1

CAPTIONING

MARCH 27, 2013

ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.

MIKE HAWORTH: THANK YOU.

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 27, 2013, ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.

MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SIGN IN YET, I HAVE THE SIGN-IN SHEET RIGHT HERE.

HAS EVERYBODY GOT IT YET?

ALL RIGHT.

HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY HAS A COPY OF THE AGENDA IN FRONT OF THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION STARTED BY TIM GOLDEN LAST YEAR, WHICH IS WE WILL ALL RISE, HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL ARMED SERVICE PERSONNEL OVERSEAS AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO THE AGENDA, NOTHING MAJOR.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE REPORT FROM CHAIR TO BE ITEM 6, WITH PUBLIC SIGN-IN BEING IN FRONT OF IT.

SO IT WOULD BE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, PUBLIC SIGN- IN AND COMMENT AND REPORT FROM CHAIR, FOLLOWED BY REPORT FROM ANIMAL SERVICES.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON TO NEW BUSINESSSTATE LEGISLATIVE BILLS.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY CHANGES?

NOBODY HAS ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES AS OFFERED?

> SO MOVED.

MIKE HAWORTH: ANYBODY SECOND IT?

LISA WALKER: I'LL SECOND IT.

MIKE HAWORTH: SECONDED BY LISA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE AGENDA, RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.

[CHORUS OF AYES]

ANY OPPOSED?

MOTION MADE, PASSED, AND CARRIED.

CAN WE PASS THIS DOWN?

ALL RIGHT.

LAST MONTH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

DID EVERYBODY GET A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE COPY OF THOSE THAT WERE SENT ELECTRONICALLY TO US?

> I SKIMMED THEM.

>MIKE HAWORTH: EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE?

SO WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY WRITING NOTES ANYMORE.

WE ARE JUST TAKING THE CLOSED CAPTIONING FROM THE MEETING.

THAT WAS THE CHANGE APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES OR OBJECTIONS TO-- LET'S SEE-- IT WOULD BE LAST MONTH'S MEETING AND AS WELL AS JANUARY'S MEETING.

GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO JUST PASS BOTH OF THEM IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS.

> I MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THE CAPTIONING FOR OUR MINUTES.

MIKE HAWORTH: MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO ACCEPT BOTH OF THE CAPTIONING FOR THE LAST TWO MEETINGS.

DOES ANYBODY SECOND THAT MOTION?

LISA WALKER: I'LL SECOND, LISA WALKER.

MIKE HAWORTH: MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LISA.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

WE'LL PUT IT TO A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE CLOSED CAPTIONING AS MINUTES UNCHANGED, RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.

[CHORUS OF AYES]

ANYBODY OPPOSED?

MOTION MADE, PASSED, AND CARRIED.

WE ARE GOING TO DO PUBLIC SIGN-IN AND COMMENT NOW.

HAS ANYBODY SIGNED IN ON THE SHEET TO TALK?

CAN I HAVE THAT SHEET, PLEASE?

THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT ANY ISSUE OR CONCERN.

YOUR OPINIONS ARE VALUED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INPUT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.

HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED AT THE SAME TIME WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE THAT YOUR COMMENTS ARE DIRECTED-- NOT DIRECTED, RATHER-- PERSONALLY AGAINST A COMMITTEE MEMBER BUT, RATHER, DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES.

THIS PROVIDES A MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.

WE'LL ALLOW THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

THERE ARE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.

AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR, WE MAY, AGAIN, HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

WHEN ADDRESSING THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE AT THE PODIUM.

CAN WE HAVE MELISSA MILLER, PLEASE.

MELISSA, IF YOU GET TO TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, I'LL TAP THE MICROPHONE TO LET YOU KNOW YOU'RE 30 SECONDS FROM THE END, IF THAT'S OKAY.

> OKAY.

MIKE HAWORTH: AND IF YOU NEED TO RUN OVER, THAT'S PROBABLY OKAY TOO.

ARE YOU READY TO START?

> I GUESS.

JUST LET ME SAY I DON'T LIKE TO PUBLICLY SPEAK, SO MAYBE WE COULD JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH.

I'M MELISSA MILLER, AND IT'S 3805 CLOVER HILL COURT IN BRANDON.

I'M HAVING AN ISSUE JUST RECENTLY ABOUT THE CAT LEASH LAW, AND I'M WONDERING IF I COULD HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM THIS BOARD TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO MY COUNTYCOMMISSIONER TO TRY AND GET THAT CHANGED.

I HAVE LIVED IN HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTYIN THE SAME ADDRESS FOR 13 YEARS WITH THE SAME NEIGHBORS, AND THERE'S ONE NEIGHBOR IN PARTICULAR WHO, IN JANUARY, HAS STARTED NOW TRAPPING MY CATS AND TAKING THEM TO THE POUND AND WITHOUT A WORD.

SO THEN I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE.

THERE'S ONE THAT WAS NOT CHIPPED, SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS THERE, AND HE'S CHIPPED NOW.

AND THE NEXT DAY HE WAS GOING TO EITHER BE GIVEN AWAY OR EUTHANIZED.

SO I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET HIM BACK.

I DO KNOW THAT AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY THAT THEY WERE-- THEY HAD A PROCLAMATION DONE THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO CATCH AND NEUTER AND RELEASE THOSE ANIMALS AND WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE THEM OUT AND ABOUT IN THE AREA AND LIVE WITH THEM PEACEFULLY.

LIKE I SAID, I'VE LIVED MANY DIFFERENT PLACES AND NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF A LAW.

I ALWAYS HAD CATS.

AND WE'VE LIVED PEACEFULLY AMONG OUR NEIGHBORS WITH CATS.

IF YOU GO IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'LL SEE CATS OUT AND ABOUT.

THERE'S-- ONLY IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO WILL ACTUALLY TRAP THEM AND TAKE THEM TO THE POUND.

THE POUND WILL NOT-- OR THE ANIMAL SERVICES.

THEY WON'T COME AND GET THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO DEAL WITH, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING AND THE TIME AND THE MAN POWER.

I'VE TRIED KEEPING THE CATS INSIDE, AND THEY HAVE BASICALLY STARTED RUINING MY HOUSE, AND I'VE TRIED LETTING THEM OUT INTO THE POOL CAGE AREA, AND THEY'VE CHEWED THROUGH AND CLAWED UP AND OUT THE CAGE.

SO IT'S JUST-- AT THIS POINT, AFTER 13 YEARS, IT'S HOW THE CATS ARE.

YOU CAN'T GO OUTSIDE ANYMORE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

I HAVE PEOPLE, AND I HAVE CLEANERS AND PEOPLE THAT COME IN THE HOUSE AND IN AND OUT AND MY FAMILY, AND AS SOON AS YOU OPEN THE DOOR, THEY RUN OUT.

SO I'M HAVING A VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TIME, AND I'M HOPING THAT I CAN SOMEHOW-- I'VE HAD TO PAY OVER $600 IN FINES TO GET THE CATS BACK.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY WELL CARED FOR.

THEY HAVE-- YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO THE VET MORE THAN I EVER GO TO THE DOCTOR.

SO THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT 15,000 CATS ARE KILLED EACH YEAR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ALONE, AND NOW THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE HOUSE CATS THAT ARE LOVED AND CARED FOR AND KILL THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ADOPTED WHEN THEY'RE OLDER, OVERWEIGHT, YOU KNOW, NOT KITTENS AND FUN.

BASICALLY, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR, TO SEE IF YOU WOULD SUPPORT GETTING RID OF THAT ORDINANCE SO THAT CATS ARE ALLOWED TO BE OUTSIDE.

MIKE HAWORTH: THANK YOU, MS. MILLER, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IF YOU-- YOU LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTY, I ASSUME?

> YES.

MIKE HAWORTH: HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANIMAL SERVICES ABOUT YOUR DILEMMA?

> YES.

MIKE HAWORTH: AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF A RESOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM?

> WELL, THE NEIGHBOR CONTINUES TO TRAP THEM AND TAKE THEM IN.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK.

> [OFF MICROPHONE]

MIKE HAWORTH: SO-- I'M SORRY, IAN, DID YOU HAVE MORE?

AS AN ADVISORY BOARD, WE, OBVIOUSLY, ADVISE.

WE DON'T LEGISLATE OR MAKE LEGISLATION.

YOU CERTAINLY COULD BRING THAT UP WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS, YOUR LOCAL COMMISSIONER.

THE OTHER THING, BRINGING IT UP WITH ANIMAL SERVICES, WE JUST FINISHED A FIVE- OR SIX-MONTH TASK FORCE OF WHICH THE ISSUE WHICH YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WAS A LARGE PART OF THAT.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THAT ISSUE IS ACTIVELY BEING WORKED ON AND HAS BEEN WORKED ON SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-- A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THAT TO EXPLORE THAT ISSUE AND THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH IT.

SO I'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT BALL IS ALREADY ROLLING, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYMORE CONTROL OVER IT NOW.

A REPORT IS BEING GENERATED, AND IT WILL GO TO THE BOARD OF COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

> OH, I HAD NO IDEA.

IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR AND RESEARCH THAT?

> [OFF MICROPHONE]

> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT?

> [OFF MICROPHONE]

> HAS THE BOARD ALREADY MADE THEIR RECOMMENDATION?

> [OFF MICROPHONE]

> CAN I ASK WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS?

> NOT YET.

> NOT YET?

OKAY.

> [OFF MICROPHONE]

> OKAY.

THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT IT'S BEING LOOKED AT.

> IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET AN IRRITATED NEIGHBOR MOVES IN.

MIKE HAWORTH: WE HAVE A COMMITTEE MEMBER THAT HAS A SUGGESTION FOR YOU.

I AM JUST GOING TO EXERCISE SOME LATITUDE AS CHAIR TO LET HIM ADDRESS YOU.

THIS IS JACK TALMAN.

>JACK TALMAN: I EMPATHIZE WITH YOUR SITUATION.

I HAVE MITIGATED SEVERAL OF THOSE SITUATIONS MYSELF.

IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN A-- EVERYTHING GOES GREAT UNTIL WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR MOVE IN WHO HATES CATS.

> WELL, I HAVE LIVED NEXT TO HIM FOR 13 YEARS.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD CATS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW HE HAS AN ISSUE.

>JACK TALMAN: OH, THAT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

IT'S USUALLY WHEN SOMEBODY MOVES IN.

> I KNOW.

>JACK TALMAN: I WOULD CONTINUE WORKING WITH-- I HOPE IAN DOESN'T MIND, BUT I WOULD CONTINUE WORKING WITH IAN BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE PROGRESSIVE LATELY THAN IN THE PAST.

HAS HSTB TRIED TO MITIGATE THIS ONE?

> [OFF MICROPHONE]

> THEY TAKE PICTURES DAY AND NIGHT.

> [OFF MICROPHONE]

>JACK TALMAN: YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REASON WITH THIS PERSON, OBVIOUSLY?

> OH, NO, NOT AT ALL, NO.

IT HAPPENED WHEN I CAME BACK FROM MY FATHER'S FUNERAL, AND I WENT TO HIM AND SAID I JUST CAME BACK FROM MY FATHER'S FUNERAL, AND YOU'VE TAKEN MY CAT, AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN DISCUSS IT WITH ME.

HE SAID I DON'T CARE.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRAP THEM.

SO THERE'S NO TALKING TO HIM.

> WHY DON'T YOU FOLLOW UP WITH MR. HALLETT AFTER THE MEETING, AND HE CAN GET YOU SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, MAYBE.

>IAN HALLETT: WE'VE TALKED A COUPLE TIMES.

WE STILL CONTINUE TO TALK.

I HAVE ACTUALLY SPOKEN TO BOTH MS. MILLER AND THE NEIGHBOR AND TRIED TO BE THE INTERMEDIARY AND BROKER SOMETHING, AND THE NEIGHBORS ARE QUITE FIRM IN THEIR POSITION ON IT.

> I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO TALK TO YOUR COMMISSIONER.

> YES.

HE TOLD ME MY FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO TRY AND GET SOME KIND OF A STATEMENT FROM YOU THAT YOU SUPPORT IT, AND THEN--

> WELL, THERE IS A RESOLUTION ON THE BOOKS IN HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTY.

IT'S ONLY A RESOLUTION; IT'S NOT A LAW OR AN ORDINANCE.

BUT THERE IS A RESOLUTION THAT THE COUNTYBOARD OF COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS DOES SUPPORT TNR.

> RIGHT.

> THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THIS SITUATION.

IT'S A PROPERTY RIGHTS ISSUE, I THINK.

> IT'S A PROPERTY RIGHTS ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE TO ENFORCE IT, I AGREE TOTALLY.

BUT I--

WHO IS THAT?

COMMISSIONER CRIST?

> HIGGINBOTHAM.

> HIGGINBOTHAM?

I'D CONTINUE TO CALL HIS OFFICE.

> OKAY.

I WILL.

> THANK YOU, MS. MILLER.

> OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MIKE HAWORTH: DON THOMPSON, NEXT SPEAKER.

> GOOD EVENING.

DON THOMPSON, LITHIA-PINECREST ROAD IN LITHIA, FLORIDA.

I CAN LISTEN TO THAT STORY AND THINK WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO ENCOUNTER MORE OF THOSE AS WE GO ALONG THIS PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH CATS.

BUT I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT PIT BULLS, WHICH I AM EXCITED TO REPORT, I TOLD YOU GUYS WE WERE DOING THE PIT BULL VACCINE DAY, AND THAT HAPPENED A COUPLE DAYS AFTER WE LAST MET, ON FEBRUARY 23, AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR-- DR. MIKE, WHO IS JUST MASTER WITH PHOTOGRAPHS HAS GOT PHOTOGRAPHS RUNNING RIGHT NOW OF THE VACCINE CLINIC.

WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO DO THAT, AND I THINK THE VACCINE CLINIC IS AN AWESOME EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS AN ANIMAL-LOVING COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THE GROUPS OUT -- JUST VERY QUICKLY, WE HAD 221 PIT BULLS VACCINATED.

WE SAW 249.

WE CREATED 249 MEDICAL RECORDS.

THE REASON FOR THE DISPARITY, SOME CAME IN, HAD THEIR INFORMATION WITH THEM, AND THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED.

OTHERS WERE TOO YOUNG TO VACCINATE.

SO THERE WERE A COUPLE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WHERE WE DIDN'T DO VACCINATIONS.

SO 221 WERE VACCINATED FOR RABIES, MICROCHIPPED, AND 249 TOTAL THAT WERE SEEN.

MORE THAN 50 VOLUNTEERS.

YOU KNOW, THE DANGER HERE IS STARTING TO NAME NAMES BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO FORGET SOME OF THE KEY PEOPLE, AND I THINK IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, ESPECIALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WAS KEY.

YOU KNOW, ANYTIME YOU HAVE THAT MANY ANIMALS COMING THROUGH AND WE ARE TRYING TO SEE THEM IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S REALLY THE WHOLE TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO WERE AMAZING.

BUT WE HAD MORE THAN 50 VOLUNTEERS TOTAL.

WE HAD 9 DOCTORS, 16 NURSES.

THE USF PREVETERINARIAN CLUB WAS THERE.

I WANT TO SAY THEY HAD 14 OR 15 PEOPLE THERE, WHICH WAS AWESOME.

A LOT OF THEM CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED WHAT WE WERE DOING.

DOGMA WAS THERE, LOST ANGELS, THE PIT BULL CREW.

WORKING WITH ANIMAL SERVICES AND THE FOUNDATION AND ALL THE VETERINARIANS TOGETHER, WE REALLY WERE ABLE TO PULL JUST AN AWESOME TEAM TOGETHER, AND REALLY, WE KIND OF-- ONCE WE GOT GOING, I MEAN, WE JUST SPED RIGHT THROUGH IT, AND THE PIT BULL CREW IN PARTICULAR ARE AMAZING HANDLING THOSE ANIMALS, EVEN THE ONES THAT WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH, AND THE DOCTORS WERE AMAZING.

EVERYTHING WENT SUPER WELL.

OBVIOUSLY, NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.

THINGS WENT VERY, VERY SMOOTHLY.

SO WE WERE GRATIFIED BY THAT.

I WOULD ALSO NOTE THE FOUNDATION, THE HILLSBOROUGH ANIMAL FOUNDATION, WHICH OF COURSE, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR, WE PAID FOR ALL OF THE RABIES VACCINES.

WE ALSO SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE DOLLARS JUST IN GIVEAWAYS, FOOD, THAT KIND OF THING THAT WE GAVE AWAY TO PEOPLE AS THEY WERE COMING IN FOR THE COOLEST-LOOKING DOG, THE PRETTIEST, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MARTY CAME UP WITH.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, BETH'S FRIENDS PROVIDED THE GRANT TO ANIMAL SERVICES, AND THAT'S WHAT ALLOWED US TO PAY FOR THE MICROCHIPS, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

OF COURSE, AGAIN, JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT WAS GIVEN THROUGH ANIMAL SERVICES.

I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS THERE TO HELP OUT SOME ADDITIONAL PIT BULLS TOO.

SO WITH THAT SAID, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING THAT THAT EVENT, TO ME, WAS THE-- JUST A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER WHAT WE CAN DO AS AN ANIMAL COMMUNITY AND JUST BRINGING ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER, RESCUE GROUPS, AND THE FOLKS OVER AT ANIMAL SERVICES, THE VETERINARIANS, EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

WE DID AN AMAZING THING, AND IT WAS AWESOME, AND PEOPLE REALLY APPRECIATED IT.

SO JUST HAPPY TO REPORT THAT.

HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN SOON.

I THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU.

MIKE HAWORTH: THANK YOU, MR. THOMPSON.

MOVING ON TO REPORT FROM CHAIR.

I ACTUALLY GOT A CHANCE TO WORK AT THE PIT BULL ADOPTION DAY, AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MR. THOMPSON SAID.

IT WAS A VERY-- COMPOSED OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF GOOD THINGS WE CAN DO WHEN WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A ROLE MODEL FOR THE FUTURE.

WE CAN JUST GET THE DIFFERENT GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER, I THINK WE CAN REALLY DO SOME GREAT STUFF.

I WANT TO THROW KIND OF A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT, IF I CAN, TO JUST HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES VOLUNTEERS AND THE ACOs THAT SHOWED UP.

MARTY RYAN AND PAMPERRY DID AN EXCEEDINGLY GREAT JOB, ALTHOUGH CERTAINLY EVERYBODY THERE DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU FOR BETH'S FRIENDS FOR SPONSORING IT.

REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE OF THESE THINGS IN THE FUTURE.

THE OTHER PART OF MY REPORT FROM CHAIR IS I WANTED TO HAND OUT KIND OF AN ARTICLE, JUST SOME THOUGHTS THAT I HAD ABOUT PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES.

THIS KIND OF CAME UP A LITTLE BIT-- THIS CAME UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE TASK FORCE, AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON IT.

THE LANGUAGE THAT I GOT FROM HERE I QUOTED, I ACTUALLY STOLE IT FROM EHOW, AND IT JUST SEEMED TO REALLY ENCAPSULATE KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS.

WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF ARTICLES COME ACROSS OUR VENUE THAT WERE NOT PEER REVIEWED, AND I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE REASON FOR PEER REVIEWING IS YOU WRITE AN ARTICLE, YOU PUBLISH IT, YOU PUT IT OUT THERE, YOUR PEERS REVIEW IT, THEN IT GOES INTO A JOURNAL.

THE REASON IT'S DONE IS SO THAT THE INFORMATION IN IT HAS BEEN VETTED FOR ACCURACY.

IF IT ISN'T PEER REVIEWED, THEN THE INFORMATION MAY EITHER BE COMPLETELY FACTUAL OR IT MAY BE COMPLETELY NOT FACTUAL.