January 26, 2011 - City of Lakewood, Ohio

Meeting of the Lakewood Animal Safety & Welfare Advisory Board
January 2011
Meeting Notes, as submitted by Juleen Russell
January 26, 2011
Lakewood City Hall, Lakewood, OH
Attendees:
Kim McCarty (Board Chair)
Elaine Hearn, Lakewood ACO (Board member)
Juleen Russell (Board member)
Dr. Bo Rog (Board member)
Captain Gary Stone, Lakewood Police Department
Councilman Tom Bullock
Marta Anderson, Spay/Neuter Services Supervisor, Cleveland APL
Amy Beichler, Executive Director PAWS Ohio
Eileen Wilbourne, PAWS
Sue Boyle, PAWS
Dawn Pyne, CCLAS (Citizens Committee For The Lakewood Animal Shelter) President
Melissa Limkemann (All Dogs Heaven)
Melissa Russoniello, Lakewood resident
David Igel, Lakewood business owner
Meeting began at 7:00pm
Introductions were made.
The Board reviewed and approved the November 2010 meeting minutes.
Kim told the group that Councilman Kevin Butler will be the new law director for Lakewood.
The Board recommendations we sent to council have not been approved yet; they’re discussing.
Marta Anderson from the Cleveland APL spoke about their successful TNR (Trap Neuter
Return) services. Marta said that feral and free-roaming cats are the largest contributors to the cat
overpopulation crisis. The APL is committed to ending this through its TNR program to assist
caretakers of feral (unsocialized, outdoor) cats. Fees for Lakewood would be: Kittens (up to 5
mos) $15 Cats (6 mos & up) $25. The fee includes Spay or neuter surgery, Ear-tipping, Rabies
vaccine, FVRCP vaccine. Felv/FIV SNAP testing is available upon request for $30
Marta gave statistics, based on a national model, on how many feral and stray cats were likely to
be in Lakewood, based on the city’s population.
Owned Cat Population
The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association uses a formula that doesn’t account for
regional variations but does provide a means to estimate the size of dog and cat populations (see
page 16, Animal Control Management: A guide for local governments) .
Lakewood Households: 26,693
Cats: 26,693 x .34 (national average of households with cats)= x 2.1 (national average of
number of cats per household having cats) = 19,059 owned cats
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Meeting of the Lakewood Animal Safety & Welfare Advisory Board
January 2011
Unowned Cat Population
Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association by Levy, Woods, Turick, Etheridge found
that 12% of households feed free-roaming cats (and 43% of those households do NOT have
“pet” cats!). Mean number of unowned cats fed by these households: 1.9 to 3.6 (Levy, et al,
2003). 43% of households that feed unowned cats do NOT have resident/owned dogs or cats.
These feeders are not part of the “pet-owning” population, and few (less than 11%) have
attempted to neuter any of the cats they feed.
26,693 x .12 x 1.9 = 6,086 unowned cats being fed (low mean estimate)
26,693 x .12 x 3.6 = 11,531 unowned cats being fed (high mean estimate)
She also indicated that there are a fair amount of Lakewood residents who are utilizing their
program. She will try to see if she can get their names/contact information to us so that we may
contact them to be a part of an organized effort.
Amy Beichler of PAWS Ohio talked about their successful TNR program that they’ve been
doing in the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland. Amy said that they received grants from
Petsmart Charities to fund the program and she would be happy to show us the ropes on applying
for the grants. They worked with Marta and the APL on the program. Marta said that of all the
neighborhoods in Cleveland, the only area to see a reduction of cat intakes was Slavic Village’s.
She also said the City of Cleveland is supportive of the program.
Lead Agency, for grant proposals: Dawn indicated that CCLAS is pretty understaffed and tied up
with animal placement efforts and probably would not be in a position to make this effort their
primary focus or to be the lead. Kim said that we could possibly look to the Lakewood
Foundation to be the lead agency.
City’s existing ordinances banning ‘animals at large’ and outdoor feeding: At previous meetings
of this Board, Councilman Butler advised us that these can be modified to include allowances for
a pilot program should it be desired.
Councilman Bullock urged the Board to make a well prepared presentation on a proposed TNR
Pilot Program to Council. There could feasibly be funding available if argument can be made we
can improve animal management. He said to show as much metrics as we can.
David Igel spoke to us about recent circumstances involving his employee and friend, Lakewood
resident and homeowner Carla Borchelt, whose dog (Valentina) was recently identified as a pit
bull by a Lakewood Animal Control Officer. Councilman Bullock recommended that Carla
contact Andrea Rocco’s office again and request a hearing. The Board talked about breed
determination standards and what possible ways the current ordinance could possibly be
modified. The current ordinance does not include language about what means and methods are
acceptable evidence an owner may present that their dog is not a pit bull. It also does not include
language what percentages of DNA pit bull levels are acceptable. Councilman Bullock said that
he is open minded to suggestions, such as can we better improve breed identification He
suggested the Board review and analyzes law enforcement data and approach the Public Safety
Committee with recommendations with as much supporting data as possible to back them up.
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Meeting of the Lakewood Animal Safety & Welfare Advisory Board
January 2011
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm
Our next regularly scheduled meeting is Thur. May 26 at 7:00pm, City Hall / Jury Room
Thursday, July 28
Thursday, September 22
Thursday, November 17
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