2016 SBACC Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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from the shelter. Her organization, Community Animal Rescue Effort of South Bend, Inc. no longer provides transport of animals to rescue or provides funds for the medical care of sick and injured animals in the care of SBACC. Subsequently, Mr. Wilkerson and Council member Tim Scott appeared before the media to announce an audit and calling into question the relationship between CARE and SBACC. No proposed recommendations regarding changes to the Ordinance have been made. RECOMMENDATIONS The Animal Control Commission believes it is essential that more resources be devoted to South Bend Animal Care and Control in order that the goals of the animal control ordinance be achieved. Appropriate equipment, training and standard operating procedures are essential. Reports from the new shelter manager indicate significant changes will be made. The Commission encourages the implementation of all appropriate procedures to ensure the safety of the public and animals in the community. In the opinion of this writer, those goals are hampered by power struggles involving the agency and personality conflicts. The loss of services provided by CARE to the Shelter is significant. Animals that would normally be sent to rescue take up space in the Shelter possibly causing unnecessary deaths and increasing costs. More staff time must be used to find other outlets for those animals. Medical costs increase as CARE funds have been lost. There is apparently some attempt to resolve the issue, but there is no guarantee of a rapprochement. The gratuitous escalation of a dispute over which body will make recommendations to the Common Council serves no purpose other than to harm the animals for which the City is responsible. Reckless implications of wrong- doing invite legal action and sow distrust. Important animal rescue and welfare organizations have been alienated by the situation. Those organizations are vital partners that SBACC cannot afford to lose as outlets for its animals and as community support. While the Commission members are all in support of the improvements proposed for shelter operations, we will continue to seek to make sure those improvements happen. The South Bend Animal Control Commission respectfully submits its report. li ISSUED THE ist DAY OF MARCH, 2017 /' 7 Ernest P. Galos President, Animal Control Commission for the City of South Bend