THERE WOULD BE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND I DON'T THINK IT

SHOULD TAKE MONTHS, SINCE NOVEMBER, WHEN IAN LEFT, IT

SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN MONTHS FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF TO BE

RECTIFIED.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECTIFIED IN A COUPLE HOURS.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY IN THERE TO LOOK

AT THE ANIMALS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND FIND ANIMALS LIKE

THIS THAT NEED HELP AND GET THEM HELP, NOTIFY RESCUES, AND

GET THEM OUT.

>>TIM GOLDEN: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GRAY.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: CHAIR, CAN WE GET COPIES OF THOSE SENT TO

THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE?

>>TIM GOLDEN: YES, IF YOU WOULD PROVIDE THOSE TO JOHN THERE.

AND HE'LL DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION TO US.

THANK YOU, DR. MIKE. 8

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

ANYBODY ELSE?

THAT'S PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS EVENING.

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR.

BEFORE I GET TO THE SCHEDULED AGENDA ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO

MENTION, BESIDES A NEW DIRECTOR, WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER ON

OUR COMMITTEE TONIGHT, AND FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE

JACK TALMAN FOR ALL OF HIS EFFORTS AND HIS YEARS ON THIS

COMMITTEE.

HE WAS CONSISTENTLY HERE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON ANYTHING BUT THAT WE WANTED TO

SAVE THE ANIMALS AND MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER AND PROTECT

THE PUBLIC IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

AGAIN, I WANT TO GIVE HIM MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FROM

MYSELF AND FROM ALL OF US HERE AND THANK HIM FOR HIS

EFFORTS.

I IMAGINE WE WILL STILL BE SEEING HIM AROUND IF HISTORY IS

ANY INDICATOR.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBER, WHICH, BY THE

WAY, JOHN, IN THE FUTURE, WHEN WE GET A NEW MEMBER, IF YOU

WOULD LET ME KNOW.

JUST A LITTLE --

JUST A LITTLE HEADS-UP. 9

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RESTRAINED SO MUCH BY SUNSHINE THAT

WE TYPICALLY DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

YOU ARE OUR SOLE CONDUIT FOR THE MOST PART, SO IF THERE'S

ANY INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO KNOW, THEN GO AHEAD AND GET

IT TO US.

BUT LET'S START OVER HERE WITH AN INTRODUCTION, AND WE WILL

GO AROUND THE ROOM AND KIND OF INTRODUCE OURSELVES.

>>DENISE LASHER: WELL, I'M DENISE LASHER, AND I WAS

APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER KEN HAGAN, AND SO IT'S A REAL

HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP.

I'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN MANY WAYS FOR A

LONG TIME, NOT IN THE MOST RECENT YEARS, BUT I DO -- JUST

TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND REAL QUICK, I'M CURRENTLY

SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN TALLAHASSEE.

I WORK UP THERE MONITORING LEGISLATION.

ONE OF THE FOLKS I WORK WITH IS BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THRILLED TO BE HERE.

I ACTUALLY HAVE A MAJOR IN ANIMAL SCIENCE FROM UNIVERSITY

OF DELAWARE BACK IN THE OLD DAYS, AND WORKED IN THE ANIMAL

HEALTH INDUSTRY FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN MOVED

ON TO OTHER THINGS IN MY PROFESSION, BUT MY DAD WAS A VET.

HE'S PASSED ON.

AND SO I, YOU KNOW, JUST THRILLED TO BE HERE AND BE ABLE TO

ADVOCATE FOR THE ANIMALS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE IN THIS 10

COUNTY.

AND I, TOO, RECOGNIZE ALL THE GREAT YEARS IN SERVICE THAT

JACK PROVIDED TO THIS GROUP.

IT'S BIG SHOES TO FILL.

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF TRYING TO FILL HIS SHOES.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WELCOMING ME TONIGHT, AND I LOOK

FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU GUYS WITHIN THE

SUNSHINE LAWS.

[LAUGHTER]

>>TIM GOLDEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DENISE.

WELCOME HERE.

LET'S GO AROUND THE TABLE.

>>ADRIANA ODACHOWSKI: I AM ADRIANA ODACHOWSKI, A

VETERINARIAN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

I AM REPRESENTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VETERINARIAN MEDICAL

SOCIETY.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: MIKE HAWORTH, THE OTHER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVE.

>>CHRISTY LAYTON: I AM DR. CHRISTY LAYTON, VETERINARIAN IN

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS WELL, AND COMMISSIONER AL

HIGGINBOTHAM'S REPRESENTATIVE.

>>LISA WALKER: LISA WALKER, PRESIDENT OF THE MID AMERICAN

PIT BULL TERRIER ASSOCIATION, AND I REPRESENT COMMISSIONER

MILLER. 11

NICE TO MEET YOU.

WELCOME.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: HI.

I'M JEN FADAL, I OWN A NATURAL PET STORE CALLED WAG ON

DAVIS ISLAND.

I AM COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S REPRESENTATIVE.

>>TIM GOLDEN: I'M TIM GOLDEN.

I AM CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY,

FLORIDA, DOG FANCIERS.

WE ARE A KENNEL CLUB DOING CONFIRMATION AS WELL AS

OBEDIENCE AND PERFORMANCE EVENTS.

WORKING WITH 4-H AND THE KIDS, WE'VE DEVELOPED SAFETY

PROGRAMS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH -- THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS.

AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER OF THE TABLE SINCE 2007.

>>MARY BIRRELL: I'M MARY BIRRELL, CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT

AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY.

WELCOME ABOARD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

>>JOE TESTA: HI.

I'M JOE TESTA.

I WORK WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BEEN 12

THERE ABOUT 27 YEARS, SO I KIND OF SEE THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF

WHAT HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO DOGS ON THE

STREETS AND CATS ON THE STREETS AND OTHER ANIMALS.

SO HOPEFULLY BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE IN THAT RESPECT

TO THE BOARD.

WELCOME ABOARD, AND I'M COMMISSIONER CRIST'S APPOINTEE.

>>TIM GOLDEN: GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, AND I'M COMMISSIONER SHARPE'S APPOINTEE.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW

DIRECTOR, SCOTT TREBATOSKI.

WE'VE GOT A FORMAL INTRODUCTION.

>> I AM NOT SCOTT.

I JUST NEED TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR YOU TO

EXPLAIN SOME THINGS TO YOU, THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SCOTT

SO HE CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE THINGS YOU REALLY WANT TO

THERE'S BEEN A REORGANIZATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I

JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW THAT IMPACTS THE CHAIN OF

COMMAND, SO TO SPEAK, WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL SERVICES.

DEXTER BARGE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT COUNTY

ADMINISTRATOR, AND UNDER THE REORGANIZATION, ANIMAL

SERVICES WAS A DEPARTMENT; IT'S NOW BEING A DIVISION.

CODE ENFORCEMENT WAS A DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S NOW BECOME A 13

DIVISION.

THE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY CALLED CODE ENFORCEMENT AND

ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A PROPOSED NAME CHANGE FORTHCOMING THAT I'LL LET

SCOTT TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

I AM NOW THE DIRECTOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ANIMAL

SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

SO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, SO TO SPEAK, IN REGARDS TO THE

SHELTER IS THROUGH SCOTT TO ME TO DEXTER AND THEN ON UP

FROM THERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO FILL YOU IN ON THAT SO THAT IF YOU HEAR

DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, THAT KIND OF THING, IT'S KIND OF

CONFUSING, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A STRUCTURAL CHANGE, AND

THAT'S HOW IT IMPACTS THE SHELTER.

WITH THAT SAID, WITH NO QUESTIONS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO

SCOTT.

>>TIM GOLDEN: ANYONE?

YES, DR. CHRISTY.

>>CHRISTY LAYTON: LAST MONTH WE DISCUSSED MR. LINEBAUGH'S

REPORT, AND YOU SAID HE WAS OUT OF COUNTRY BUT WOULD TRY TO

GET HIM HERE THIS TIME TO DISCUSS IT.

IS THAT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE?

OR ARE WE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE

REPORT? 14

>> I MADE HIM AWARE OF LAST MONTH'S MEETING.

HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TONIGHT, BUT HE SAID HE HAD'S WELCOME

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THAT WITH YOU

INDIVIDUALLY IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO SEND HIM AN EMAIL, HE

COULD ARRANGE A TIME THAT HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN

WITH YOU AND GO OVER THAT.

>>CHRISTY LAYTON: IS HE INVOLVED IN ANIMAL SERVICES AT ALL

ANYMORE, OR IS HE COMPLETELY OUT OF IT?

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING HE'S BEEN MOVED ON TO ANOTHER

ASSIGNMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY I DON'T KNOW.

>>CHRISTY LAYTON: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: HI.

I'M JEN FADAL.

WERE THERE ANY OTHER NEW DEPARTMENTS CONFIGURED WHEN YOU

DID THE REORGANIZATION, OR WAS IT JUST CODE ENFORCEMENT

COMBINED WITH ANIMAL SERVICES?

>> NO, MA'AM.

IT WAS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND A NUMBER OF TITLES WERE CHANGED.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, DEXTER NOW HAS -- HIS DEPARTMENTS ARE THE

ONES THAT I MENTIONED, VETERANS AFFAIRS, PARKS AND

RECREATION, THAT WAS GROUPED TOGETHER. 15

AND THERE WAS AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD REORGANIZATION.

THAT'S THE PART THAT WILL IMPACT THE SHELTER.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

>>TIM GOLDEN: LET ME CLARIFY THIS, THEN.

WOULD DEXTER BE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNTY

ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE OVER CODE AND ANIMAL SERVICES?

>> YES, SIR.

>> OKAY.

SO SHARON SUBADAN IS NOT ANY LONGER?

SO THAT'S WHO WE NEED TO GO TALK TO IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO

THE TOP DOG.

BESIDES THE OTHER TOP DOGS WE HAVE IN THE ROOM RIGHT HERE.

APPRECIATE IT.

SCOTT, COME ON UP.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT ANY FACTS AND

FIGURES YOU HAVE AND QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: HI.

I'M SCOTT TREBATOSKI.

I AM THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE ANIMAL SERVICES DIVISION.

TO GIVE YOU -- AM I COMING ACROSS THE MIC WELL?

I DON'T KNOW IF I AM ADJUSTED. 16

>>TIM GOLDEN: I CAN HEAR YOU.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: ALL RIGHT.

JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUNDS.

I AM NOT ORIGINALLY FROM THE ANIMAL WELFARE FIELD OR, PER

SE, AS FAR AS TRAINING.

I HAVE A FINANCE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND THEN I HAVE A

MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FOCUSING ON HUMAN

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

SO HOW I GOT INTO ANIMAL SERVICES TYPE WORK IS A LITTLE

CONVOLUTED, BUT FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, THAT'S WHAT I'VE

BEEN DOING.

BOTH OF THE SHELTERS THAT I HAVE HEADED UP HAVE BEEN

RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE AS THE BEST AT LEAST PART OF MY

JACKSONVILLE, WHERE I MOST RECENTLY CAME FROM, FOR THE LAST

THREE YEARS HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE TOP SHELTER IN THE

STATE, AND THEY PASSED WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE JACKSONVILLE

RULE, SO YOU CAN NO LONGER GET CONSECUTIVE AWARDS.

IT'S TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE A CHANCE IN BETWEEN.

SO THAT'S WHERE I KIND OF HOPE TO SEE US GOING IN THE

FUTURE, ALTHOUGH I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WON'T BE

ABLE TO WIN CONSECUTIVELY BECAUSE I KNOW WE WILL BE

QUALIFIED TO WIN CONSECUTIVELY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

NOT ONLY DID I WORK LOCALLY, BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN 17

A LOT OF NATIONAL CONSULTING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO I

NOT ONLY HAVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE, BUT I'VE SEEN A LOT OF

SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY, SO I

BRING A REAL WIDE PICTURE OF WHAT I'M SEEING AND WHERE I

SEE THINGS GOING, NOT JUST FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT

FROM REACHING OUT TO OTHER SHELTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AS

SO WITH THAT SAID, I AM GOING TO KIND OF RUN THROUGH SOME

QUICK BULLET POINTS, JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW.

TODAY HAS BEEN A CRAZY DAY FOR ME, SO SOME OF THE STUFF --

I AM VERY WELL ORGANIZED.

IT'S JUST SITTING ON MY DESK.

SO LITERALLY, FROM THE START OF THIS MORNING WITH A MEETING

WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR UNTIL NOW, THE ONLY BREAKS

I'VE HAD IS TRAVELING BETWEEN MEETINGS.

SO IT'S BEEN KIND OF A CRAZY DAY.

SO IF I KIND OF DON'T SOUND 100% LIKE I'M MAKING SENSE,

WAVE OR SOMETHING SO I REALIZE I'M LIKE FALLING ASLEEP

WHILE I'M TALKING OR SOMETHING.

THE STAFF, I THINK, IS GREAT AT ANIMAL SERVICES.

I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

I REALLY DIDN'T FOLLOW THAT.

I AM NOT REALLY SOMEBODY WHO GETS INVOLVED IN THAT KIND OF

STUFF. 18

I AM NOT SOMEBODY WHO PARTICULARLY PAYS SUPER-CLOSE

ATTENTION TO THE MEDIA, FACEBOOK, THINGS -- I'VE GOT A

GENERATION GAP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I'VE NOT ATTEMPTED TO

FILL THAT GAP.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE TIME TO DO THAT.

I FIGURE ANYTHING THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT WILL GET BACK TO

ME ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

SO I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT TYPE OF BACK-AND-FORTH.

AND I AM TRYING TO ORIENT MY STAFF TO DO THE SAME.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND NOT WORRY

ABOUT RUMORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S JUST A

DISTRACTION.

I THINK THAT ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY, THE PEOPLE ARE VERY

EXCITED.

THEY'RE WANTING TO MAKE THE CHANGES.

THEY'RE WANTING SOME GOOD DIRECTION, WILLING TO JUST SORT

OF DROP WHAT IS IN THEIR MIND, ALL THEIR LITTLE -- BECAUSE

I TOLD THEM THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT I AM HERE FOR.

I DON'T REALLY WANT TO REVISIT WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MOVE FORWARD AND GET THEM THINKING THE

SAME WAY.

I UNDERSTAND THEY PROBABLY HAVE HAD SOME REALLY BAD HURT 19

FEELINGS ALONG THE WAY, AND LET'S JUST WIPE THAT SLIDE

CLEAN AND MOVE ON FROM THERE.

SO ONE OF MY MAIN FOCUSES IS GETTING THEM GEARED UP TO

BETTER UNDERSTAND CUSTOMER SERVICE.

ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN OUT THERE KNOWS IT'S A PRETTY

DIFFICULT CUSTOMER SERVICE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE'RE NOT DOING

THE JOB THAT WE CAN DO OUT THERE.

SO THAT'S ONE OF MY FIRST FOCUSES BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT

MAKING THAT CONTACT FROM A CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDPOINT,

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT

FOLLOWS.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I AM TRYING TO GET THEM TO FOCUS

THEIR ATTENTION ON IS THAT THE SHELTER ITSELF SHOULD BE A

TEMPORARY STOPPING POINT FOR THESE ANIMALS ON THEIR WAY TO

NEW HOMES, RESCUES, PARTNERS, WHATEVER IT IS, AND NOT TO

FEEL LIKE THESE ARE MY ANIMALS, AND I AM GOING TO KEEP THEM

BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH OF COMPANION ANIMALS

IN THIS NATION IS THEM BEING IN SHELTERS.

SO CLEARLY, THE WAY YOU RESOLVE THIS IS YOU'VE GOT TO GET A

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND MOVE THE ANIMALS THROUGH THE

SHELTER QUICKLY, WHICH ALSO SHOULD BE BETTER FOR THEIR

HEALTH AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE STRESS OF A SHELTER ENVIRONMENT, REGARDLESS OF HOW GOOD

PROCEDURES YOU HAVE IN THERE, WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE ITS TOLL 20

ON THE ANIMALS THAT ARE MASS HOUSED LIKE THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO BE SHIFTING IMMEDIATE FOCUS, AS SOON AS WE

GET OUR MANAGING VETERINARIAN ON ON MONDAY, TO GETTING

EVERYTHING STERILIZED BEFORE IT GOES TO ADOPTIONS,

BEFORE -- RATHER THAN WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO SAY I AM

INTERESTED IN THIS ANIMAL; WE ARE GOING TO STERILIZE IT --

THAT'S ALMOST A PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK ON THE ANIMALS.

WELL, LET'S NOT WASTE OUR TIME ON THIS ANIMAL BECAUSE IT

MIGHT BE EUTHANIZED.

I AM MORE THE OPPOSITE.

LET'S STERILIZE EVERYTHING AND GET IT UP THERE UNLESS IT'S

A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND WHATEVER.

AND IF FOR SOME REASON IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO

EUTHANIZE IT, AT LEAST THAT'S NOW WE WENT INTO IT.

WE WENT INTO IT WITH THE HOPE THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE

ADOPTED.

AND WE ARE DEALING WITH -- AND FORGIVE ME, I HAVE A VERY

STRONG BUSINESS BACKGROUND.

I'VE OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE PAST, SO FORGIVE ME WHEN I

TALK SOMETIMES IN BUSINESS TERMS BECAUSE I DO LOVE THE

ANIMALS.

IT'S JUST THAT THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE.

YOU KNOW, OUR COMPETITION CAN TURN THESE ANIMALS OVER A LOT

MORE QUICKLY THAN WE CAN, AND PEOPLE HAVE BECOME SO -- I 21

DON'T -- INDOCTRINATED INTO INSTANTANEOUS GRATIFICATION

THAT TO TELL THEM THEY'VE GOT TO COME BACK IN TWO OR THREE

DAYS TO GET THE ANIMAL IS GOING TO AND HAS PROBABLY COST

ADOPTIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPATIENT.

NOT EVERYBODY.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET BACK OUT IN FRONT OF THAT SO

THAT THE GOAL WOULD BE AS THEIR HOLD TIMES EXPIRE, THEY

IMMEDIATELY WOULD BE PROCESSED FOR STERILIZATION AND BE

READY THEN SO THAT IT'S NOT THE CUSTOMER SAYING I WANT TO

ADOPT AND WAIT THREE OR FOUR DAYS AND WE MAKE A MISTAKE AND

IT TAKES THEMSELVES TWO MORE DAYS BEFORE IT GETS ON THE

SCHEDULE.

THE SCHEDULE WILL BE BASED ON THE ANIMAL'S TIME SO IT'S

VERY EASY TO TELL WHAT THE NEXT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE ON

THE SCHEDULE BECAUSE THE HOLD PERIODS WILL CLEARLY SHOW

WHAT -- WHAT'S THERE.

SO THE VETERINARY STAFF SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAN AHEAD

BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL DAYS OF FOREWARNING OF WHAT'S

COMING UP.

SO THAT'S A GOAL.

OBVIOUSLY, GETTING FROM WHERE WE ARE TO THERE ISN'T GOING

TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT I'VE GOTTEN A PRETTY STRONG

COMMITMENT THAT THEY BELIEVE WE CAN GET THERE ONCE THE NEW

SURGICAL AREA IS UP AND RUNNING. 22

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN OUT AT THE SHELTER IN THE

PAST, IT WAS A VERY, VERY SMALL MEDICAL AREA COMPARED TO A

LOT OF SHELTERS IN THE NATION THAT I HAVE BEEN TO.

NOW IT'S ALMOST THE OPPOSITE.

NOW IT'S ALMOST STATE-OF-THE-ART, A LOT BETTER THAN MOST OF

THE SHELTERS, SO IT'S A HUGE STEP FORWARD.

MORE TABLES, MORE SPACE, MORE EQUIPMENT, PROPER EQUIPMENT.

I THINK IT WILL HELP US TREMENDOUSLY IN THAT EFFORT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON IN

COUNTY AND SOME OF THE STRUCTURE THAT'S HERE THAT'S A

LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST TWO PLACES THAT I'VE WORKED

GOVERNMENT-WISE IS THE SPEED.

I AM SORT OF A GUY WHO LIKES TO GET EVERYTHING DONE RIGHT

NOW, AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY, GIVEN OTHER

PROCESSES.

SO I'M STILL TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT.

MY DESIRE TO CHANGE THINGS IS MOVING FASTER THAN MY ABILITY

TO CHANGE THINGS AT THIS POINT, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL FIND A

HAPPY MEDIUM IN THERE.

THE CAT PROGRAM, THE SOP IS IN ITS VERY, VERY FINAL STAGES.

I STARTED REVIEWING IT, MAKING SOME NOTES SO THAT WE CAN

MAYBE CHANGE SOME OF WHAT'S IN THERE TO I THINK GET MORE IN

LINE WITH WHAT YOU GUYS WERE ASKING AT THE LAST MEETING,

THAT SOME PIECES LOOKED LIKE THEY WEREN'T CLEAR COMPARED TO 23

THE ORIGINAL BE YOUR WAY HOME PLAN.

I HOPE THAT I KIND OF MOVED THAT DIRECTION.

WE ARE REVIEWING IT, TRYING TO DOUBLE-CHECK, MAKE SURE

THOSE THINGS ARE FILLED IN.

THEN WHEN THAT'S READY, THAT WILL BE ROLLED OUT.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE SHORTLY.

I SEE THIS AS THE VERY, VERY LAST STEP AFTER TAKING SOME OF

YOUR CONCERNS.

I HAPPENED TO WATCH THE MEETING ONLINE.

IT WAS THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET UP TO SPEED, SO I AM A

LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST MEETING.

WE ARE GOING TO START CHANGING SOME TERMINOLOGY.

I HAD A NOTICE THAT YOU GUYS WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND

TRANSITION AND SOME OF THESE OTHER TERMS THAT HAVE BEEN

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'VE RE-CREATED WORDS FOR THINGS

THAT ARE DONE UNIVERSALLY ELSEWHERE.

SO THE TERMINOLOGY OF THIS WHOLE TRANSITIONAL ANIMAL, WE

ARE GOING TO DO AWAY WITH THAT.

IT'S MUCH MORE SIMPLE THAN THAT.

NOT NECESSARILY THE PROGRAM, BUT WE ARE GOING TO CALL

THINGS WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE KNOWN INDUSTRYWIDE AS.

SO WE'LL HAVE ADOPTION, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST SIMPLE 24

THING.

IT'S NOW YOUR ANIMAL, THANK YOU, GOOD LUCK, AND OUT THE

WE ARE HOPEFULLY NEVER GOING TO SEE THE ANIMAL BACK AGAIN

BECAUSE IT FOUND ITSELF A FOREVER HOME.

AND I ALSO PUT TRANSFERS TO OTHER SHELTERS IN THAT.

HOPEFULLY THAT'S A FINAL GOOD-BYE FOR THAT ANIMAL FROM THE

SHELTER TO A PERMANENT HOME, WHETHER IT'S DIRECTLY OR

THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.

FOSTER IN GENERAL TERMS IS AN ANIMAL THAT NEEDS SOMETHING

TO MAKE IT ADOPTABLE FROM WHERE IT IS TO BEING ADOPTABLE.

THAT COULD BE MEDICAL, IT COULD BE ONGOING TREATMENT, LIKE

SAY A HEARTWORM TREATMENT.

IF WE ARE GOING TO TREAT THE ANIMAL, IT NEEDS QUIET, IT

NEEDS -- SO JUST GIVING IT TO AN ADOPTER KNOWING MOST OF

OUR -- WELL, OUR ADOPTERS FALL INTO TWO PRIMARY CATEGORIES,

REPEAT ADOPTERS WHO HAVE ADOPTED FROM A SHELTER BEFORE AND

FIRST-TIME PET OWNERS.

THOSE ARE OUR TWO MAIN ADOPTING CATEGORIES.

SOMETHING LIKE HEARTWORM, WHERE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT

QUIET MEANS, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A

FOSTER OR SOME OTHER KIND OF A PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT

ANIMAL DOESN'T GO HOME, GET RUN DOWN THE BLOCK BY THE KIDS,

AND END UP DYING BECAUSE THAT'S BAD FOR THE ANIMAL DURING 25

THE TREATMENT.

SO THOSE ARE YOUR TWO PRIMARY TERMS.

WHAT WILL PROBABLY FILL THIS LITTLE HOLE OF WHAT WAS CALLED

THE TRANSITION BEFORE WOULD BE A FASTER TO ADOPT.

SO BASICALLY, THERE'S SOME REASON THIS ANIMAL CAN'T GO UP

FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION, BUT MAYBE THESE PEOPLE ARE

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING IT OR REHOMING IT THEMSELVES.

AND THIS PROVIDES THAT BRIDGE TO THEM.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT EXPLAINS THE THREE MAJOR ROUTES AND TAKES

THAT OTHER TERM OUT JUST BECAUSE IF YOU TRY TO TALK WITH

OTHER SHELTERS, NO ONE'S EVER GOING TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE

TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT TERM USED IN 15

YEARS OF DOING THIS.

SO TRYING TO STANDARD IDENTIFIES A LITTLE BIT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I WOULD BE GLAD TO

ASK, BUT THAT'S HOW I AM TRYING TO NARROW THINGS DOWN.

AS RON HAD MENTIONED, WE ARE PROPOSING A NEW NAME AND A NEW

GRAPHIC OR LOGO, AND THIS IS WHERE I HAD THESE BEAUTIFUL

PACKETS READY FOR YOU, AND I DON'T HAVE THEM, BUT WHAT I

DID DO IS I HAD ANOTHER MEETING THIS MORNING WITH THE

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, SO I WAS ABLE TO SALVAGE SOME OF THE

STUFF FROM THEM, SO I APOLOGIZE.

I AM GOING TO HAVE A FEW COPIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE

CIRCULATED AROUND. 26

I CAN GET YOU ALL A COPY.

IT'S JUST THEY ARE ALL SITTING ON MY DESK RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ALONG WITH THIS WHOLE WIPING THE

SLATE CLEAN, WE WANT TO ALSO REFOCUS ON WHAT OUR -- WHAT I

SEE OUR FUTURE MISSION AS, AND SO I'M PROPOSING THAT WE GO

FROM ANIMAL SERVICES, WHICH IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE NAME,

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, IT'S DEFINITELY AN

INDUSTRY STANDARD, TO BEING CALLED THE PET RESOURCE CENTER.

AND MY RATIONALE BEHIND THAT IS I DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO

ASSOCIATE OUR FUNCTION PRIMARILY WITH THE GUYS WHO COME OUT

AND WRITE TICKETS AND THE PLACE I DUMP MY ANIMAL WHEN I

DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE.

WHAT I WANT IS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY FALL INTO

A SITUATION WHERE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR

ANIMAL, THERE MIGHT BE ALTERNATIVES.

AND WE WILL TALK TO THEM ABOUT IF THEY NEED TO GET FOOD.

THE PROGRAM IS BEING DONE NATIONALLY.

IT'S CALLED PET SAFETY NET.

KIND OF COACHING PEOPLE THROUGH.

ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE ANIMALS THAT CAME THROUGH MY

PREVIOUS SHELTER WERE ABLE TO STAY IN HOMES IF YOU JUST

FOUND THE RIGHT RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I AM TRYING TO REFLECT HERE IS THAT I'D

RATHER SEE US AS A BIGGER RESOURCE, MEANING OVER THE LONG- 27

TERM, EDUCATION, TRAINING, PARTNERSHIPS, THINGS LIKE THAT,

NOT THE POUND, NOT THE FIRST PLACE I GO TO DUMP MY ANIMAL.

YOU KNOW, TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.

ALONG WITH THAT WILL COME EVENTUALLY MORE OF A COMMUNITY-

BASED ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE, LIKE YOU'VE SEEN LAW

ENFORCEMENT GO TO OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO.

THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, NOW CALLED -- I THINK I GOT

THIS RIGHT -- ANIMAL SAFETY AND ENFORCEMENT SECTION OF THE

DIVISION -- WILL BE COMING BACK EVENTUALLY TO ANIMAL

SERVICES.

WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON THAT TRANSITION.

I HAVE A VERY STRONG BACKGROUND IN THE FLORIDA ANIMAL

CONTROL ASSOCIATION.

I'VE WRITTEN THE STATE CERTIFICATION COURSE AND EXAM.

SO I HAVE A VERY STRONG FEELING THAT WE DON'T GET WHERE WE

NEED TO BE AS A COMMUNITY UNLESS THE SHELTER AND

ENFORCEMENT ARE A SINGLE JOINED UNIT BECAUSE SOME OF OUR

FIRST POINTS OF CONTACT AND ONLY CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC IS

THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS.

AND SO IN ORDER FOR US TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE, THEY

HAVE TO BE AMBASSADORS AS WELL AS ENFORCEMENT AND THINK

MORE PROACTIVELY THAN REACTIVELY.

I AM 100% NOT OPPOSED TO ENFORCEMENT.

YOU CAN TALK TO ANY OF THE PLACES I'VE BEEN. 28

I DO BELIEVE IN STRONG ENFORCEMENT WHEN IT'S NECESSARY.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE TO

TAKE SOMEBODY WHO MAY HAVE GROWN UP FOR GENERATIONS

TREATING THEIR ANIMALS THE WAY THEIR DAD DID, THEIR

GRANDFATHER BEFORE THEM, AND REEDUCATE THEM WHAT THE RIGHT

THING TO DO IS AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT

RETRAINING.

NOW, IF THEY REFUSE TO DO THAT, OBVIOUSLY, ENFORCEMENT

ALWAYS COMES BACK INTO PLAY, BUT SOMETIMES I THINK WE DON'T

GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS IN SOME CASES,

AND WE'VE GOT TO TEACH THEM WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS.

SO THAT'S -- LIKE I SAY, THIS IS SORT OF JUST A TRIAL

BALLOON OUT THERE.

THERE'S BEEN NO DECISIONS MADE ON THIS.

THIS IS JUST A PROPOSAL THAT I PUT FORWARD, AND THE COUNTY

COMMISSION WILL SEE IT NEXT TUESDAY AT THEIR MEETING.

I'VE TRIED SHOWING IT AROUND WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT.

I WENT TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY THE OTHER DAY TO MEET WITH

SHERRY, AND I BROUGHT A COPY TO SHOW HER.

I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE SHOWN IT TO THE FRIENDS -- ANYTIME I

GET A CHANCE, JOUST TO GET THE FEEDBACK AS LIKE IT, DON'T

LIKE IT, WHATEVER, AND THEN WHENEVER WE DO GET MORE FIRM, I

WILL DEFINITELY KEEP YOU GUYS IN THE LOOP, BUT THIS IS SORT 29

OF A TRIAL BALLOON TO SEE WHAT THE RECEPTIVENESS IS TO SORT

OF STARTING ANEW.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE NOTICED THAT I THINK WE NEED TO

WORK ON AS A COMMUNITY IS CHANGING THE EXPECTATIONS OF WHEN

AN ANIMAL IS SAVED.

I SEE QUITE UNIQUELY HERE THAT BECAUSE YOU POST IT ON

FACEBOOK OR BECAUSE YOU'VE PUT AN INTEREST IN IT THAT SOME

DAY, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT

OF THE SHELTER, THIS ANIMAL'S NOW SAVED.

BOTTOM LINE IS THAT ANIMAL IS NOT SAVED UNTIL IT'S

PERMANENTLY OUT OF THE SHELTER.

IF IT'S IN FOSTER CARE AND IT'S NOT GONE DIRECTLY TO AN

ADOPTER, IT STILL IS IN THE SAME SITUATION.

IT'S JUST CHANGED THE LOCATION.

IT'S STILL AT RISK OF EUTHANASIA.

IF IT SHOWS BACK UP AND WE ARE FULL OR WHATEVER, DECISIONS

HAVE TO BE MADE.

SO RATHER THAN WAREHOUSING ANIMALS, WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM

TO THINK THE WAY I SAVE AN ANIMAL IS TO TAKE THE ANIMAL

PERMANENTLY OUT OF THE SHELTER, REHOME IT, DO WHATEVER IT

IS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, RATHER THAN CREATE THIS MASSIVE

NETWORK OF PEOPLE HOLDING ANIMALS AND NOT GETTING THEM TO

ULTIMATE ADOPTIONS.

AND THE WHOLE TRACKING THING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED 30

THERE, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

I SAW THAT LITTLE PIECE IN YOUR MEETING LAST TIME WHERE

THIS WHOLE CHUNK OF ANIMALS WAS SORT OF LOST IN LIMBO

SOMEWHERE.

SOME OF THAT COMES FROM THIS -- THIS PERCEPTION THAT I

THINK NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT MORE INTO FOCUS THAT WE NEED TO

KEEP TRACK OF THE ANIMALS WHILE THEY ARE IN OUR CARE OR IN

OUR ANCILLARY CARE, BUT THE GOAL IS TO GET THESE THINGS

INTO PERMANENT HOMES, NOT TO CREATE THIS MASSIVE WEB OF

HOLDING FACILITIES AROUND THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S

STILL PROBLEMATIC.

WE STILL HAVE TO FIND HOMES.

THERE ARE STILL ANIMALS COMING IN AT THE RATE OF 100 A DAY

OR WHATEVER OUR AVERAGE NUMBER IS.

SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THOSE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET URGENCY BACK IN.

EVERYTHING IS URGENT.

NOT JUST THE STUFF THAT'S ON THE EUTHANASIA LIST BECAUSE

TOMORROW SOMETHING NEW IS GOING TO BE ON THE EUTHANASIA

SO URGENCY.

EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES IN SHOULD HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF

URGENCY TO GET IT BACK TO ITS OWNER OR TO GET IT INTO A

PERMANENT HOME. 31

THE VOUCHER PROGRAM, I'M STILL GETTING MY BEARINGS ON IT.

I KNOW THAT YOU WANTED SOME FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.

TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE PROCESS WITH

LOTS OF DIFFERENT LAYERS.

FOR THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE VOUCHERS, I BELIEVE WE'RE

PROBABLY SPENDING TWO TO THREE TIMES THAT MUCH IN LABOR TO

PROCESS THAT, AND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC FROM A BUSINESS

STANDPOINT OF IF I AM GOING TO SPEND $30 IN LABOR ON A $10

VOUCHER, I AM OUT $40 FOR A $10 VALUE.

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT.

HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT BETTER?

HOW CAN WE MAKE IT LESS TIME CONSUMING ON BOTH ENDS, BOTH

THE VETERINARY AND OUR END.

ALL THESE GOVERNMENT PROCESSES THAT ADD LAYER UPON LAYER

UPON LAYER TO A MORE STREAMLINED SO THAT THE MONEY THAT

SHOULD GO TO THE PROGRAM IS BEING IN THE PROGRAM AND IS

BEING USED EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY WITHOUT CREATING

PILES AND PILES OF BACKLOGGED PAPERWORK AND THINGS LIKE

SO I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER FOR YOU QUITE YET.

IT IS -- THE NUMBER OF HANDS THAT THE PAPER PASSES THROUGH

IS MIND BOGGLING TO SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE.

SO WE'RE -- WE DEFINITELY ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT.

WE'VE HAD LIKE AN INFORMAL AUDIT, AND I WAS TALKING WITH 32

THE AUDITORS ABOUT THAT, AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THE SAME

THING.

THEY FELT LIKE THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF HANDLING FROM

POINT A TO POINT B AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER

PROCESS.

VOLUNTEERS.

WE'VE GOT A GOOD GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.

I MET WITH A HUGE CHUNK OF THEM.

OUR CONFERENCE ROOM REALLY ALMOST WASN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR THE

MEETING.

WE JUST SORT OF PUT OUT A GENERAL MEETING, AND IT WAS WALL

TO WALL IN THERE.

SO CLEARLY THERE'S ENTHUSIASM OUT THERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM GET TO BE A

LITTLE BIT MORE FORMALIZED TO ASSIST THE VOLUNTEERS AND

ALSO TO ASSIST THE SHELTER IN FOCUS.

SO HAVING A MORE FORMALIZED ORIENTATION, TRAINING, MEETING

KEY STAFF MEMBERS, JOB OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION SO THEY KNOW

WHERE IN THE SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE ALL LACKING RIGHT NOW.

GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP, A LOT OF PEOPLE

HELPING, BUT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE COULD BE A GREATER HELP

BASED ON THEIR SKILLS THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET.

AND SO GETTING SOME OF THAT FROM THEM AND GIVING BACK, YOU 33

KNOW, A LIST OF OPPORTUNITIES I THINK WILL BETTER UTILIZE

THE HOURS THAT ARE BEING PUT IN BECAUSE A LOT OF HOURS ARE

BEING PUT IN.

IN MY LAST SHELTER, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF

PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL SKILLS THAT WERE VOLUNTEERING, AND THEY

WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO WORK IN AREAS THAT SOMEONE WITH

NO MEDICAL SKILL -- BECAUSE THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND SOME OF

THE TERMINOLOGY.

THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND DOING PACKS AND GETTING THEM READY TO

GO INTO THE AUTOCLAVE AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE, YOU

KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I DO ALL WEEK; I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

BUT SOME OF THEM FEEL MUCH MORE REWARDED DOING SOMETHING

THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.

BUT IF WE DON'T ASK THEM THOSE QUESTIONS, I THINK WE ARE

MISUSING THAT RESOURCE.

SO THAT WILL BE A BIG FOCUS OF OURS AS WELL.

AND THE LAST THING ON MY LIST IS WITH THE UPCOMING BUDGET,

I AM GOING TO BE PROPOSING IN GENERAL TERMS -- I DON'T HAVE

THE DETAILS OF THIS YET -- AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO HELP

REWARD RESCUES AND SHELTERS THAT HELP MOVE ANIMALS OUT OF

OUR SHELTER, AND IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER AT THE END OF THE

YEAR, BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE TO US,

THERE MAY BE SOME SMALL STIPEND OR GRANT TO HELP OFFSET 34

SOME OF THEIR COSTS SO THAT IN THE UPCOMING YEAR, THERE

WOULD BE THE ABILITY TO MAYBE DO MORE WORK.

DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS YET, JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT

THERE.

HOPEFULLY BEFORE OUR FORMAL BUDGET I WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS

ON THAT, BUT JUST WANT TO KEEP YOU GUYS TOTALLY AHEAD OF

THE CURVE.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE UNLESS SOMEBODY'S GOT QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS.

>>TIM GOLDEN: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

[LAUGHTER]

SCOTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

VERY HEARTENING TO HEAR THESE THINGS.

ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BUT I AM GOING

TO OPEN IT UP TO THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS FIRST.

YES, DR. CHRISTY.

>>CHRISTY LAYTON: HEY, SCOTT.

SO FIRST OFF, WHAT I'D LIKE FROM YOU IS WHAT ARE YOU

LOOKING FOR FROM US, AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR US TO HELP YOU WITH?

DO YOU WANT US TO BRING YOU CONCERNS?

DO YOU WANT US TO JUST HELP YOU WITH WHAT YOU FIND AT THE

SHELTER? 35

DO YOU WANT US TO WORK WITH YOU ON SPECIFIC THINGS?

OR DO YOU JUST WANT US AS A GENERAL KIND OF BODY TO HELP

YOU MAKE DECISIONS?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I DON'T KNOW MY PERFECT ANSWER FOR THAT

YET BECAUSE I'M STILL GAUGING WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'VE BEEN MEETING TO DEATH THE LAST TWO WEEKS, SO I AM

STILL TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

I DEFINITELY SEE THE ROLE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT -- I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE PARAMETERS

RIGHT NOW.

I THINK ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE VERY POSSIBLE THINGS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT AND WHAT WE WILL BE

NEEDING.

AND I KIND OF SEE THE POTENTIAL OF AS WE CHANGE, THAT MAY

EASTBOUND AND FLOW.

I AM SORT OF THIS CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT SORT OF THING.

OBVIOUSLY, I DEFINITELY WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU GUYS ARE

TAPPED INTO THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

I WOULD HOPE THAT LIKE IMMEDIATELY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE

CONCERNS, LIKE MR. GRAY, WOULD COME TO ME OR STAFF AND

HOPEFULLY WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, MY STAFF WILL

RESPOND THE SAME WAY AS I DID, WHICH IS GOING AND CHECKING

OUT THE PROBLEM AND TRYING TO FIND AN IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION.

SO THOSE TYPE OF THINGS I REALLY NEED TO GET AS QUICK AS 36

POSSIBLE.

ONCE A MONTH WOULDN'T BE SUFFICIENT FOR THAT.

BUT TALKING ABOUT THE BUZZ ON THE STREET, SOMETHING WE'RE

NOT DOING THAT THE PUBLIC IS CLAMORING FOR, SOMETHING THAT

WE'RE DOING THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SEE ANY VALUE IN, THOSE

WOULD BE REAL BIG HELP BECAUSE AS WE RESTRUCTURE, WE STILL

ONLY HAVE A LIMITED POT OF PEOPLE AND MONEY.

SO IF WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T BE, THEN WE NEED

TO STOP DOING IT.

IF WE ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING, I CAN PUT THAT ON OUR LIST,

AND AGAIN -- IF AND WHEN WE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES, WE

PUT IT IN THERE.

IT'S ALL A PRIORITIZATION, BUT IF I DON'T KNOW THOSE

THINGS, I CAN'T PUT IT ON THE LIST.

SO THAT WOULD BE A HUGE INITIAL STANDPOINT.

TO THE EXTENT OF NOT REHASHING WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE

LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND YEARS AS FAR AS IN THE TRENCHES,

BUT TALKING MORE ON THE HIGHER LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WHAT MIGHT

HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE AND IS MISSING THAT WE NEED TO PUT

BACK, WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD THAT YOU DON'T FEEL IS

WORKING, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME A WHILE TO GET ALL THOSE, SO

ANY INPUT YOU GUYS HAVE ALONG THAT WOULD HELP ME NARROW MY

RESEARCH A LITTLE BIT SO THAT I -- I AM NOT REALLY ONE --

LIKE I SAY, I AM NOT ONE TO DWELL IN THE PAST, BUT I'M NOT 37

CONSIDERING THAT DWELLING IN THE PAST.

YOU KNOW?

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR HOW A SUPERVISOR GOT ALONG WITH AN

EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THAT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.

THAT'S NOT HERE ANYMORE.

BUT IF WE HAD A FANTASTIC PROGRAM FIVE YEARS AGO AND WE ARE

WONDERING WHY IT WENT AWAY, AT LEAST THROW THAT OUT SO I

CAN DO SOME RESEARCH BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT TOO.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WAS -- BECAUSE I IMAGINE AS I

START PROPOSING THINGS, SOME OF THESE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, NEW

THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE NEW THINGS.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE NEW OLD THINGS THAT HAD BEEN DONE IN

THE PAST.

SOME OF THEM ARE CLEARLY GOING TO BE NEW, BUT YOU KNOW,

BEST PRACTICES I'M SURE, WHEN I STARTED IN THIS INDUSTRY,

THIS WAS THE PLACE TO BE.

PINELLAS AND HILLSBOROUGH WERE THE PLACES THAT WERE LEADING

THE STATE.

AND SO CLEARLY THERE MUST HAVE BEEN PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT

WERE EFFECTIVE.

HOPEFULLY MOST OF THOSE ARE STILL IN PLACE.

IF NOT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO REVISIT.

THINGS HAVE EVOLVED A LOT IN THAT TIME TOO.

ONE OF THE REASONS I'M HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH IS MY MENTORING 38

CAME FROM PINELLAS AND HILLSBOROUGH, SO IT'S LIKE COMING

HOME TO ME TO TRY TO GET THIS BACK TO WHERE IT WAS AND

BEYOND, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

I AM SHOOTING FOR A LOT HIGHER THAN BEST IN THE STATE.

I AM SHOOTING FOR BEST IN THE REGION, BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>> ON THAT, JUST A COUPLE OF, THEN, LARGE THINGS I'VE SEEN

AND KIND OF THE BUZZ THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING.

NUMBER ONE, I THINK MR. GRAY TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT, IS

THAT SPECIFIC ANIMALS THAT COME IN, AS SOON AS THEY COME

IN, REALLY NEED TO GO TO SPECIFIC RESCUES.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND CALLING LOST ANGELS FOR A

PIT BULL, BUT JUST LIKE I WOULDN'T THINK TO CALL MR. GRAY

FOR A LITTLE CHIHUAHUA, ALTHOUGH HE HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF

THOSE LATELY.

IF WE COULD PERHAPS TRY TO DO THAT, THAT'S HOW IT USED TO

BE DONE, AND IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE, KIND OF PINNING

SPECIFIC ANIMALS WITH SPECIFIC RESCUES AND KNOWING WHICH

ONES KIND OF WORK WELL WITH THAT AND NOT SENDING THE, YOU

KNOW, FIVE PAGES WITH THE LITTLE TINY, YOU KNOW, PICTURE

THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE PICTURE OF THE ANIMAL AND

REALLY NO EXPLANATION.

IT'S JUST NOT HELPFUL, AND TO BE HONEST, I THINK IT'S

REALLY HARD ON THE RESCUES TO LOOK AT THAT AND KIND OF LOOK

AT FIVE PAGES OF ANIMALS AND GO, OH, ALL OF THESE ARE GOING 39

TO DIE IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY HARD EMOTIONALLY, VERSUS SENDING

TWO PIT BULL MIXES TO MR. GRAY AND HIM SAYING, OKAY, I'VE

GOT SOME TIME TO WORK ON THIS, AND MAKE I CAN FIND FOSTERS

FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THESE.

AT LEAST MAKE HIM FEEL THAT HE IS CONTINUING TO IMPROVE

THINGS.

THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE THING.

NUMBER TWO, SOMETHING ELSE -- AND I THINK HE TOUCHED ON

THIS A LITTLE BIT WITH THE ONE DOG -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF

INAPPROPRIATE OR MISGUIDED OR MISTAKENLY WRITTEN

RECORDKEEPING.

I DON'T KNOW THE CAUSE OF IT, AND TO BE HONEST, I HAVE A

FEELING IT'S PROBABLY SPREAD ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT

PEOPLE.

ON ONE CASE THAT I SAW LAST WEEK, THE DOG HAD NOT HAD A

RABIES VACCINE.

AFTER SHE WAS RELEASED FROM ANIMAL SERVICES, HER PAPER

SHOWED THAT SHE WAS SPAYED, AND SHE WAS NOT.

SHE HAD WHELPED PUPPIES WHILE SHE WAS IN THE FACILITY, AND

NOWHERE ON THE PAPER DOES IT SAY HOW MANY PUPPIES SHE

WHELPED, NOR WERE THE PUPPIES EXAMINED BY A VETERINARIAN I

COULD FIND ON THE PAPERWORK.

WHEN HE WENT TO PICK UP THE PUPPIES, HE WAS GIVEN TEN PAGES 40

FOR PUPPIES.

THEY WENT TO THE KENNEL, AND THERE WERE ONLY EIGHT PUPPIES.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS WERE THERE TEN PUPPIES AND TWO DIED

IN THE KENNEL, OR WERE THERE EIGHT PUPPIES AND SOMEONE MADE

UP TWO PUPPIES?

THESE WERE PROBLEMS THAT, AGAIN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS

REPORT, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THAT REPORT.

SO JUST PAPERWORK IN GENERAL I THINK JUST NEEDS TO BE

TIDIED UP QUITE A BIT.

AND I KNOW YOU ARE ON THAT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS ANIMAL WELFARE,

AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND

THE SHELTER, AND I KNOW LIKE MR. GRAY SAID, WHEN YOU KNOW,

HE CAME TO YOU WITH THAT CONCERN, YOU IMMEDIATELY TOOK CARE

OF IT AND DID THE RIGHT THING FOR THAT MOM AND HER PUPPIES,

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THAT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

THEN MY ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS YOU AND I

ALREADY DISCUSSED ABOUT LIMITED INTAKE, LIMITED ADMISSION,

AND YOU KNOW WHERE I STAND ON THAT.

I AM VERY ADAMANT THAT WE CANNOT RECOMMEND CRAIGSLIST WHEN

WE ARE COUNSELING THESE PEOPLE.

WE DO LIVE IN A TOWN -- AND I AM SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH

THAT NOW -- THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ANIMAL ABUSE. 41

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF FIGHTING OF PIT BULLS AND THINGS LIKE

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY WILL GET THEM FROM THE SHELTER IF

IT'S EASY TO GET.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO COME TO THE SHELTER AND GET

THESE DOGS.

AND IF WE -- IF WE ALLOW THIS LIMITED INTAKE, THESE DOGS

ARE NOT GOING TO BE DROPPED OFF AT THE SHELTER, THEY ARE

GOING TO BE DROPPED OFF OUT IN THE STREET OR BEING SENT TO

BAIT DOGS THROUGH CRAIGSLIST AND WHATNOT.

I AM CONCERNED WITH LIMITED INTAKE.

WHEN I LOOKED AT MR. LINEBAUGH'S REPORT -- WHICH IS ONE OF

THE REASONS I WANT TO TALK TO HIM -- IS HE RECOMMENDED

THREE DAYS A WEEK MAXIMUM OF TAKING ANIMALS IN.

TO ME THAT'S LIMITED INTAKE.

IF YOU ARE ONLY TAKING ANIMALS IN DURING THE WEEK AND NOT

ON WEEKENDS SO PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING CAN'T DROP THEIR DOGS

OFF, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THAT'S LIMITED INTAKE.

WHILE I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COUNSELING PROGRAMS,

VETERINARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMS, FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, BEHAVIORAL ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HCAS PARTNER WITH A

BEHAVIORAL GROUP, WHETHER IT'S BARKBUSTERS OR ONE OF THE 42

OTHER ONES OUT THERE, AND WORK WITH THESE PEOPLE.

AT LEAST THE MAJORITY OF ANIMALS THAT I SEE PEOPLE TURNING

OVER TO ME IS ANIMALS THAT THEY HAVE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES WITH.

SO REALLY, IF WE CAN WORK ON THOSE PROGRAMS AND DO

COUNSELING FOR THAT, I AM ABSOLUTELY ALL FOR THAT TYPE OF

LIMITED ADMISSION, BUT MY CONCERN IS IF WE ARE JUST KIND OF

TELLING PEOPLE, LIKE MANATEE COUNTY DOES, WHY DON'T YOU PUT

THEM ON CRAIGSLIST FIRST, THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME.

SO THAT'S JUST WHERE I STAND ON THE LIMITED ADMISSION PART.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

>>TIM GOLDEN: OKAY.

AND WE ARE GOING TO RISK SENSORY OVERLOAD HERE, SCOTT, BUT

I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND.

WE ARE GOING TO GO AROUND.

GO AHEAD, GENERAL.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: THANKS.

WELCOME.

KIND OF TAGGING ON TO THE COUNSELING CONVERSATION, HOW

MUCH, IF ANY, COUNSELING IS GOING INTO THE ADOPTERS?

HOW MUCH TIME OR IS THERE ANYONE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE

ADOPTING THESE PETS BEFORE THEY TAKE THAT ANIMAL HOME?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I CAN'T GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE ANSWER. 43

WHAT I AM GOING TO TELL YOU IS IT'S ALL ACROSS THE BOARD

RIGHT NOW.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: IS ANYBODY HAVING QUESTIONS WITH THEM?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I DO BELIEVE SOME PEOPLE ARE.

BUT IT'S ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

IT'S HIT AND MISS, IT'S NOT CONSISTENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THAT TYPE OF THING GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

CLEARLY MY NUMBER ONE GOAL IS GETTING SOME CONSISTENCY,

SOME TRAINING, YOU KNOW.

THE LAST THING THAT I WANT IS ONE PERSON HAVING THE EXACT

SAME PROBLEM AS THE NEXT PERSON, AND THE TWO DIFFERENT

PEOPLE GET TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS OR TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF

SOLVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

I MEAN, IF THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO SOLVE IT, THEN BOTH

PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVEN MULTIPLE WAYS.

BUT IF THERE'S A PROTOCOL OF HOW TO DEAL WITH AN ADOPTION,

IT SHOULD BE DONE CONSISTENTLY WITH EVERY ADOPTION, NOT

HILT AND MISS.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: I GUESS WHERE I AM COMING FROM IS IF WE

WANTED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROACTIVE -- AND I THINK ALL

THE FOSTER FOLKS OUT THERE CAN AGREE THAT WE'RE GETTING

THESE DOGS RETURNED AND CATS RETURNED BECAUSE THEY ARE

ADOPTING THE WRONG DOG OR THEY SHOULDN'T ADOPT A DOG AT ALL.

I MEAN, THEY ARE JUST NOT GOOD PET OWNERS OR PET PARENTS. 44

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE ONE AT ALL.

I HAD A CONVERSATION FOR 30 MINUTES TODAY WITH AN

ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE FROM COLLEGE, HAVEN'T SEEN THIS PERSON

IN YEARS, CALLED ME BECAUSE HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO ADOPT A

DOG FROM ANIMAL SERVICES.

HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS IN A ROW, HE HAS PUT

IN APPLICATIONS.

ONE TIME THEY WERE ALMOST GOING TO TAKE THE DOG HOME, THEN

THE OWNER TURNED UP AND, OF COURSE, GOT THE DOG BACK.

SECOND TIME, RIGHT BEFORE THEY WERE GOING TO ADOPT THIS

DOG, SOMEBODY ELSE ADOPTED THIS DOG.

IS NOW THEY HAVE, I GUESS, APPLICATIONS IN ON TWO DOGS.

SO WHEN I TALKED TO HIM AT LENGTH AND HEARD HIS LIVING

SITUATION -- WHICH IS FINE, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A FENCED

YARD -- HIS TIME CONSTRAINTS, HIS HISTORY WITH DOGS, HIS

WIFE'S LACK OF HISTORY WITH DOGS, AND THEN THE BREED THAT

THEY ARE LOOKING TO ADOPT, I WAS LIKE, ARE YOU SURE YOU

WANT TO ADOPT THIS BREED OF DOG?

I MEAN, IN MY GUT I KNOW THAT DOG IS GOING TO BE RETURNED.

IF HE DOESN'T ALIGN HIMSELF WITH MAYBE A DOGGY DAY CARE OR

PET SITTER OR SOMETHING TO HELP HIM, IT'S GOING TO BE A

HIGH-STRUNG DOG THAT NEEDS ROOM TO RUN AND NEEDS ACTIVITY.

AND I DON'T THINK -- SO WHAT I AM SAYING IS I THINK IF I

COULD MEET WITH YOU -- AND I WOULD LOVE TO HELP FORM A TEAM 45

OF PEOPLE THAT CAN SIT AND COUNSEL PRIOR TO TAKING THAT DOG

HOME TO HELP THEM DECIDE WHICH BREED, WHICH MIXED BREED IS

RIGHT FOR THEM, AND MY GOSH, MAYBE THEY DON'T EVEN NEED A

DOG TO BEGIN WITH.

I THINK THAT WOULD HELP MAYBE A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY -- I KNOW THE GOAL IS TO GET DOGS OUT

OF THE SHELTER, BUT IF THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS HIGH OR THESE

DOGS ARE BEING MISTREATED, I THINK A COUNSELING SESSION

WOULD BE GOOD.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE OPEN TO THAT, BUT I WOULD LOVE

TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT OFFLINE.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: YEAH.

I DON'T THINK WE MAY BE GEARED TO THAT LEVEL YET.

WE'VE GOT SOME BASICS TO BE FIXED BEFORE WE CAN NECESSARILY

GO ALL IN WITH THAT.

ONE OF MY CONCERNS -- I AM GOING TO LAY IT RIGHT OUT HERE.

YOU CAN TRUST ME TO BE PRETTY HONEST AND OPEN WITH YOU,

EVEN IF I AM GOING TO OFFEND YOU.

UNLESS WE HAVE A STANDARDIZED WAY OF TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO

COUNSEL ANIMALS, I WOULD BE VERY WARY BECAUSE THERE ARE

SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD INSIST THAT NOBODY IS A GOOD ADOPTER

UNLESS THEY SPEND $50,000 A YEAR, HAVE THEIR OWN HOUSE

THAT'S AIR CONDITIONED, HAVE A BUTLER, WHATEVER, AND THERE

NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENCY ON THAT END JUST LIKE THERE NEEDS 46

TO BE CONSISTENCY ON THE END OF MY ADOPTION STAFF.

SO I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO GET THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK

HAPHAZARDLY JUST TURNING THAT OVER WITHOUT A FORMAL PROCESS

IS GOING TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN

SHELTERS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

WE MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR PEOPLE TO TURN IN ANIMALS.

WE MAKE IT VERY HARD FOR THEM TO LEAVE THE SHELTER.

EUTHANASIA IS THE END OF THE -- RESULT OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT'S SOMETHING WHENEVER I SET MY MEETING WITH YOU, I

WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER EXPLORE.

FURTHER DOWN THE LINE ESPECIALLY.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: ABSOLUTELY.

>>TIM GOLDEN: WITH REGARD TO THAT, I WANT TO CHECK OFF ONE

THING HERE QUICKLY.

SCOTT AND I HAVE MET.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK FOR

ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

AT THE RISK OF MAKING YOUR SCHEDULE EVEN MORE HORRIFIC, I

WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US

CONTACT YOUR OFFICE AND SET UP A CONVENIENT TIME TO SIT

DOWN AND GO OVER THINGS WITH HIM.

PERHAPS THAT WILL HELP GET THIS MEETING TO MOVE ALONG A LIT 47

BIT QUICKER TOO.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT AS WELL.

ALL YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT MAY TAKE A WHILE JUST

BECAUSE THESE DAYS HAVE BEEN CRAZY.

SOMETIMES I GOT ALL DAY, BUT THEN IT WILL DEPEND HOW OUR

SCHEDULES MESH.

SO BE PATIENT.

IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO SCHEDULE YOU.

LIKE TODAY I HAD NO CHANCE FOR LUNCH OR DINNER.

I'LL HAVE DINNER AFTER I LEAVE THIS MEETING.

NOT THAT I NEED LUNCH AND DINNER, BUT YOU KNOW, SO IT

DEPENDS ON THE DAY.

BUT I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY.

I THINK THESE MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE

ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO

UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY.

>>TIM GOLDEN: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE.

DR. ADRIANA.

>>ADRIANA ODACHOWSKI: WELCOME, SCOTT.

I WELCOME YOUR INITIATIVE AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE

CHANGES.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE STATS AND COULDN'T HELP NOTICING ON

THE OUTCOME, DEATH IN KENNEL, 21 ANIMALS. 48

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THOSE DEATHS, IF WE CAN KNOW

WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I HONESTLY HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO GET

INTO THAT LEVEL.

WHEN JOHN COMES BACK, WE'LL ASK IF HE KNOWS THAT ANSWER.

I DEFINITELY WILL HAVE PEOPLE HERE IN THE FUTURE THAT CAN

ANSWER THOSE TYPE OF QUESTIONS.

THIS IS ALL STUFF THAT PREDATES ME, SO I CAN'T EVEN SAY I

WALKED THROUGH THE KENNEL -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS FEBRUARY.

I DIDN'T START UNTIL AFTER FEBRUARY.

>>ADRIANA ODACHOWSKI: THANK YOU.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I WILL TRY TO GET THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO SEND ME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I WILL GET YOU

SPECIFIC ANSWERS AS WELL.

I JUST AM NOT -- I WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE

IN UPCOMING MONTHS MORE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT A

LITTLE EARLY FOR ME.

>>ADRIANA ODACHOWSKI: SURE.

THANK YOU.

MARY NEXT, AND THEN LISA.

>>MARY BIRRELL: MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS EITHER,

KIND OF A QUESTION AS WELL, TAGGING ON TO WHAT JEN WAS 49

TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE

GOOD -- AND I CAN SEND YOU AN EMAIL ON IT TOO, BUT I DON'T

KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT THE CURRENT RETURN RATE IS >>SCOTT

TREBATOSKI: I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT RETURN RATE IS.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT AVERAGE RETURN RATES ARE, WHICH IS

ABOUT 5% TO 10% IS A PRETTY TYPICAL RETURN RATE.

OBVIOUSLY, SOME SHELTERS ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER.

VERY FEW SHELTERS ARE LOWER THAN 5%, EVEN IF THEY HAVE

COUNSELING, BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T ALWAYS HONEST EITHER.

YOU KNOW?

AND IF THEY ARE SMART ENOUGH TO THINK THEY KNOW THE ANSWER

THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR BECAUSE THEY WANT THAT ANIMAL, THEY

MAY TELL YOU THAT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALSO WANT EVERYONE TO CONSIDER

IS IF THE ANIMAL COMES BACK TO THE SHELTER, AT LEAST IT WAS

OUT THE TIME IT WAS OUT, AND IT STILL MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO

GO BACK OUT AGAIN.

IF WE PRECLUDE -- IF OUR RETURN RATE IS, LET'S SAY, 15%,

THAT MEANS 85% ARE STAYING IN HOMES.

AND IF WE'RE NOT CONSCIOUS OF THAT AND WE START BLOCKING

EVERYBODY FROM BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN

THEIR FIRST PET, IN A WAY THAT THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE AND

IS ADEQUATE, THAT'S GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

I DIDN'T OWN A PET BEFORE I STARTED IN ANIMAL SERVICES. 50

I CAME FROM A VERY LARGE FAMILY, AND MOM SAID I AM NOT

TAKING CARE OF PETS ON TOP OF -- BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S

GOING TO HAPPEN IS YOU ARE GOING TO WANT THE PET AND YOU

ARE NOT GOING TO CARE FOR IT.

A LITTLE PESSIMISTIC ON THAT SIDE, BUT PROBABLY

UNDERSTANDABLE.

PARENTS KNOW MORE THAN THE KIDS DO.

BUT I WOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO I'VE NEVER OWNED A PET BEFORE.

I WOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO I DON'T HAVE AN ANIMAL BACKGROUND.

I THINK I AM A PRETTY GOOD PET OWNER.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF PETS ON MY OWN.

BOTH CAME FROM THE SHELTER.

BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, TOO BLACK AND WHITE CAN BE A

PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW.

A LOT OF OUR ADOPTERS ARE GOING TO BE FIRST-TIME PET OWNERS.

>>MARY BIRRELL: RIGHT.

AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE VERY GOOD PET OWNERS.

THE HUMANE SOCIETY RETURN RATE, WE TRACK THAT, AND FOR THE

LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE ARE BETWEEN 3% AND 5% RETURN RATE.

SO IF THAT'S ANYTHING, AGAIN, WE CAN HELP WITH, I THINK WE

HAVE A PRETTY OPEN ADOPTION PROGRAM, AND YET WE DON'T HAVE

A HEIGHT RETURN RATE.

SO I JUST OFFER THAT UP. 51

LENGTH OF STAY.

YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS EITHER?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I DON'T.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I AM FINDING IS WITH THE SWITCHOVER OF

THE SOFTWARE, THE HISTORIC STUFF IS IN ONE SOFTWARE, THE

CURRENT STUFF IS IN ANOTHER SOFTWARE, THEY'VE NOT BEEN

MERGED, THEY'RE NOT SIMILAR REPORTS IN EITHER, SO COMPARING

APPLES TO APPLES IS VERY DIFFICULT.

I AM STILL WORKING ON GETTING ACCESS MYSELF TO BE ABLE TO

BRING SOME REPORTS THAT I KNOW ARE VALUABLE INTO THE SYSTEM

SO THAT WE CAN START RUNNING SOME OF THOSE REPORTS TO LOOK.

LENGTH OF STAY IS A HUGE -- IT'S A HUGE QUESTION.

ANIMALS DYING IN SHELTER IS A HUGE QUESTION.

HOW THEY ARE TRACKING THAT.

I CAN SHARE WITH YOU ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY BIZARRE THAT

WE ENDED UP STUMBLING UPON AT MY LAST PLACE.

WE WERE SEEING ALL THESE ANIMALS DYING IN THE KENNEL, AND

WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING, WE STARTED LOOKING AT WE COULD

BREAK IT DOWN BY OFFICER'S TRUCK, HOW MANY WERE DYING IN

ROUTE, HOW MANY WERE DYING AFTER THEY HAD BEEN CHECKED IN,

ALL THIS STUFF.

WE ENDED UP FINDING THAT ONE OFFICER, THIS HUGE THING.

SO I THOUGHT OH, MY GOD, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM AND SOMEBODY'S

GOT TO GO. 52

UNTIL WE TALKED TO HIM AND HE SAID, WELL, WHEN I GET A CALL

TO GO GET AN ANIMAL, I ASSUME EVERYTHING'S ALIVE WHEN THEY

CALL, AND IF I SHOW UP AND IT'S DEAD, I PUT THAT DEAD IN

ROUTE BECAUSE IT DIED WITH ME BEING IN ROUTE TO THEM.

AND I SAID NO, NO, THAT'S NOT HOW THAT STAT WORKS.

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S DEAD WHEN YOU GET THERE, IT'S DEAD ON

ARRIVAL.

BUT THAT WAS A TRAINING ISSUE.

SO ONE OF OUR MOST ACTIVE OFFICERS WAS MISUSING THE

STATISTIC, WHICH SPIKED, YOU KNOW, SO I SUSPECT AFTER

THAT'S BEEN RESOLVED, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE CHANGE, BUT

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GO BACK AND FIX THAT.

BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S GOOD TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

WHAT EXACTLY MAKES UP THIS 21?

AND THE OTHER THING I HOPE IS NOT HAPPENING IS I CAN'T FIND

THE ANIMAL, AND THAT'S THE OUTCOME I AM USING.

THERE IS A MISSING OUTCOME, AND HOPEFULLY WE ARE USING A

MISSING OUTCOME WHEN WE PROBABLY SIGNED AN ANIMAL IN TWICE.

IT HAPPENS A LOT IN SHELTERS.

>>MARY BIRRELL: LASTLY -- AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE

STARTED WITH IT -- IS TO WELCOME YOU.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH YOU AND LOOK

FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU. 53

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: THANK YOU.

>>TIM GOLDEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARY.

>>LISA WALKER: YEAH, A COUPLE QUICK ONES MYSELF.

ARE WE STICKING WITH WHAT IS IT?

THE PET WHATEVER?

OR ARE WE GOING BACK TO CHAMELEON?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: AS FAR AS I KNOW WE ARE COMMITTED TO

PETPOINT RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO GIVE IT A FAIR SHOT.

I HAVE NEVER DONE PETPOINT BEFORE.

I DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH PETPOINT.

I HAVE RAISED THE CONCERNS I HAVE WITH PETPOINT.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT AN INTEGRATED OPERATION,

CHAMELEON IS GEARED TOWARDS ANIMAL CONTROL.

PETPOINT IS GEARED TOWARDS HUMANE SOCIETIES.

AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME GAPS WHEN I REINTEGRATE THE

DEPARTMENT -- OR THE DIVISION BACK TOGETHER JUST BECAUSE OF

WHO THE PRIMARY -- WHO THE PRIMARY USERS ARE.

I ASKED THIS QUESTION.

FOR PETPOINT, 45% OF THEIR USERS ARE RESCUES WITH NO

SHELTER.

40% ARE SHELTERS THAT ARE HUMANE SOCIETIES EXCLUSIVELY.

15% ARE SHELTERS THAT EITHER ARE HUMANE SOCIETIES THAT DO 54

ANIMAL CONTROL OR EXCLUSIVELY ANIMAL CONTROL.

CHAMELEON, 84% OF THEIR USERS ARE ANIMAL CONTROL.

OF THE TOP 10 AGENCIES IN SIZE, 7 OF THE 10 USE CHAMELEON,

2 USE THEIR OWN IN-HOUSE-MADE VERSION, AND 1 USES PETPOINT.

SO SIZE MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SOFTWARE AND WHAT ITS

CAPABILITIES OF BEING ABLE TO PULL REPORTS AND THINGS LIKE

I AM NOT SAYING THAT PETPOINT IS INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE I

HAVE INSUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF PETPOINT.

SO OUR INITIAL IS TO GET WITH THEM, GET GOOD TRAINING.

HOPEFULLY THEY CAN SHOW ME A SHELTER THAT I CAN GO --

THAT'S DOING ANIMAL CONTROL AND I CAN GO SEE HOW THEY ARE

USING IT VERSUS HOW WE'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO USE IT SO

THAT, YOU KNOW -- BECAUSE IT MAY BE A TRAINING ISSUE.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP BEING

TRAINING ISSUES.

SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE COMMITTED TO PETPOINT BECAUSE THAT'S

THE DECISION THAT HAD BEEN MADE.

THERE'S A CONTRACT.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF ISSUES WITH THAT.

BUT WE ARE KIND OF FORCED INTO MAINTAINING THE HISTORIC IN

CHAMELEON AND THE NEW IN PETPOINT, AND SO THERE STILL HAS

TO BE CHAMELEON IN THE BACKGROUND IN ORDER FOR US -- YOU

JUST DON'T WANT TO WIPE THAT HISTORY CLEAN. 55

THAT WOULD BE A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE THING.

SO WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES, BUT STAFF IS

WORKING ON IT.

I'VE DABBLED IN IT.

AS SOON AS I GET SOME MORE TIME, I ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING

SET UP WITH THE DISTRICT TRAINER OR WHATEVER, SO HOPEFULLY,

YOU KNOW, I WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

I'VE GOT A LIST OF QUESTIONS FOR THEM ABOUT I KNOW

CHAMELEON DOES THIS.

HOW DOES PETPOINT DO THIS, SO THAT MAYBE THEY CAN SHOW US

WHAT WE ARE NOT SEEING.

>>LISA WALKER: OKAY.

I KNOW FEBRUARY WAS A TOUGH MONTH, BUT THESE ARE STATISTICS

WE NEED TO WORK ON.

IF I COULD MOVE ON TO MY NEXT QUESTION, I KNOW TIDES HAVE

CHANGED A LITTLE BIT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PHILOSOPHIES

HAVE CHANGED, BUT HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY CONSIDERATION TO --

AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAMS.

I THINK THAT YOU DO.

BUT HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY CONSIDERATION TO RETURNING TO THE

ADOPT PROGRAM AND THE PIT BULL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AT

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I ONLY KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAMS KIND OF

REALLY ON THE GLOBAL, NOT THE DETAIL. 56

ALL I CAN SAY IS I WILL LOOK AT THEM.

I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO GET

FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

SO AGAIN, I'VE ABOUT GOT TO GEAR UP SOME HISTORY HERE

BEFORE I CAN ANSWER A QUESTION LIKE THAT.

>>LISA WALKER: GREAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET ON YOUR SCHEDULE AND HAVE A

CONVERSATION.

>>TIM GOLDEN: SUPER.

THANK YOU, DR. LISA.

DR. MIKE.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: THANK YOU.

WELCOME, DR. TREBATOSKI.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

IN THE PAST, THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS USED AS A

SOUNDING BOARD.

THERE'S A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE, ANIMAL SOCIETIES,

VETERINARIANS.

ANYWAY, I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT USED TO HAPPEN WAS THE DIRECTORS

WOULD COME UP, BRING AN IDEA FORTH, AND JUST GET FEEDBACK

ON IT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE PARTS

OF THIS COMMITTEE. 57

IT WASN'T TO CRAFT LEGISLATION; IT WAS TO HELP GIVE

FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET BACK TO THAT ROLE OF JUST BEING AN

ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WE GOT DRAFTED INTO DOING A TETHERING ORDINANCE.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP.

BUT WELCOME TO THE COUNTY.

I GUESS THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD IN JACKSONVILLE?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: NEITHER OF MY TWO PREVIOUS LOCATIONS

HAVE HAD AN ADVISORY BOARD LIKE THIS.

WHEN I STARTED IN JACKSONVILLE, I HAD AN INFORMAL ADVISORY

BOARD THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE MAYOR.

BUT WHEN THAT FIRST MAYOR LEFT, SO LEFT HIS ADVISORY BOARD.

SO I'VE NOT HAD ANYTHING THAT'S HAD THE TRADITION, THE

LONGEVITY, THE FORMALITY.

YOU KNOW, ALL THIS MEETINGS IN THE SUNSHINE, WHICH I AM

FAMILIAR WITH.

I HAVE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT LONG ENOUGH TO STAND ALL THAT.

BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A LEARNING CURVE FOR ME BECAUSE THIS

IS MUCH MORE FORMAL THAN I AM AWARE EXISTS IN MOST PLACES.

SO THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING NEW FOR ME TO LEARN.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: YOU MADE REFERENCE TO MONDAY YOU WERE

HAVING A NEW MANAGING VETERINARIAN COME IN. 58

IS THAT DR. CENTONZE?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: YES, IT IS.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: WHAT WILL HER ROLE BE?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: WE HAVE TO WORK ON THAT.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU READ IN THE PAPER, THIS IS SOMEONE

WHO WAS INTERVIEWED AND HIRED BEFORE I STARTED.

THIS IS NOT ONE OF MY BRINGING ON CREW.

I DO NOT KNOW HER, HAVE NOT MET HER.

I HAVE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT HER.

IT'S REALLY CRUCIAL FOR HER AND I TO SIT DOWN.

I AM NOT A VETERINARIAN.

I THINK THE VETERINARY STUFF SHOULD BE HANDLED BY A

VETERINARIAN.

SO I THINK THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE SHOULD BE A REALLY GOOD

STRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, I'M MORE THE WHOLE OPERATION, BUT I DON'T WANT

TO, YOU KNOW, DRILL DOWN IN THE VETERINARY AREA WHEN A

MANAGING VETERINARIAN WOULD BE THE RIGHT THING.

I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR VETERINARIANS AND SOME

OF THE THINGS THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE ABOUT AND MAKING

SOME DECISIONS FOR THEM, AND I AM VERY CAREFUL WHEN THEY

ASK TO NOT MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS BECAUSE I AM NOT

QUALIFIED TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF THERE'S TWO POTENTIAL ROUTES 59

TO GO, HOPEFULLY A MANAGING VETERINARIAN IN CONSULTATION

WITH THE OTHER VETERINARIAN CAN DECIDE WHICH IS THE BEST

ROUTE.

RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TO RELY ON MY VETERINARIANS TO EITHER

TALK AMONGST THEMSELVES OR MAKE A CHOICE BECAUSE I'M NOT

QUALIFIED TO SAY DO I GO ROUTE A OR ROUTE B.

IF I GIVE YOU ENOUGH INFORMATION, I CAN GIVE YOU A LAY

PERSON'S UPON WHAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT PATH, BUT THAT'S WHY

I THINK THIS STRUCTURE WITH A MANAGING VETERINARIAN IS

OUTSTANDING.

AGAIN, NOT A LOT OF PLACES HAVE IT.

I THINK IT PUTS US AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE IN THAT RESPECT.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: AND MY LAST QUESTION INVOLVES STATISTICS.

YOU HAD MADE AN OFFER HAVE MR. FERDON APPROACH THE

MICROPHONE.

WOULD YOU BE ADVERSE TO DOING THAT NOW?

[LAUGHTER]

I GUESS BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LAST MONTH WE HAD SOME

QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE STATISTICS, AND FOR ME, WHEN I

LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO

BE USED TO MEASURE CHANGES IN PERFORMANCE, IT'S GOING TO BE

USED TO GAUGE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ANIMAL SERVICES.

I FEEL LIKE THE STATISTICS ARE SO UTTERLY IMPORTANT THAT WE

NEED TO TAKE CARE WHEN WE DO THEM. 60

THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS ON THIS PARTICULAR FORM.

I AM GOING TO ASK A FEW OF THEM IF YOU DON'T MIND.

THEN I AM GOING TO LET IT GO AT THAT.

ONE OF THEM IS THERE WAS A TNR OTHER.

CAN YOU ELUCIDATE ON WHAT THE OTHER SPECIES WAS?

THIS IS YOUR FORM THAT YOU GAVE OUT, ANIMAL SERVICES INTAKE

OUTCOME.

THERE WAS A TNR, YOU'VE GOT PP DOG, WHICH I THINK IS --

>>JOHN FERDON: PETPOINT.

HAD TO SEPARATE PETPOINT AND CHAMELEON.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: THEN YOU'VE GOT PETPOINT OTHER, AND THERE'S

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT ONE TNR NONCAT SPECIES WAS?

>>JOHN FERDON: NO.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: DR. ODACHOWSKI ASKED ABOUT THE 21 DEATHS IN

THE KENNEL.

CAN YOU ELUCIDATE ON THAT OR HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON IT?

>>JOHN FERDON: I COULD CERTAINLY PULL MORE INFORMATION,

BUT KNOW, THESE ARE NUMBERS PULLED STRAIGHT FROM THE DATA.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: TO ME, WHEN I LOOK AT THAT WITHOUT

DEFINITIONS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL SURRENDER BY OWNER,

STRAY, AND CONFISCATED ARE ALL IMPOUNDED ANIMALS.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE IMPOUNDED IS AND WHY THAT'S

DIFFERENT FROM SURRENDER, STRAY, AND CONFISCATED? 61

>> WHAT HE PRESENTED TO YOU ARE WHAT THE STATE REPORTING

REQUIREMENTS ARE.

I CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THOSE GENERAL QUESTIONS BETTER THAN

HE CAN BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THE LEGISLATIVE LIAISON FOR THE

FLORIDA ANIMAL CONTROL ASSOCIATION FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

SO THIS WAS A COMMUNAL EFFORT AMONGST LOTS OF DIFFERENT

PARTIES TO DECIDE HOW TO BREAK DOWN STATISTICS SO EVERY

JURISDICTION ACROSS THE STATE WOULD REPORT THEM EXACTLY THE

SO I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I'LL TRY MY

BEST BY MEMORY, AND IF I MISS SOMETHING, GO BACK TO IT.

SO OWNER SURRENDER, THESE ARE NO KNOWN ANIMALS BEING TURNED

INTO THE SHELTER.

STRAY IS AN ANIMAL THAT IS AT LARGE, DO NOT KNOW AT THE

TIME WHETHER IT'S OWNED OR NOT, COULD BE OWNED OR NOT, BUT

IT'S NOT BEING PRESENTED BY THE OWNER.

CONFISCATED MEANS THE ANIMAL IS INVOLUNTARILY BEING REMOVED

FROM AN OWNER'S CUSTODY.

THESE ARE INVESTIGATIONS, PROBABLY WARRANTS ASSOCIATED WITH

A LOT OF THOSE.

THAT'S WHAT CONFISCATED IS.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: IMPOUNDED.

>> IMPOUNDED, YEAH, THAT ONE I'M --

>> LET ME CLARIFY. 62

THE TERM KIND OF THREW ME JUST A LITTLE BIT WHEN I WAS

READING THE STATUTE.

WHAT I TOOK IT TO MEAN, STRAYS, WHERE YOU SEE STRAYS, THOSE

ARE STRAYS THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO THE SHELTER.

IMPOUNDED ARE ANIMALS THAT WERE AT LARGE AND BROUGHT IN BY

AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.

>> SO THEY ARE AT LARGE?

>> THE STATISTICS -- I CAN EITHER BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH

OR MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF YOU EXACTLY

WHAT THOSE DEFINITIONS ARE, BUT I DO -- THAT IS TRUE THAT

WE WANTED TO SEE HOW MANY STRAYS WERE BEING BROUGHT IN BY

THE PUBLIC THAT THEY PICKED UP VERSUS HOW MANY WERE BEING

PICKED UP BY THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS.

AND OF COURSE, OWNER SURRENDERS AND STRAYS, YOU HAVE TO

TAKE PEOPLE AT THEIR WORD.

THERE'S NO WAY TO GAUGE EXACTLY IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE

CORRECT, BUT IF YOU ALWAYS ARE USING THE SAME ASSUMPTION,

THEY SHOULD BE CONSISTENT ANYWAY FROM MONTH TO MONTH.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: ONE OTHER QUESTION.

LAST MONTH WE HAD AN ANOMALY IN THE PERCENTAGE SAVE RATE.

ON THIS ONE, THE ANOMALY SHOWS UP IN THE ADOPTION OF CATS.

ADOPTION CAT PETPOINT 61 PLUS 474.

CAT -- I THINK IF I AM READING THIS CORRECTLY IS 531 CATS

WERE ADOPTED IN THE MONTH. 63

IF I LOOK OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE HIGHEST STATISTIC THE

LAST YEAR IS SEPTEMBER WHERE THEY HAD 221.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF

ANIMALS THAT ARE NORMALLY ADOPTED?

IS SOMETHING ELSE ROLLED INTO THAT NUMBER?

>> NO.

AGAIN, I PULLED DATA STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TWO DIFFERENT

SYSTEMS.

IF WE WANT TO EXAMINE WHAT THAT DATA MEANS, I CAN PULL

FURTHER INFORMATION.

IN MY MESSAGE TO YOU EARLIER, THIS IS UGLY.

THIS IS AN UGLY REPORT BECAUSE I HAD TO PULL DATA FROM TWO

DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND PLUG THEM INTO EXCEL AND TRY TO GET

SOMETHING.

NEXT MONTH OR FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, I WILL BE PULLING A

MONTHLY REPORT OUT OF PETPOINT, WHICH WILL BE CLEAN AND IN

THEIR FORMAT AND WHAT I WILL PUBLISH ON THE WEBSITE.

I AM HAVING A HARD TIME COMING UP WITH THE TERM, THE PUBLIC

AWARENESS -- FROM THE STATUTE.

>> IS IT THE PET RECORDING BILL?

IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE REFERENCING BEFORE?

THIS IS THE STANDARD OR WHATEVER FROM THE PET REPORTING

BILL? 64

>> AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC, I AM GOING TO FOLLOW THAT TO THE T.

I KNOW MIKE'S REPORT WERE VERY, VERY LENGTHY AND COVER A

LOT MORE INFORMATION THAN I PLAN TO.

PART OF THAT DEALS WITH INVESTIGATIONS, ANIMAL CONTROL

ACTIVITIES, WHICH DO NOT FALL UNDER MY PURVIEW, SO I WON'T

BE PROVIDING THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS YOUR REPORT, LIKE I SAY, THAT WILL BE -- WHAT

I PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE

ONLY WHAT'S IN THE STATUTE.

AS FAR AS A REPORT FOR YOU, I CAN CERTAINLY DEFINITELY

SOMETHING ELSE.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO MEET STATE LAW, I

GUESS, WITH THIS REPORT.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE ADOPTION, WHAT'S 234 THERE,

PROBABLY -- IN THERE, THERE'S PROBABLY ADOPTIONS TO OWNER,

BUT I DON'T SEE OTHERS.

PERHAPS WHEN THEY ARE GETTING SENT TO RESCUE GROUPS,

PERHAPS WHY THIS IS SO HIGH.

TO ME, I DON'T MEAN TO OVERLY COMPLICATE THINGS, WE HAVE

BEEN USING THOSE SAME STATISTICS FOR JUST YEARS.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING INTO TRANSITION TO NEW STUFF, BUT

IT'S --

>>JOHN FERDON: IT'S SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE.

I THINK SCOTT MENTIONED EARLIER APPLES AND APPLES. 65

WE ARE DEALING WITH A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SET OF DATA.

LIKE I SAY, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC INFORMATION YOU WANT TO SEE

ON A MONTHLY REPORT, I CAN DO THAT.

I CAN DO THAT.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: BECAUSE JUST AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT

SEEMS LIKE THESE NUMBERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAND UP TO AN

AUDIT.

WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THEM, I JUST -- I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS

THAN --

>>JOHN FERDON: NO, I HAVE A DISCOMFORT LEVEL WITH THE DATA

ITSELF, AND I THINK I EXPLAINED THIS THE LAST TIME I STOOD

UP HERE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE PART OF THE MONEY WE PUT

DATA INTO CHAMELEON.

THE REST OF THE MONTH WE PUT DATA INTO PETPOINT.

SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS IN CHAMELEON WAS MOVED

INTO PETPOINT MANUALLY.

SO SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS COULD BE DUPLICATED.

I'M NOT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH IT AT ALL.

BUT AT THIS POINT, ALL I COULD DO WAS PULL THE INFORMATION

FROM THE TWO SYSTEMS.

WITHOUT VETTING ALL THOUSAND RECORDS.

SO THAT WAS -- THAT'S THE BEST I CAN DO.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS. 66

AGAIN, IF IT FELT LIKE I WAS VILIFYING YOU, I WASN'T.

I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT'S GOING ON AND GIVE SOME

DIRECTION MAYBE FOR THE FUTURE SO WE CAN GET TO SOME PLACE

WHERE IT'S MORE CLEAR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ANIMALS.

>>JOHN FERDON: THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS I WANTED TO

I'LL HAVE SEPARATE REPORTS.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REPORTS THAT GO OUT TO

RESCUES, NOTCHED EARS, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT A DOZEN OF

THEM AUTOMATED RIGHT NOW.

THE MONTHLY REPORT FOR THE WEBSITE WILL BE AN AUTOMATED

REPORT.

IT WILL BE A ONE-SHEET.

BUT FOR YOU GUYS, I CAN GO BEYOND THAT AND PROVIDE YOU WHAT

YOU NEED TO SEE.

>>MIKE HAWORTH: THANK YOU.

>>TIM GOLDEN: OKAY.

>> [SPEAKER OFF MIC]

>>TIM GOLDEN: PARDON ME?

>> [SPEAKER OFF MIC]

>>TIM GOLDEN: DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

DENISE?

>>JOE TESTA: WELCOME, SCOTT.

I'M JOE, SO LIKE I SAID, WELCOME. 67

I GUESS I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS, NOT NECESSARILY

QUESTIONS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE NEW AND NOT GOING TO HAVE

A LOT OF ANSWERS IN THAT RESPECT.

FIRST OFF, THE NAME CHANGE.

I KIND OF LIKE THE THOUGHT OF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX FOR

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THAT'S REALLY GOING TO GO.

I THINK I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY COME UP WITH A

RECOMMENDATION FOR A NAME CHANGE FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.

SO I LIKE THE THOUGHT PROCESS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO TURN OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO CONFUSE PEOPLE OR WHAT'S

GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I THINK THROUGH THE EDUCATION PORTION

MAYBE EVENTUALLY LONG-TERM THAT WILL WORK OUT WELL.

BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE, I HAVE ALSO

HAD A COUPLE SIDE BUSINESSES, AND I REALIZE THAT WHEN I

CAN'T PUT FORTH 100% ON A SIDE BUSINESS, SOMETIMES THINGS

GET MISMANAGED, MISCOMMUNICATED, THE BALL GETS DROPPED.

I'VE LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES BEING AN ABSENTEE OWNER IS THE

WORST WAY OF HAVING A BUSINESS.

I PICKED UP ON YOU SAYING EARLIER THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN A LOT

OF MEETINGS.

I THINK I REALLY CAN'T COMMENT ON OTHER DIRECTORS THAT HAVE

BEEN HERE, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN A DIRECTOR OR AN 68

INDIVIDUAL IN MANAGEMENT GETS TIED UP IN A LOT OF MEETINGS,

THEY FAIL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS REALLY GOING ON AT THE

SHELTER.

I AM HOPING AS YOU GET MORE ADJUSTED TO YOUR POSITION THAT

THE MEETINGS WILL BECOME LESS OR AT LEAST MORE ON-SITE SO

THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE MORE HANDS ON.

I AM A HANDS-ON PERSON, AND I THINK BEING HANDS ON IS MORE

BETTER THAN BEING -- I KNOW THERE'S POLITICS IN EVERYTHING

WE DO, YOU HAVE TO GO TO CERTAIN MEETINGS AND TALK TO

CERTAIN GROUPS, BUT I THINK BEING MORE HANDS ON, YOU WILL

HAVE MORE OF AN ANSWER ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT RESPECT.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: IF I COULD JUST COMMENT ON THAT, ONE, I

ECHO YOU 100%.

I AM A HANDS-ON TYPE OF GUY.

I HAVE WORKED IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE SHELTER AS PART OF THE

WAY I LEARNED.

I BELIEVE IN THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, THE LESS MEETINGS THE BETTER FOR ME.

I THINK THE NATURAL PROGRESSION WOULD BE MORE MEETINGS UP

FRONT, LESS DOWN THE ROAD.

TO KIND OF PUT YOU A LITTLE BIT AT EASE ABOUT THE NOT

KNOWING THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS BECAUSE I'M OUT OF THE

SHELTER FOR THREE-QUARTERS OF THE DAY AT MEETINGS OR

SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THIS IS WHY I BROUGHT MY OPERATIONS 69

MANAGER WITH ME.

IT WAS A DECISION THAT I MADE KNOWING THAT THE JOB REQUIRES

SOMEBODY ALWAYS TO BE ON THE GROUND WHO IS AT THE TOP.

AND HAVING GONE THROUGH THIS IN MY FIRST GO-AROUND WITH

NOBODY THERE AT MY SIDE AND THEN GOING THROUGH IT IN

ANOTHER PLACE WHERE I HIRED SOMEBODY TO BE AT MY SIDE,

CLEARLY, THAT WAS A MUCH BETTER MODEL.

SO WHAT I WANT YOU GUYS TO KIND OF THINK IS CLEARLY I AM

THE VISIONARY, I AM THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING

DIRECTION, SO DON'T BEAT UP ON JOHN ABOUT THAT.

JOHN WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT HE'S BUSY DOING SOME

STUFF THAT NEEDED SOMEBODY THERE.

WE'LL GET HIM TO ONE OF THESE MEETINGS.

HE WAS GOING TO BE HERE, BUT THAT WAS MORE IMPORTANT AT

THIS TIME TO MAKE SURE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SHELTER IS

THE BEST IT CAN BE.

SO I BROUGHT SOMEBODY I TRUSTED, SOMEBODY THAT I'M

COMFORTABLE THAT WITH WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO TELL ME IS

HONEST AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD BACK.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE HAVING CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS WHERE

EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.

I DON'T GET OFFENDED BY ANYTHING.

I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO TALK ISSUES THROUGH.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T AGREE AT THE END, BUT A HARDY DISCUSSION 70

IS NOT AN UNHEALTHY THING.

BUT THAT'S WHY IT WAS GOING TO BE -- AND I DON'T THINK THAT

ANYBODY'S GOING TO -- THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE A SECRET.

IT WAS EITHER WE CAME AS A PACKAGE OR I WASN'T COMING

BECAUSE I JUST NEEDED THAT LEVEL.

IT'S A BIG JOB.

IT'S A BIG COUNTY.

IT REALLY NEEDED THAT EFFORT COMING FORWARD.

SO IF I'M NOT THERE, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN.

IT WILL GET BACK TO ME VERY QUICKLY, AND IT WILL GET BACK

TO ME ACCURATELY.

I HAVE EXTREME CONFIDENCE IN THAT.

SO THAT'S -- I JUST WANTED TO FILL YOU IN THAT I'VE THOUGHT

AHEAD OF THAT KNOWING THAT GOVERNMENT OVER-MEETINGS PEOPLE.

AND SO THAT'S MY ANSWER TO THAT.

AND WE'LL BE DEVELOPING PEOPLE REDUNDANT TO JOHN.

RIGHT NOW IT'S JOHN AND I.

EVENTUALLY, THERE WILL BE REDUNDANCY THERE.

BUT I'VE GOT TO DEVELOP THAT INTERNALLY, AND I AM NOT QUITE

SURE WHERE I AM AT.

I HAVE JUST BEEN HERE TWO WEEKS, SO I HAVEN'T DEVELOPED

ANYTHING YET.

>>JOE TESTA: NO, I UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S WHY I AM NOT GOING TO HIT YOU WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF 71

QUESTIONS.

THESE ARE JUST THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS I THOUGHT OF.

THE ONE OTHER THING -- AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH JEN AND

PROBABLY WITH MARY TOO -- ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL PORTION OF

THINGS.

WITH THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT WE DO HAVE HERE, I KNOW

THAT I WOULD BE THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED -- AND I THINK -- I

DON'T KNOW IF HUMANE SOCIETY DOES THAT OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW

IF OTHER AGENCIES DO, BUT WHEN A POTENTIAL ADOPTER COMES

THROUGH THE DOOR, IF THEY'RE GREETED BY AN INDIVIDUAL

FROM -- WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEW PET CENTER,

RESOURCE CENTER, OR THE HCAS, WHETHER IT'S A VOLUNTEER

THERE WHO KIND OF GIVES THEM A LITTLE MORE OF A PERSONAL

TOUCH WHEN THEY COME IN AND MAYBE JUST DOES THAT BRIEF

INTRODUCTION TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE THERE AND WHAT THEY

ARE LOOKING FOR.

I AM NOT ASSUMING.

I MEAN, DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL OF HOW MUCH EDUCATION

THEY HAVE, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT

KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES, TO SEE WHETHER OR

NOT THEY LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, YOU KNOW, DO THEY HAVE YOUNG

KIDS AT HOME, DO THEY HAVE OTHER DOGS, AND THAT COULD BE

JUST SOMETHING AS AN INTRODUCTION WITH THE GREETER AT THE

DOOR TO KIND OF GIVE THEM AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF PET THEY 72

SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF TRAINING

AND EDUCATION, ALTHOUGH EVENTUALLY DOWN THE LINE THAT'S

ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

I AM NOT SAYING IT ISN'T.

BUT JUST HAVING THAT INITIAL APPROACH WHERE THAT VOLUNTEER

CAN STAY NOT WITHIN THE WHOLE TIME, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH BY TO

BE ABLE TO OVERHEAR SOME OF THEIR CONVERSATIONS, SEE WHICH

WAY IT'S GOING, BE SOME DIRECTION OR FOCUS FOR THEM TO GIVE

AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS BREED DOES OR DOESN'T DO.

MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ENTERTAIN WITH THE VOLUNTEER

PROGRAMMING SO IT'S NOT JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF TRAINING IN

THAT RESPECT.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: IF I CAN JUST FOLLOW UP BRIEFLY WITH

THAT TO LET YOU KNOW I AGREE WITH THAT PHILOSOPHY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I CHALLENGED MY STAFF THIS PAST WEEK, I

LITERALLY TOLD PEOPLE TODAY YOU ARE GOING TO BE THE

GREETER, AND YOU ARE GOING TO GREET PEOPLE AND YES, THERE

IS NO JOB DESCRIPTION AT THIS POINT, BUT ASK THEM.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IRRITATES ME FROM A CUSTOMER

SERVICE STANDPOINT, IF SOMEONE IS COMING IN TO PICK UP A

BROCHURE, AN APPLICATION, AND THAT'S ALL THEY WANT TO DO

AND GO, AND THAT PERSON HAS TO WAIT IN LINE 15 OR 20

MINUTES TO GET UP AND SAY -- IT'S THAT ONE BANK COMMERCIAL 73

WHERE THE GUY GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE LINE AND THEN THEY

SAY, OH, THOSE ARE AT THE THING.

YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S NOT FUNNY.

THAT REALLY HAPPENS.

AND IF THEY'RE THERE TO PICK UP A VOUCHER APPLICATION AND

THEY HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES AND THEN IT WAS SITTING ON THE

WALL ALL THE TIME, THAT'S REALLY BAD.

AND SO I AGREE WITH YOU.

THE CONCEPT IS NOT A BAD CONCEPT.

HOW WE GO ABOUT IT, WHETHER THAT IS AN EMPLOYEE OR

VOLUNTEER, THAT WILL WORK ITSELF OUT.

OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

BUT I HAVE CHALLENGED THEIR COMFORT ZONE BY PULLING PEOPLE

RANDOMLY AND MAKING THEM DO THAT UP THERE.

I ALSO THINK IT WILL GIVE THEM A BETTER FEEL FOR THE

CUSTOMER.

>>JOE TESTA: RIGHT, AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, MAYBE

HANDING THEM OUT SOME TYPE OF A PAMPHLET WITH DOG BREEDS

AND WHAT'S THE PROS AND CONS OF DOG BREEDS, WHERE THEY CAN

MAYBE READ AND LOOK OVER AS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE

SHELTER TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT DOG WOULD BE A

GOOD DOG FOR THEM.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I THINK ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT I 74

HAVE SORT OF TOLD COMMUNICATION THAT IS WE NEED TO WORK ON

AND PROBABLY AT LEAST SOME OF YOU, IF NOT YOU AS A

COLLECTIVE, WILL PROBABLY NEED TO TAP YOUR RESOURCES IS I

WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SERIES OF BROCHURES DEALING WITH

COMMON -- YOU KNOW, SORT OF LIKE ON YOUR COMPUTER, THE

FAQs, THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

BECAUSE WE CAN SAY IT TO THEM, BUT SOMETIMES IN THE SHELTER

ENVIRONMENT, THERE'S WAY MORE EMOTION THAN THOUGHT.

SO IF WE CAN SAY IT AND THEN HAND THEM A BROCHURE WHEN THEY

GO HOME AND READ IT, OR NOT EVEN A BROCHURE, A SINGLE -- A

CARD THAT DOES IT, IT HELPS.

AND SOMETIMES YOUR MOST THOUGHTFUL ADOPTER IS GOING TO WANT

TO READ ALL THAT STUFF BEFORE THEY COME BACK AND MAKE THEIR

DECISION.

YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY COMES IN AND IT'S AN IMPULSE THING.

BUT GOING BACK TO THE WHOLE RETURN STATISTICS, IN MY FIRST

SHELTER, WE DIDN'T ADOPT AT CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT

WAS TOLD WAS THE HORRIBLE TIME TO ADOPT DOGS.

ME BEING THE LAY PERSON, I WAS LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY

YOU ARE SAYING -- I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT LET'S TRY IT.

WE FOUND THAT OUR 8% NORMAL RETURN RATE DROPPED TO 1.8% AT

CHRISTMASTIME BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADOPTING

AT CHRISTMAS, WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY, HAVE BEEN 75

PLANNING THIS FOR SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS.

THIS WAS THE TIME THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE NEW DOG INTO

THE -- OR CAT INTO THE HOME.

THEY HAD BOUGHT ALL THIS STUFF ALREADY.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- IT WASN'T THE IMPULSE BUY THAT WE, AS A

COLLECTIVE SOCIETY, IS SAYING, WELL, THAT'S GOT TO BE AN

IMPULSE BUY.

THAT'S THEM RUNNING INTO WAL-MART AND BUYING THE TV BECAUSE

THEY CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE.

WHAT WE WERE FINDING OUT WAS IT WAS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING THE IMPULSE WERE BEING OUT DOING

THEIR BLACK FRIDAY THING.

THE PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME AT THE

HOLIDAYS AND AT PEOPLE'S BIRTHDAYS, THEY'VE THOUGHT ABOUT

THAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THEY PULL THE TRIGGER

ON THAT.

SO GIVING RESOURCE SINCERELY A GREAT THING.

>>JOE TESTA: ONE LAST THOUGHT.

ONE LAST THOUGHT.

ON, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PAMPHLET OR THE CARDS YOU WOULD

GIVE SOMEBODY, I KNOW JUST BEING IN BUSINESS TOO, LIKE YOU

SAY YOU'RE IN BUSINESS, THAT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU REFER

SOMEBODY TO YOUR COMPETITOR, LET'S SAY, NOT ONLY DO YOU

GAIN RESPECT OF THAT CLIENT, BUT YOU GAIN RESPECT OF YOUR 76

COMPETITOR.

SO EXAMPLE WOULD BE IF YOU HAVE A PAMPHLET OF ALL OF THE

BREEDS AND THEN YOU WOULD SAY, LISTEN, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE

TYPE OF BREED YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, HERE'S A LIST OF ALL OF

THE RESCUE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BACK OF THE CARD THAT

YOU CAN CONTACT THE RESCUE GROUPS, HUMANE SOCIETY.

THEY ARE GOING TO GO OUT OF THERE SAYING THAT WAS NICE.

WE COULDN'T FIND A DOG HERE, BUT WE CALLED THE BULLDOG

SOCIETY, WHATEVER, AND WE FOUND A BULLDOG THERE.

YOU ARE GIVING THEM A LIST OF RESOURCES IN CASE THEY DO

FIND A DOG LATER DOWN THE ROAD, THEY ARE NOT BRINGING IT DO

ANIMAL SERVICES, THEY ARE BRINGING IT STRAIGHT TO THE

RESCUE.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT COMPETITORS, I

CLEARLY DIDN'T MEAN THE HOW MAIN SOCIETY AND RESCUES.

IT IS DEFINITELY BUSINESS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST

SEVERAL YEARS OF MY INVOLVEMENT IN ANIMAL WELFARE,

COLLABORATION IS REALLY THE BIG POINT, AND THE POINT IS

THIS ISN'T A GOVERNMENT PROBLEM, THIS ISN'T A WHATEVER.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM THAT TOOK PLACE OVER A LONG

PERIOD OF TIME, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A COMMUNITY SOLUTION

BY EVERYBODY COMING TO THE TABLE AND PUTTING THEIR PART IN

YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ADOPT 15,000 ANIMALS OUT OF 77

THAT LOCATION.

IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GIVE US, I DON'T CARE HOW

NICE OF A BUILDING YOU MAKE THAT.

THERE ARE LIMITATIONS.

BUT THOSE ARE ACHIEVED BY, YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERSHIPS.

I 100% AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT CONCEPT TO THE Nth DEGREE.

WHEN WE GET A VOLUNTEER THAT ANIMAL SERVICES ISN'T THE

RIGHT FIT FOR, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE HUMANE SOCIETY ISN'T.

OUR MISSIONS ARE DIFFERENT.

A REALLY GOOD POTENTIAL VOLUNTEER FOR US THAT DOESN'T FIT

OUR -- DOESN'T -- HE OR SHE DOESN'T ACCEPT THAT SHE WANTS

TO OR HE WANTS TO WORK IN THAT ROLE SHOULDN'T -- WE

SHOULDN'T LOSE THAT COMMUNITY ASSET.

I SHOULD SAY HAVE YOU TALKED TO THEM?

OR WHERE IT GOT TO ONCE THE -- AND I SEE THIS RELATIONSHIP

EASILY FOUNDED HERE.

NOT ONLY DO I KNOW SHERRY FROM BEFORE, I HAD A GREAT

MEETING.

WE SPENT TWO HOURS TOGETHER.

BUT FOR ME TO CALL AND SAY, HEY, I HAVE A GOOD VOLUNTEER.

I HAVE A GOOD EMPLOYEE.

I HAVE A GREAT EMPLOYEE WHO IS BURNED OUT HERE.

DO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY? 78

IF YOU LOOK IN JACKSONVILLE -- AND I AM GOING TO TRY MY

BEST TO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS MY POINT OF

REFERENCE -- ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE THREE MAJOR

PARTNERS OUT THERE, AND WE HAVE HIRED EACH OTHER'S

EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY ARE A BETTER FIT FOR -- ONCE WE

LEARN THEIR SKILL SETS AND WHATEVER, WE'VE HIRED EACH

OTHER'S EMPLOYEES.

AND WE ALL JOKE WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT, OH, YOU STOLE

ANOTHER PERSON, BUT WE KNOW AS A COMMUNITY IF THAT PERSON

ENDS UP IN THE RIGHT SPOT, IT HAS MORE BENEFIT TO THE

COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

WHILE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY VALUED EMPLOYEE, IF IT CAN DO

BETTER WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY, I AM A

FOOL TO NOT HAVE THAT PERSON GO THERE.

DENISE?

>>DENISE LASHER: I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST A

FEW COMMENTS.

WELCOME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

I AM SO EXCITED.

TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR COLLABORATION, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT

YOU'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB IN JACKSONVILLE.

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY, FOR INSTANCE, HAS A GREAT

RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU ALL, AND YOU -- WHEN YOU WERE THERE. 79

HOPEFULLY THAT CONTINUES.

AND WHEN YOU WERE THERE, YOU WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN

GETTING A LOT OF GRANTS.

I KNOW BEST FRIENDS WAS ONE OF THOSE ENTITIES.

AND THE COLLABORATION WITH NO MORE HOMELESS PETS.

I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO REPLICATE

AND WITH THE MANAGEMENT STYLE THAT YOU HAVE AND YOUR LOVE

AND CONCERN ABOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND ANIMAL WELFARE,

THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BRING SOME OF THOSE OUTSIDE

RESOURCES IN THE FORM OF GRANTS AND COLLABORATION WITH

NATIONAL PARTNERS, BUT ALSO WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

HERE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM THAT YOU IMPLEMENTED UP THERE, I

USE THAT IN ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GO TO JACKSONVILLE TO SEE

WHAT YOU WERE DOING WHEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS DISCUSSING

THEIR BE THE WAY HOME PLAN, AND I THINK I THINK THAT AS

THAT GETS IMPLEMENTED, CERTAINLY YOU ARE HERE NOW, SO YOU

BRING THAT EXPERTISE HERE.

MY COMMENTS ARE JUST IN THAT REGARD.

PIT BULL GOOD AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF

YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I ADOPTED MY PIT BULL THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, AND SHE IS THE

LOVE OF MY LIFE. 80

SHE IS A GREAT DOG.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

I THINK BEST FRIENDS WAS ONE OF THE PARTNERS IN FUNDING

THAT PROGRAM.

SO THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S, YOU

KNOW, JUST WAY TOO MANY PIT BULLS AND PIT BULL MIXES THAT

ARE EUTHANIZED.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: NOT TO SOUND LIKE A FLIPPANT STATEMENT.

I DIDN'T SPEND 15 YEARS BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS NOT TO

EXPECT THEM TO COME WITH ME.

I GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S GOING TO BE PHONE CALLS, BEGGING,

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT.

HONESTLY, SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME ALREADY AND

SAID WHAT CAN WE DO?

AGAIN, I HAD TO GIVE THEM THE SAME ANSWER I GAVE YOU WHEN

YOU ASKED THAT.

I DON'T KNOW YET, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A PLACE FOR BEST

FRIENDS.

I KNOW THERE'S A PLACE FOR ASPCA.

I KNOW THERE'S A PLACE FOR PETSMART CHARITIES.

LET ME FIND THE BEST PLACE SO WE ARE NOT SQUANDERING

RESOURCES BY SPENDING IT WHERE IT DOESN'T GET THE BEST BANG

FOR THE BUCK.

I LITERALLY HAD A PHONE CALL FROM BEST FRIENDS WANTING TO 81

KIND OF CHEAT A DEADLINE THAT THEY HAD AND PUT US INTO A

PROGRAM THAT THE DEADLINE HAD CLOSED A LONG TIME AGO, BUT I

TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, SO

LET'S PUT THAT ON THE TABLE FOR NEXT YEAR'S GRANT CYCLE.

BUT YOU KNOW, LET'S DO THIS IN A LOGICAL MANNER, AND THAT'S

HOW I REALLY LIKE TO OPERATE.

I REALLY LIKE TO BE A LITTLE BIT METHODICAL, EVEN THOUGH I

WOULD LIKE CHANGES TO HAPPEN YESTERDAY.

THERE IS THOUGHT BEHIND IT.

IT IS LOGICAL.

PIECES GO TOGETHER.

WHILE YOU MAY NOT SEE THE PIECES GOING TOGETHER BECAUSE IT

MAY BE A PIECE ON THIS SIDE OF THE PUZZLE AND A PIECE ON

THIS SIDE OF THE PUZZLE, AND UNTIL ALL THE MIDDLE PIECES

CONNECT YOU DON'T SEE HOW THOSE TWO CONNECT; I SEE THAT

THERE.

I WOULD SAY THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE

WHO, THROUGH ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, HAVE REACHED OUT TO SAY,

YOU KNOW, DON'T HESITATE TO GIVE US A CALL.

AND I EXPECT ALL OF THEM TO BE HERE SHORTLY.

I JUST NEED TO GET MY FEET ON THE GROUND A LITTLE BETTER.

>>DENISE LASHER: WELL, WELCOME.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: ONE QUICK QUESTION.

I SO APPRECIATE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE ON YOUR PLATE. 82

WHEN DO YOU THINK REALISTICALLY YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE KIND

OF YOUR STATE OF THE UNION FOR US OR YOUR DIRECTION OR YOUR

PLAN ON THE TABLE?

OR JUST IN GENERAL YOU FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON

AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE ME A COUPLE

OF MONTHS IF I'M GOING TO KEEP GETTING THE MEETINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO STOP, AND I CAN'T GIVE

YOU AN ANSWER BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THIS GOVERNMENT

STRUCTURE WELL ENOUGH TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH OF MY MEETINGS

ARE -- THAT'S PART OF MY DAY-TO-DAY WORK.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.

I'VE GOT TO LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'VE GOT TO LEARN THE BE YOUR WAY HOME THING AND WHAT LED

TO THAT, AND YOU KNOW, JUST AS AN OUTSIDER, I LOOK AT IT

AND I SEE IN SOME CASES I SEE THINGS THAT I FEEL ARE ALMOST

LIKE THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

YES, THAT'S A -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN

PLACE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I HAVE TO GET A HANDLE ON BEFORE

I CAN COME AND SAY HERE'S WHERE WE ARE, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE

GOING, AND HERE'S WHERE I HAVE CONCERNS.

AND AGAIN, A GREAT PLACE FOR YOU TO COME IN AND SAY, OKAY,

HERE'S THE BE YOUR WAY HOME. 83

THE PROBLEM IS IT'S SAYING YOU WANT THIS DONE RIGHT AWAY,

BUT I SEE IT AS PIECE FOUR OR FIVE, A GREAT TIME FOR THIS

GROUP TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS WHY WAS IT CHOSEN OR

DOES IT MATTER WHICH ORDER THEY GO IN?

YOU KNOW, SO ONCE I LEARN THAT BETTER, ALL I CAN TELL YOU

FROM AN IMMEDIATE STATE OF THE UNION, THERE'S GOOD

EMPLOYEES OUT THERE.

THERE'S MOTIVATED EMPLOYEES.

AND I THINK IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE SHELTER SINCE I'VE

BEEN THERE, I INVITE YOU TO COME IN AND JUST GET A FEEL FOR

THE MORALE BECAUSE I THINK THE MORALE IS UP, WHICH IS GOING

TO BE KEY FOR ME PUTTING CHANGES AHEAD.

YOU KNOW, WHILE THEY'RE ENTHUSIASTIC IS THE TIME TO GET

THEM ALL TOGETHER AS A TEAM, AND WHOEVER DOESN'T FALL IN

THAT TEAM NEEDS TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO BE BECAUSE I

BELIEVE IN WORKING AS A COHESIVE GROUP.

>>JENNIFER FADAL: WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE I'M

SURE YOU CAN APPRECIATE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IT'S BEEN

NEW DIRECTOR, WAITING FOR HIS PLAN, FIGURING OUT BE THE WAY

HOME, THAT'S NOT STARTED, INTERIM DIRECTORS, NO ONE

KNOWS -- EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, AND EVERYONE

IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT'S THE BEST

SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD, WITH SOME URGENCY, TO YOUR 84

DIRECTION AND HOW WE CAN HELP.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: AND I WILL GET IT TO YOU AS QUICK AS I

I JUST CAN'T GIVE YOU A DATE CERTAIN RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>TIM GOLDEN: MY TURN.

MY TURN.

FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY WITH REGARD TO THE BE THE WAY HOME

PROGRAM, YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T SURE ABOUT THE GENESIS OF

THAT PROGRAM.

MOST OF US WERE ON A TASK FORCE FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS.

WE PUT TOGETHER A HUGE LAUNDRY LIST OF THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.

WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT PUTTING A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN FRONT OF

ANIMAL SERVICES TO TRY TO BRING -- YOU KNOW, MAKE IT EASIER

TO GET IN AND OUT.

>>SCOTT TREBATOSKI: I SAW THAT.

>>TIM GOLDEN: BUT THE GENESIS WAS WE PUT -- WE HANDED ALL

THAT STUFF TO ADMINISTRATION, AND ADMINISTRATION CAME BACK

WITH THE PROGRAM.

SO WE WERE, YES, INVOLVED, BUT WE WERE, NO, INVOLVED.

SO I MENTION THAT WITH REGARD TO THE SOP FOR THE COMMUNITY

CAT PROGRAM.

IF YOU ARE REALLY SINCERE ABOUT GETTING OUR INPUT, YOU WILL 85

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM SOP BEFORE

YOU GIVE IT TO THE COMMISSIONERS WITH US SO THAT WE CAN

MAKE SUGGESTIONS, IF WE HAVE ANY.

YOU CAN TAKE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE WORTH, BUT RATHER THAN

READ ABOUT IT -- READING ABOUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER AFTER IT

GETS TURNED IN, WE COULD HELP YOU CROSS Ts AND DOT YOUR Is.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR ME TOO.

SHARE THAT WITH US.

HAVE JOHN SHOOT US OUT A COPY OF IT, IF YOU WOULD.

WE WILL GIVE YOU OUR INPUT.

AS MUCH AS WE CAN HELP, WE WOULD LIKE TO.

THE CHANGES, THE NAME CHANGE, THE PUBLIC IMAGE, I HOPE THAT

INDICATES SORT OF A PHILOSOPHY CHANGE TOO.

IN THE PAST I KNOW A LOT OF ANIMAL CONTROL AGENTS SORT OF

LOOKED AT THEIR JOB AS AN UNDERCOVER JOB.

WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MARKINGS ON THE TRUCKS, TO SNEAK INTO

THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND GET THE MISCREANTS.

WHEREAS SOME OF US ALWAYS THOUGHT A WIDE-OPEN POLICY WHERE

YOU SHARE INFORMATION AND YOU TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS

INSTEAD OF JUST FINDING THEM AND JAILING THEM.

YOU KNOW, SO I HOPE THAT IS AN INDICATION THAT THERE WILL

BE NOT JUST A NAME CHANGE BUT A PHILOSOPHY CHANGE IN TERMS

OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, PLEASE DON'T FORGET THE PUBLIC 86

SAFETY ASPECT, WHICH I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT WAS AT THE TOP OF

THE PYRAMID.

THE SAFETY AND THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE HUMANS IN

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

DART, WHETHER IT'S -- OR YOU KNOW, THE HURRICANE

PREPAREDNESS, THE SHELTERS THAT WILL ACCEPT ANIMALS, YOU

KNOW, KEEP US IN THE LOOP ON ALL OF THAT.

LET US KNOW THAT IT'S HAPPENING.

AND AGAIN, IF WE CAN HELP YOU IN ANY WAY.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T DO

HERE VERY MUCH AS A COMMITTEE, BUT I AM GOING TO BREAK THE

RULES A LITTLE BIT AND SUGGEST WE GIVE SCOTT A ROUND OF

APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE]

FOR BEING -- NOT ONLY FOR BEING HERE, BUT FOR FIELDING THIS

BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

IF YOU HAVE NOTHING FURTHER, I WILL INVITE YOU TO STEP

DOWN, BUT WE HAVE NO OLD BUSINESS.

WE HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS.

DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT?

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM A BOARD MEMBER TO

ADJOURN.

MIKE QUICK WITH THE HAND THIS, SECOND BY DR. CHRISTY.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE STAND AND LEAVE. 87