Burien CARES.
Love it or hate it. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground.
Burien Community Animal Resource and Education Society (CARES) is a nonprofit group that the city contracts with for animal control and services.
Debra George, co-owner of the Mark Restaurant and Discover Burien events director, heads it. She is not paid as CARES director.
There doesn’t appear to be any softening of positions on the group even after the release of an audit report by Denise McVicker, deputy director of the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County.
During a City Council study session on March 25, Burien city officials characterized the report as affirming that CARES is performing its contract with the city and treating animals in its care humanely. City Manager Mike Martin noted McVicker had given some recommendations on improvements that may cost more and expand services CARES is providing.
“This is a classic, young community-based organization that is doing everything right,” Martin declared. “It is time to get behind it. It has been through some rough times.”
However, resident Debi Wagner said she had posted a list of 26 CARES deficiencies taken directly from McVicker’s report. See Wagner’s letter here: http://www.highlinetimes.com/2013/03/25/news/letter-audit-shows-burien-…
Reacting to criticism that CARES opponents are making inflammatory unfair comments about the group, Wagner said, “I visited the facility (animal shelter) and wrote what I saw. People are writing from concern.”
“They are saying, ‘I don’t want my pet to get in a bad situation.’”
McVicker visited the CARES facility on Feb. 26 and 27, interviewed staff members and studied written reports.
“CARES is meeting the public safety needs in terms of animal control and is open 40 hours per week as specified in the contract,” McVicker concluded.
She noted Ray Helms is the sole animal control officer and is responsible for the care and health of the animals.
“If Ray is injured or needs a vacation he has no backup staff with full training,” McVicker wrote. “This seems to be a liability to the daily operation of CARES if Ray is not available.”
Although Helms had been denied entrance to animal control training at the state Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien, McVicker arranged to have him take courses next year.
She said Helms works hard to make sure service requests receive a response within 24 hours. Emergency requests are taken care of within 30 minutes, she reported.
McVicker recommended that the Public Works department, which is responsible for picking up dead animals from city roadways, give CARES a description of the animals so CARES could inform owners asking about lost pets.
She also suggested that CARES utilize a databank instead of recording reports by hand.
McVicker questioned the security for stray dogs and potentially dangerous dogs.
“There are currently no written protocols in place for the handling of dangerous or potentially dangerous animals,” McVicker wrote.
All incoming pets are checked out by a veterinarian but are not vaccinated until the stray hold period is up and the animal is determined to be healthy and friendly, according to McVicker.
“If the animal is seriously injured the veterinarian may make the decision to eutthanize,” McVicker reported. “CARES regularly makes decisions to treat and repair all otherwise healthy animals.”
McVicker noted CARES does not regularly accept stray cats and advises people bringing them in to return them to the area they were found. She said that could be harmful to the cats and advised that a solution be found. She admitted CARES is not required in its contract to accept stray cats.
McVicker also suggested that all incoming animals be entered into a database and be identified with a paper collar.
She found that CARES is “fairly successful” at placing animals because it manages the intake of owner surrendered animals. All adopters are charged an adoption fee but the fee can be reduced or waived, she added.
McVicker declared that CARES is facing a “huge viability” by placing animals that have bitten or acted aggressively.
“Pressure from the public to place ‘all’ animals should not override common sense,” she wrote. “If the animal cannot be safely handled and is not safe for the public in an adoptive home, consideration should be given for euthanasia.”
McVicker acknowledged that CARES could not provide proper care without volunteers but recommended the minimum age for volunteers be raised.
In her final impressions, McVicker asked, “Is there a mixed message from the city of Burien regarding the duties of CARES—softer and kinder vs. ‘doing their job?’ Staff and volunteers feel they are always under scrutiny and always have to be ‘on guard’ to what the public perception will be of their actions.”
In her final recommendations, McVicker suggested increased documentation, agreement on care standards, and an updating of the infection control plan.
At the council meeting, Martin estimated the city is saving about $360,000 by contracting with CARES instead of the Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) He said the city pays CARES $120,000 per year. About half the cost comes from revenue on pet licenses while the other half comes from the general fund.
CARES, as a nonprofit, also raises additional money for its operations.
Wagner said she believes CARES expenses are higher than the revenue generated.
Martin noted RASKC responded to 4,800 calls in 25 cities while CARES responded to 2,800 calls just from Burien. He noted one CARES officer covers Burien while RASKC would provide two animal control officers for Burien, six other cities, White Center and Vashon Island.
Wagner said SeaTac is paying $110,000 for RASKC services. Martin said the lower amount is because of fewer service calls in SeaTac.
Councilmember Jack Block Jr. said Des Moines pays the same amount as Burien but its animal control officer is also a police officer. Normandy Park shares Des Moines’ animal control services.
Deputy Mayor Lucy Krakowiak and Councilmember Bob Edgar said they wanted to hear a presentation from RASKC officials on a possible contract for Burien after the CARES contract ends in May 2014. Block said RASKC should be asked to mail a proposal to the city.
However the council majority of Mayor Brian Bennett and councilmembers Rose Clark, Joan McGilton and Gerald Robison did not support the request.
