TAS not out of the woods, and tie-ins

First, thoughts on the Quebec puppy mill bust.

Then, a plea from TAS to adopt cats and kittens as they are swamped.

Then, the e-mail message from Animal Alliance about the continuing threat to TAS (at the end due to length.

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1. Pound Dogs has quite a bit of information on the big Quebec puppy mill bust this week.

These dogs will need loving foster homes to acclimate them to life "on the outside" and loving permanent homes to erase the years of suffering. Many may be dispersed to GTA shelters and rescues. Please find it in your heart to give a puppy mill dog the best chance for a good life.

Adopt, don't shop.

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2. Toronto Animal Services South has many lovely cats and kittens for adoption. Please think about giving a cat or kitten a loving forever home.

The shelter can also use donations of canned cat food, any brand. You can drop it off at the shelter, Exhibition Place, seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

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3. From Animal Alliance

I am writing to update you on the status of Toronto Animal Services. The City’s Core Service Review has been completed and the City Manager held a press conference on September 12 to release the results of the report. The information below provides you with a summary of recommendations affecting Toronto Animal Services as a result of the Review.

Positive aspects of the report: There are two good news items in the City Manager’s report. The first is that Toronto Animal Services is recognized as a core city service. As a result, the City Manager’s only standing recommendation to the Executive Committee being held on Monday September 19^th, 2011 is to eliminate animal pick-up and delivery of owner-surrendered animals except in emergency situations (exact wording below). The second is the inclusion by the City Manager of the recommendations from the Licensing and Standards Committee (see Appendix A) to improve the licensing of dogs and cats in the City and to work with the community as to how improvements might be achieved.

Negative aspects of the report: In Appendix E, the City Manager leaves open the possibility of privatization when he recommends the following: “Request the City Manager to review the remaining efficiency related opportunities as set out in Appendix E, to determine whether and in what manner implementation is appropriate through the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Operating Budget.” But, in the same chart, he acknowledges that there are four significant challenges if privatization of part or all of Toronto Animal Services was considered. The challenges include:

• loss of internal control resulting in a challenge to mitigate public response if service levels drop;
• no business or organization in Toronto currently has capacity to take on animal care and enforcement delivery;
• no other organization currently has a bylaw enforcement capacity relative to animal well-being; and
• the City would need to establish a mechanism to manage risk associated with third-party enforcement.

In addition, the proposed 10% across the board cuts to all services will dramatically affect Toronto Animal Services. While there is not a direct correlation, 10% reduction in funds will result in higher euthanasia rates in the City shelters and this is not acceptable. So we recommend that TAS face no budget cuts because the resulting impact of more animals dying will be greater than the savings realized from the 10% cuts.

What we need you to do: We need you to continue to pressure the Mayor and Members of Council to make sure that Toronto Animal Services is protected throughout this service review process which will continue for several months.

I have included a sign-on letter that you can send to the Mayor and Members of Council. However, it would be more powerful if you use the information to draft a letter of your own.

Thank you so much for your help in protecting Toronto’s animals by protecting Toronto Animal Services.

Please feel free to call me or Lia Laskaris for any advice. And if you could, please sign up to depute at the City Executive this Monday. Contact: Frances Pritchard, 10th floor, West Tower, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

email: exc@toronto.ca, phone: 416-392-6627 fax: 416-392-1879.

Sincerely,

Liz White

*** Sign-on Letter Below ***

Dear Mayor and Members of the City Executive Committee and Council,

I am writing to urge you to ensure the protection of Toronto Animal Services (TAS) and the animals in its care.

I was very pleased to see that the City Manager recognized TAS as a core service and highlighted the need to determine the emergency situations in which owner surrendered animal might have to be picked up by the City.

In addition, I was pleased with the City Manager’s inclusion of the recommendations from the Licensing and Standards Committee that would improve the licensing of dogs and cats in the City and that would facilitate community involvement as to how improvements might be achieved.

I oppose the recommendation in Appendix E, where the City Manager leaves open the possibility of privatization when he recommends the following: “Request the City Manager to review the remaining efficiency related opportunities as set out in Appendix E, to determine whether and in what manner implementation is appropriate through the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Operating Budget.” However, I was pleased to note that he acknowledges that there are four significant challenges to the privatization of part or all of TAS, including the loss of internal control resulting in a challenge to mitigate public response if service levels drop, that no business or organization in Toronto currently has the capacity to take on animal care and enforcement delivery, that no other organization currently has a bylaw enforcement capacity relative to animal well-being, and that the City would need to establish a mechanism to manage risk associated with third-party enforcement.

In addition, I oppose the 10% budget cut to TAS services. Any reduction in funds will result in higher euthanasia rates in the City shelters and this is not acceptable. The TAS budget should remain intact because the resulting impact of more animals dying will be greater than the savings realized.

Sincerely,

Signature

Name

Address

City Postal Code

Date

*** Core Service Review - Report ***

Core Service Review

Final Report to Executive Committee

(EX10-1) September 19, 2011

Areas of the report affecting Toronto Animal Services

Appendix A: Positive recommendations in the report (from Appendix A, Final Report, pgs 10-11):

“Additionally, the Licensing and Standards Committee established the Problem Property Sub-Committee on June 29, 2011 to implement a cooperative, multi-jurisdictional, community approach in identifying and referring problem areas to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.

b) The possibility of expanding animal licensing in Toronto.

c) The possibility of updating an online licensing system.

d) The possibility of maximizing online donations to Toronto Animal Services.

f) The feasibility of requiring micro-chipping of dogs and cats as a requirement of licensing.

g) A review of pet licensing options, including the option of a lifetime licensing system to replace the current annual licensing fee, with micro-chipping dogs and cats as a requirement.

The Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards will undertake a review of animal licensing including recommendations from the Licensing and Standards Committee and report back in 2012. Enhancements to the E-Pet system and the Municipal Licensing and Standards case management system are being reviewed and will be submitted for consideration through the 2012 Capital Budget.

e) The possibility of establishing an animal services sub-committee of the Licensing and Standards Committee.

A Council Reference Group for Animal Services was established by City Council at its July 15, 2008 meeting to provide advice to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards on the development and implementation of a strategic plan for Toronto Animal Services. The Reference Group included four Council members appointed on the recommendation of the Striking Committee. The Reference Group completed its mandate and City Council determined not to re-establish the Reference Group for the 2010-2014 term at its May 17 and 18, 2011 meeting.”

Appendix E: Leaves open the option in 2012, 2013 and 2014 for privatization possibilities.

#	Service	KPMG Opportunity	Implications	Recommended Action
50	Municipal Licensing and Standards	Consider outsourcing some or all of animal care and enforcement delivery.	Loss of internal control will make it a challenge to mitigate public response if service levels drop. No business or organization in Toronto currently has capacity to take on animal care and enforcement delivery. No other organization currently has a bylaw enforcement capacity relative to animal well-being. Additionally, the City would need to establish a mechanism to manage risk associated with third-party enforcement.	Request the City Manager to review the remaining efficiency related opportunities as set out in Appendix E, to determine whether and in what manner implementation is appropriate through the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Operating Budget