Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-10 MinutesANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes of a meeting of the Animal Advisory Committee held on March 10, 2010 at 2:40 p.m. at the Municipal Offices in the Ante Room. ROLL CALL Present: Laurie Arnott Councillor Ron Hooper Rhonda Johnson Peter Klose Dr. Helen Koseck (arrived at 2:46 p.m.) Sheila Elkington, Animal Services Officer Anne Greentree, Deputy Clerk June Gallagher, Clerk II, Secretary Absent: Jon Stoner, Chair Peter Klose assumed the role of the Chair in the absence of John Stoner. 1. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 11, 2009 Moved by Rhonda Johnson, seconded by Laurie Arnott THAT the minutes of the Animal Advisory Committee for the meeting of November 11, 2009, be approved without comment. CARRIED 2. QUARTERLY REPORTS Anne noted some highlights from the quarterly report for October to December, 2009, in particular some of the year-over-year items. With regard to animal control issues, Anne noted 840 calls versus 733 the previous year, with the same number of staff. She noted that the officers are at capacity. Anne stated that gross revenues hit an all time high last year of $101,000.00. Anne noted that the adoptions are consistent, which reflects the common situation of a full shelter. She touched on the decreasing length of stay for both and dogs. Anne confirmed that, since the Municipality is not a charitable organization, they do not advertise for donations, but we do accept donations to the Animal Services Department. Animal Advisory Committee -2- March 10, 2010 Anne confirmed that staff will run an advertisement to notify the public that the licensing sales staff will be going door-to-door, provided the budget allows for it. 3. PROPOSED BY-LAW AMENDMENTS CLD-004-10 Urban “Backyard” Chicken Farming Anne distributed excerpts from her draft report regarding Backyard Chicken Farming. She informed the Committee that this afternoon she received back the last of the comments from other agencies. Anne noted that the City of Niagara Falls is the only city surveyed that allows for the keeping of backyard chickens. She noted that she had contacted the City of Vancouver and the City of Toronto. Anne informed the Committee that she had obtained feedback from the following agencies: ? Clarington Agricultural Advisory Committee and obtained their feedback. ? Region of Durham Environmental Health Division ? Clarington Animal Services Some of the concerns raised were: predators, disposal, lack of regulatory control, increased health risks when chickens are not vaccinated, noise, smell, liability; additional calls from concerned citizens, and vermin. She noted that she discussed the issue with the Clarington Animal Services and there is a concern that there would be insufficient resources to regulate backyard chickens due to the fact that staff would require additional training, accommodations to house chickens, increased calls, increased investigations, increased inspections (annual and intermittent) and routine enforcement. Anne likened it to the increase in workload that took place when the Shelter undertook the licensing of dog kennels. Anne noted that she spoke with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Egg Farmers of Ontario. She stated that neither agency has regulations, but both agencies have fact sheets available. She spoke with Dr. Mike Petrik who does not have an issue in theory, but was concerned that typically people who wish to be involved in backyard chicken farming do not have the expertise to care for the chickens. Anne relayed an interesting fact that the chicken feed has to be stored separately from cat and dog food due to the high calcium in the chicken feed which is toxic to dogs and cats. Dr. Petrik agreed that a regulatory body is necessary. Animal Advisory Committee -3- March 10, 2010 Anne asked the Committee for their input and feedback. Members of the Committee raised the following: ? Encouraged that there are members of the public interested in moving away from large scale production of chickens and likened it to the keeping of a parrot. ? Concerns about increased issues and complaints from the public. ? Concerns about what will be happening to the chickens when they become ill. ? The need for backyard chicken farming is more of an issue for higher density areas, such as Toronto or Vancouver, where they don’t have ready access to organic eggs or the ability to approach a farmer to rent a portion of their land in order to participate in the activity. ? There would need to be a provision or regulatory body to direct people to if they have concerns about the treatment of the backyard chickens. ? The issue of dogs becoming more of a problem (i.e. noise) in the proximity of chickens. Moved by Laurie Arnott, seconded by Helen Koseck WHEREAS, in theory, it is possible that there are some responsible people who would be willing to raise poultry; and WHEREAS the geographic landscape and availability the for organic poultry and eggs in Clarington provide viable options for the residents of Clarington; and WHEREAS there is a lack of a regulatory agency in this respect; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Animal Advisory Committee believes that the Municipality of Clarington is not ready nor prepared to permit the keeping of backyard chickens in urban, non- agriculturally zoned areas within Clarington. CARRIED Animal Advisory Committee -4- March 10, 2010 4. OTHER BUSINESS a. Coyotes and Wolves Anne informed the Committee that Mr. John Pisapio, from the Ministry of Natural Resources, made a presentation to the General Purpose and Administration regarding coyotes and wolves. She informed the Committee that the Municipality engages livestock valuers to evaluate livestock kills and the Municipality reimburses the farmer for the livestock killed by coyotes and wolves. She added that Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) reimburses the Municipality for the payout to the farmers. Anne summarized Mr. Pisapio’s presentation which dispelled some of the myths about coyotes. She noted that the Ministry has concluded that most coyote kills in urban areas are caused by people feeding coyotes. One of the myths that Mr. Pisapio informed the Committee about was that we are not currently experiencing a population explosion but rather that this is part of the cyclical nature of the coyote population which is currently at its peak. Anne noted that there is now information on the Clarington website about frequently asked questions regarding wolves. b. Shelter Updates Anne informed the Committee of the ongoing licensing campaign and staff was starting the 2010 kennel licensing inspections. c. Cougars Peter mentioned that the zoo has received cougar calls. Sheila confirmed that the Animal Services had received some calls regarding cougars as well. She mentioned that they have been forwarding the callers to the Ministry of Natural Resources. 5. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Rhonda Johnson, seconded by Councillor Hooper THAT the meeting be adjourned at 4:15 p.m. CARRIED 6. NEXT MEETING May 12, 2010 – Animal Shelter