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Thread: Dog lives matter

  1. #391
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    Gorga: The neighbors to the north are only paying $15.9181 per hour and they take in theirs and Amherst's dogs.
    An interesting observation but what is the point of the comparison? Are you implying Clarence does a better job and their Assistant DCO’s earn 9 cents less? What does taking in Amherst’s dog have to do with anything.

    Sometime in Fudoli’s administration Lancaster (2013-16) Lancaster approached Clarence for taking in our dog operation and Clarence said ‘no thanks’. Clarence was approached several years later and again walked away from an agreement. We are better off for it now.

    Perhaps your research should focus on when Lancaster Assistant DCO’s started earning $16 per hour. The increase from $14 per hour to $16/hr. took place in November of 2021. There was also increase that took place sometime from the 2020 budget when DCO’s were only earning $13.20.

    $13.20/hr. in 2020 when from 2011 through 2014 DCO’S were earning $15.78 per hour. How and when did this wage decrease / increase occur?

    When you conduct your search you will find:

    2015 and 2016 - no Schedule of Salaries listed in the Organizational Meetings Minutes

    2017 – no meeting minutes

    2018 and 2019 – Dog Control Department not included in Schedule of Salaries

    2020 - $13.20 / hr. for DCO’s listed in Schedule of Salaries

    2021 – No Schedule of Salaries included in Organizational Meeting

    2022 - $16.00 / hr.

    The Dog Control Department was having difficulty hiring and keeping employees at $14 / hr. Why would they even consider earning $16 / hr. when they could flip burgers for that money and not risk getting bit in the ass.

    Comparing Lancaster to other municipalities? Really? Who else does that? Our supervisor. Apples to oranges!

  2. #392
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Chowaniec View Post
    An interesting observation but what is the point of the comparison? Are you implying Clarence does a better job and their Assistant DCO’s earn 9 cents less? What does taking in Amherst’s dog have to do with anything.

    Sometime in Fudoli’s administration Lancaster (2013-16) Lancaster approached Clarence for taking in our dog operation and Clarence said ‘no thanks’. Clarence was approached several years later and again walked away from an agreement. We are better off for it now.

    Perhaps your research should focus on when Lancaster Assistant DCO’s started earning $16 per hour. The increase from $14 per hour to $16/hr. took place in November of 2021. There was also increase that took place sometime from the 2020 budget when DCO’s were only earning $13.20.

    $13.20/hr. in 2020 when from 2011 through 2014 DCO’S were earning $15.78 per hour. How and when did this wage decrease / increase occur?

    When you conduct your search you will find:

    2015 and 2016 - no Schedule of Salaries listed in the Organizational Meetings Minutes

    2017 – no meeting minutes

    2018 and 2019 – Dog Control Department not included in Schedule of Salaries

    2020 - $13.20 / hr. for DCO’s listed in Schedule of Salaries

    2021 – No Schedule of Salaries included in Organizational Meeting

    2022 - $16.00 / hr.

    The Dog Control Department was having difficulty hiring and keeping employees at $14 / hr. Why would they even consider earning $16 / hr. when they could flip burgers for that money and not risk getting bit in the ass.

    Comparing Lancaster to other municipalities? Really? Who else does that? Our supervisor. Apples to oranges!
    No, I'm implying that municipalities in general are paying their workers wages under what the burger flippers are making.
    And like the burger flippers, these part time jobs aren't meant to support a family, IMHO.

    Georgia L Schlager

  3. #393
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    Gorga: No, I'm implying that municipalities in general are paying their workers wages under what the burger flippers are making.
    And like the burger flippers, these part time jobs aren't meant to support a family, IMHO.
    No, the appointment of individual(s) to part-time temporary or part-time temporary seasonal position(s) are not meant to support a family, but to earn wages to aid in helping support a family or a student attending school..

    The new pay rate of $16/hr. for DCO’s is not out of line with what other part-time hires earn. And the DCO's are on call off shift and until recently were not paid 4 hours of pay when called in, but the time spent on the call – and at $13.20/hr. and $14/hr., which was just fine with Supervisor Ruffino..

  4. #394
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    Nah, dogs can't climb wire fences, right?

    Thanks, DCO Karn for recommending the new shelter kennels be thoroughly enclosed.

    Thanks to the town board for agreeing and executing a change order to make it happen - even though Supervisor Ruffino cast a 'no' vote.

    https://metro.co.uk/video/puppy-goes...e-pen-2686863/

  5. #395
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    Dog Control Officer Jean Karn’s job duties / undertakings

    Hearing so often Supervisor Ruffino declare that the Dog Control Department is being mismanaged – re spending and staffing – it behooved me to FOIL to discover what task activities DCO Karn is involved in. Her formal ‘job description’ is meager in function at best.

    Quite impressive. I knew most of it. Did you? Does the Supervisor?

    DEPARTMENTAL DUTIES:

    - Schedule employees weekly
    - Complete employee timesheet bi-weekly and hand into Police Dept.
    - Send weekly schedules to police departments
    - Scan in and input all invoices
    - Approve invoices
    - Answer incoming calls
    - Order Supplies
    - Set up accounts with amazon, vet offices, etc.
    - Keep track of inventory
    - Making appointments to maintain equipment
    - Research equipment and get estimates (new van, Comcate computer system, fencing)
    - Request from Board Members changes for summer help and pay increases
    - Research local laws, make changes when needed
    - Train new employees
    - Maintain phone and incident records
    - Monthly reports to the Town Board
    - Maintain vehicle maintenance
    - Print out delinquent dog licenses
    - Call by phone any person who is late paying their dog license
    - Write out final notices to noncompliant dog owners
    - Write letters to Erie County when my employees exceed their hours
    - NYS Agriculture and Markets inspections
    - Provide work program 2 days a week with the Lancaster High School: the students come in and clean office during the school year and make blankets and bandanas for local dog rescues
    - Host seminars for NYS Agriculture and Markets, fellow Dog Control Officers, and Police Officers in the area as well as the public
    - Secure contracts with Village of Lancaster, Village of Depew, and the Erie County SPCA
    - Work with UB Law students regarding local ordinances for feral cats in the area
    - Work with WNY Heroes and service dogs: this organization comes to Lancaster and gives seminars to Dog Control Officers and Police Officers regarding service dogs and will pull some of our seized dogs to be trained to become service dogs for our local veterans
    - Maintain Facebook page

    COURT DUTIES:

    - Write out tickets for violations again local and state laws
    - File Dangerous Dog Cases, this includes:
     Taking bite reports for dog attack or threatened attack against a human or dog attacking or threatened attack against a companion animal
     Filing out proper paperwork for the Department of Health if human is bit
     If Health Department cannot get hold of owner of aggressive dog, they will request dog control to follow up
     Verify rabies with vet
     Interview witnesses
     Follow up on injured person or dog
     Gather depositions from witnesses
     Gather all vet bills and photos
     Fill out Notice of Hearing paperwork, have judge sign paperwork and serve paperwork to dog owner
     Have complainant fill out court paperwork
     Present case to judge
     Case must be heard in court within 5 days and upon written notice according to Agriculture and Markets Laws
    - Must give recommendations to court regarding professional dog training, dog evaluations, etc. Follow up on court cases
    - Make copies of all information associated with all tickets
    - Issue tickets for violations
    - Appear for court cases (we deal with Village of Lancaster Court, Village of Depew Court, and Town of Lancaster Court)
    - Provide testimony and evidence in court

    DOG CONTROL DUTIES:

    - Seizes and impound stray and dangerous dogs
    - Respond off duty for Police Call-ins
    - Receive and answer complaints from the public regarding dog nuisances
    - Issue appearance summons and participate in court proceedings
    - Enforces quarantine laws and orders applicable to dogs
    - Attempt to locate owners of seized dogs
    - Investigates reports of cruelty to dogs
    - Reports sick or injured dogs to veterinarian for corrective action
    - Renders emergency treatment, when necessary
    - Transport injured dogs to vet
    - Feeds, waters, and cares for impounded dogs, is responsible for shelter services
    - Maintains records of work performed including a record of all dogs impounded and redeemed to owners (Required by NYS)
    - Responsible for the cleanliness of the Dog Shelter
    - Works with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to meet compliance standards
    - Deal with the public effectively
    - Ability to use special equipment including snares and dog capture devices
    - Ability to operate a computer
    - Prepare reports
    - Ability to lift 50 lbs.
    - Clean office
    - Laundry
    - We assist with end-of-life information for dog owners
    - We show citizens how to effectively use dog training devices
    - We make referrals for dog trainers
    - Referrals for wildlife
    - Read body language of dogs and where to place dog in kennel
    - Work with local dog rescues
    - Transport stray dogs to the SPCA
    - Work with Apartment Complexes to make sure dogs are licensed and following ordinances
    - Deliver final notices and court appearance tickets
    - Updates for licenses if owners have moved or deceases dogs
    - Work with local dog trappers to reunite lost dogs with their owners

    Other

    2021 Dog Control Report

    3,147 Complaints or calls received
    1,582 Calls responded to / follow-ups
    137 Compliance notices
    680 Final notices
    181 Court appearance tickets issued
    48 Dog bite reports filed
    10 Dogs redeemed.
    10 Dog rescue transfer
    11 Dog transfer to SPCA
    0 Dogs euthanized
    2 Deceased dogs
    16,865 miles patrolled with van

  6. #396
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    Happy Memorial Day dog lovers - enjoy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbLelUc-P8U

  7. #397
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    Town of Tonawanda police dept paramedics and officers resuscitate 2 dogs.

    https://fb.watch/dnyKulPzz4/

    Georgia L Schlager

  8. #398
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    Clarification please

    Imagine, 30 resolutions, 67 communications, a public hearing and not one drop of ink on the status of the construction of the new dog shelter.

    In the communications of the 5-16-2022 town board meeting Town Engineer Ed Schiller requested the town sponsor a resolution to approve a change order to cover the added expenses to correct kennel slope, addition of hose Bib in garage, and addition of dog wash station in the garage – total cost $9,262. All tasks to be performed before the NYS Animal Companion grant allotment could be dispersed. No change order resolution appeared on the May 16th s agenda, nor appears on this one.

    As we have heard Supervisor Ruffino rail against and vote ‘no’ on previous change orders approved to meet guidelines and standards eliminated in a ‘negotiated’ contract between the town and project approved contractor, it is unlikely Ruffino will give any update on the remaining tasks to be performed – and were promised to be completed by the end of June.

    As work is taking place in the shelter, most likely floor slope correction, one should expect to hear a report from Dog Control Committee Chair Burkard (Councilmember) on the project’s status concerning:

    • What work is taking place now?
    • Anticipated date for completion of all tasks?
    • Estimated cost of work was established at $9,262. Why the delay in resolution approving the change order approval?
    • Anticipated building occupancy?
    • Is DCO Karn involved in the dog-run fencing project as suggested by AG & Markets?
    • Now that an Assistant DCO has left the department, transferring to a police dispatch position, what is the current staffing and number of hours of coverage in a 168-hour week? Supervisor Ruffino declares the department is mismanaged – overstaffed and spending more than comparable like-size communities.
    • Why is the town delaying performing a ‘dog census’ as promised several years ago?

    Someone? Or more crickets?

  9. #399
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    Dog shelter construction update

    No Dog Shelter report given at last night’s town board meeting.

    At the work session Councilmember Burkard, Dog Control Committee Chair, instructed Town Engineer to coordinate with DCO Karn on the outside construction of the dog run fencing project and correction of the other outstanding tasks assigned by NYS Ag & Markets that needed to be completed before the town could receive the NYS Animal Companion grant amount of $228,750 to offset shelter construction costs.

    A NYS grant application so badly managed at conception where the towns financial obligation to construct the shelter was estimated at $76,250 is not costing town taxpayers $270,000 – and more to come. Had the grant application been for the allowed $500,000, the cost to the town would have been $125,000.

    Shelter occupancy is coming, but then again, so is Christmas!

  10. #400
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    Georgia L Schlager

  11. #401
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    Monday night’s Town Board Dog Shelter Progress Report

    Nada! Nichts! Zilch! Crickets!

    Dogs still housed at the deplorable Lancaster Hotel Transylvania Shed.

  12. #402
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    SPCA Charges Buffalo Woman with Animal Cruelty for Allegedly Leaving Dog in Hot Car

    A report that bears repeating as too many children and pets are exposed to this tragic, but avoidable situation in the warmer months. Senseless and inexcusable!

    https://yourspca.org/news/doginhotcar61622/

    The SPCA Serving Erie County has charged Shermika Walker of Buffalo with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty and one violation after she allegedly left a dog in a hot vehicle at the Airport Plaza in Cheektowaga Wednesday, June 15.

    According to Accuweather.com, Cheektowaga temperatures reached 91 degrees Wednesday afternoon when Cheektowaga Police and Animal Control officers responded to a call regarding a dog left in a vehicle at the plaza. When officers arrived at the location, they reportedly found the dog inside of the vehicle in severe distress, seizing and vomiting.

    The male dog, which appears to be a Boston Terrier, was removed from the vehicle, and rushed by Cheektowaga Animal Control officers to the Greater Buffalo Veterinary Emergency Clinic on Genesee St. in Buffalo when SPCA officers were called to assist. The dog’s temperature surpassed 107 degrees and he exhibited other signs of severe heatstroke.

    The SPCA Serving Erie County has charged Shermika Walker of Buffalo with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty and one violation after she allegedly left a dog in a hot vehicle at the Airport Plaza in Cheektowaga Wednesday, June 15.

    The SPCA reminds community members that the effects of heatstroke can begin quickly in animals left alone in parked cars in the summer, even when cars are parked for short lengths of time in shade with windows open. Those who find animals left alone in cars during extreme temperatures are encouraged to call 9-1-1 or the SPCA Serving Erie County, (716) 875-7360, ext. 214, 8 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. seven days a week.

  13. #403
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    A tribute to all organizations and individuals that contribute to the rescue and wellbeing of our furry friends.

    All too often pets are abandoned or abused by pet owners that brought the pet into their homes not realizing the care and cost of providing for them.

    https://youtu.be/THMwV7GxmEc

  14. #404
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    Town Board progress report on dog shelter

    At last night’s town board meeting the following dog shelter progress report was presented:

    Town Engineer Ed Schiller: Basically, the work has pretty much been wrapped up. The outside work has been done except for the fence. The millings are in; asphalt millings down and rolled.

    Just waiting to wrap up the paperwork, contract, so that everything can be sent to the state for final sign off.

    Dog Control Committee Chair Mark Burkard: So next town board meeting you will have the resolutions for building wrap up and for the fencing.

    Comment

    Can’t wait to see to see those ‘wrap-up’ resolutions regarding costs for additional tasks requested by the state, the fencing, etc. To hear of the approval of the ‘final’ occupancy permit and the official opening date of new dog shelter.

    Can’t wait to see what the extra town spending bought us after the mishap by the town for underestimating the construction of the building and not applying for a $500,000 state grant instead of $305,000 – an error costing town taxpayers' $160,000.

  15. #405
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    Main reason for significant increase in pet surrenders

    https://brightly.eco/animal-shelter-pet-surrenders/

    According to Macz, the real reason behind pet surrenders is the current economic instability in the United States. Families have come to realize it’s hard enough to take care of themselves, let alone their pets. Because of these financial hardships, thousands have made the very difficult decision to surrender their pets—they’re no longer able to take care of them, and they want them to be with a family that can provide that support.


    Thank God they are surrendered, not dropped onto the streets!

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