HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8598 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO- 8598
T, May 18, 2004
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 1 of 1
SUBJECT: AFTER HOURS CALLS FOR ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
1473 SERVICES AND RECENT CALLS ON SICK RACCOONS
BACKGROUND: At the Pre-Council meeting of April 27, 2004, the Public Health Director was asked
to provide Council with a report on after hours animal control emergencies.
The Animal Care and Control Division has animal control officers on duty from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily.
Dispatchers are available to take calls at 817-392-3737 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m, The phone
messaging system advises residents to contact the police department after hours and supplies the
phone number to the Police Dispatch, 817-335-4222 and an option to transfer directly. The Police
Department is able to contact the animal control officers on duty after 4:30 p.m. by radio. After 9 p.m.,
an animal control officer is on call from his/her home. The officer is contacted by the Police
Information Center by pager or cell phone. Animal Care and Control responds after hours to the
1. Animal Bites to a Human—when the animal is running loose and the owner cannot
be contacted.
2. Sick or Injured Animals — animals needing immediate attention due to an illness or
injury that poses serious risks to the public.
3. Animals belonging to a deceased person or someone needing medical attention.
4. Wild or vicious animals inside a residence or business establishment.
5. Animals wounded or killed by a police officer that need to be held for an investigation
as evidence.
6. Animals belonging to persons placed under arrest.
7. Animals displaced by fire.
In FY 2003, staff responded to 308 after-hours calls. In the first seven months of FY 2004, the division
has completed 123 after-hours calls. This is an average of less than one per night.
As a result of increased illness in the raccoon population, the division canvassed affected
neighborhoods to distribute the attached informational flyer. Sick raccoons could pose a risk to
humans therefore we do respond to after hours calls about them.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Libby Watson, Assistant City
Manager or Daniel B. Reimer, Director of Public Health, at 817-871-7201.
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City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
COMMUNITY
ALERT
The Fort Worth Public Health Department Animal Care and Control Division has
removed several sick raccoons from your neighborhood. These raccoons did
not have rabies, but were ill with another animal disease. The disease may be
transmissible to your dog or cat. Please make sure your pet is current on all its
preventative inoculations, including distemper. Do not approach wildlife.
Contact Animal Care and Control at 817-392-3737 to report sick or injured
animals.
To discourage wild animal-pet contact, we ask that you do not feed wildlife on
your property. Make sure all trash bins are securely covered and remove pet
dishes at night.