WELL. >> TEN ZERO FOUR. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS BEING LIVE STREAMED@BOSTON.GOV. CITY COUNCIL DASH TV BROADCAST
ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82. FILES CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO
THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT SEEK DOT CSI T@BOSTON.GOV. AND WILL BE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL CITY COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL ALSO BE
TAKEN. INDIVIDUALS WE WILL BE CALLED UPON IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGN UP AND WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY. YOU CAN TESTIFY VIRTUALLY OR
YOU CAN SIGN UP RIGHT AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM OR THE ENTRANCE OF THE ROOM. I SHOULD SAY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON, PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON MEGAN AT
MTA GAN DOT C O R U G E AUDIO@BOSTON.GOV FOR THE LINK AND IN YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET
0811. ORDER FOR A HEARING TO REVIEW ANIMAL CONTROL ENFORCEMENT LEASH LAW COMPLIANCE DOG LICENSING PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE
CITY OF BOSTON. THE MATTER IS SPONSORED BY CITY COUNCIL AARON MURPHY AND EDWARD FLYNN AND HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APRIL 14TH
2026. TODAY I AM JOINED BY COLLEAGUES AND ORDER OF ARRIVAL CITY COUNCIL AARON MURPHY.
AND THAT'S IT. WE ARE JOINED BY A PANEL TODAY THAT INCLUDES THE CITY OF BOSTON DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL
CARE AND CONTROL. ALEXIS PRESIDENT SKI WHO DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.
I HAVE SEEN HER TEAM AT MANY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS OF BOSTON AND THEY'RE ALL THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING EXCEPTIONAL WORK,
PROFESSIONAL WORK AND COMMUNICATING AS WELL TO THE RESIDENTS IN LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS AND HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR THEIR
PET. WE'RE ALSO HERE WITH UM, MIKE KILEY WHO'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ANIMAL PROTECTION DIVISION
AT MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AT ANGELL HOSPITAL OFF OF UM SOUTH HUNTINGTON AVENUE
AND JAMAICA PLAIN. UH, BEFORE I GIVE MY OPENING COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COUNCILOR MURPHY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST AND I WILL FOLLOW AFTER YOU PLEASE. AWESOME. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST. A COUPLE YEARS AGO COUNCILOR FLYNN AND THEN COUNCILOR FLAHERTY HAD A IN
PERSON MEETING UP AT ELM STREET PARK WITH CONCERNS THERE. UM, JUST TO ME IT IS A BALANCE . I'M A DOG OWNER DOG LOVER. I BRING MY DOG OUT FOR WALKS.
WE KNOW THAT DURING COVID WHEN OUR PARKS WERE NOT ACTIVATED THAT MANY RESIDENTS AND RIGHTFULLY SO, WE'RE USING THEM AS PLACES TO GATHER AND DOGS TO COME TOGETHER.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE YEARS NOW OUT FROM THAT STILL THERE ARE PLACES AROUND THE CITY WHERE THE DOGS STILL USE THE PARK WHICH NOW WE ARE GETTING DIRECT
CALLS COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I ONE PARTICULAR CONCERNING INCIDENT WAS THE GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM OVER AT MCCONNELL PARK. OFTEN GAMES HAD TO BE STOPPED IN INTERRUPTIONS BECAUSE DOGS WERE RUNNING INTO, YOU KNOW,
THE MIDDLE OF THEIR GAME. SO TO ME THIS IS A BALANCE OF YES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE MEETING ACROSS THE CITY FOR UM, BUDGET HEARINGS AND
WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND OVERWHELMINGLY IT WAS MORE DOG PARK. SO WE DO KNOW THAT DOG OWNERS FEEL THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE SPACES TO BRING THEIR DOGS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN WE'RE
RENOVATING AND ACTIVATING OUR PARKS AND OUR SENIORS AND OUR YOUNG KIDS AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ARE USING THEM, I DO THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT ARE THE RULES.
IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT COMES UP IN ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF CITY GOVERNMENT. WHAT RULES ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS? WE DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT NEW RULES. IT'S HOW WILL WE ENFORCING THEM?
IS IT ISED? IS IT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT? I KNOW AT THOSE PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH RYAN WOODS PARKS WAS THERE I KNOW WE INVITED THEM. WE HAD HOPE THEY WERE HERE BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE A BIG
PART OF THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE MANY TIMES IT IS IN OUR, YOU KNOW, CITY PARKS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE HERE BUT KNOW THAT I KNOW YOU YOUR
DIVISION EVEN THOUGH YOU DO SO MUCH FOR THE ANIMALS IT ISN'T ALWAYS THE END OR IT NEVER IS. SO I KNOW THAT YOU DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION THOUGH IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT WITH US SO THAT WHEN WE LEAVE HERE WE CAN KIND OF HAVE MORE OF AN
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT NEXT STEPS TO DO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL MURPHY FOR ADDING ME AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. UH, AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE. CITY LAW REQUIRES THAT DOGS BE
KEPT ON A LEASH AND REMAIN UNDER CONTROL WHEN OFF AND ON AS PROPERTY PROHIBITS DOGS FROM RUNNING AT LARGE AND MANDATES THAT ALL DOGS OVER SIX MONTHS
OF AGE BE LICENSED ANNUALLY WITH PROOF OF RABIES VACCINATION. I DO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DOES TREMENDOUS
OUTREACH WITH RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED INCOME AND HELPING RESIDENTS, UH, GET THE PROPER VACCINATIONS UH, FOR THEIR FOR
THEIR PET. I'VE SEEN IT I'VE SEEN IT DOZENS OF TIMES ACROSS MANY NEIGHBORHOODS AND WANT TO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALEXIS. UM, DESPITE THE EXISTENCE
OF THESE CLEAR AND ESTABLISHED LAWS, RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY CONTINUE TO REPORT CONCERNS REGARDING OFF LEASH DOGS, UNLICENSED ANIMALS AND AT TIMES
INCONSISTENT COMPLIANCE IN PUBLIC SPACE SPACES. I COULD HIGHLIGHT, AS COUNCILOR MURPHY DID, ABOUT THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE WERE BIT BY DOGS
INCLUDING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT MEADOW HAVANA PARK BUT ALSO IN THE SOUTH END UH THE SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR I BELIEVE IN PETERS PARK AS WELL. UM, A MAN WAS ATTACKED IN
PETERS PARK AND SUFFERED EXTENSIVE INJURIES AS WELL AS ANOTHER DOG BITE INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE UM IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD. UM WHILE LAWS GOVERNING
DANGEROUS DOG INCIDENTS ARE IN PLACE, PUBLIC CONFUSION REMAINS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THESE SITUATIONS IN THE LEGAL STANDARDS FOR INTERVENTION. RECENT HIGH PROFILE CASES
ACROSS THE REGION HAVE FURTHER UNDERSCORED CONCERN ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY PROTOCOLS. THESE CONCERNS HAVE ALSO BEEN RAISED BY BOTH DOG OWNERS AND
THOSE WITHOUT DOGS, REFLECTING A SHARED CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY, ACCOUNTABILITY, QUALITY OF LIFE IN PUBLIC SPACES. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THERE ARE ONGOING CHALLENGES RELATING TO
ENFORCEMENT, RESPONSE TIME, JURISDICTION AND RESPONSIBILITY. MY WIFE AND I ON A DOG WE'VE
HAD OUR DOG FOR 13 YEARS AND WE GOT OUR DOG AT ANGEL RED AT THE MOUSE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. WE'VE HAD OUR DOG FOR 13 YEARS
AND I CAN I CAN HONESTLY SAY AND MOST DOG AND PET OWNERS CAN SAY DOGS AND PETS ARE PART OF THE FAMILY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. WE WANT TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES UH, FOR DOG OWNERS, FOR DOGS AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL. UM, LET ME GO TO ALEXIS.
I KNOW YOU MIGHT HAVE A, UM, SLIDE PRESENTATION. UM, BUT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. YES. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. CARE PLAN AND COUNCILOR MURPHY,
UM, TO HAVE A BRIEF, UH, SLIDE DECK TO GO OVER SOME, UH, STATISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DIVISION. UH, WE ARE UM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, UNDER THE PARKS AND RECREATION .
DEPARTMENT LOOKS OKAY. THIS MIGHT BE THE HARDEST PART. UM, UM, SO THE DIVISION HAS 19 STAFF MEMBERS. UH, EIGHT STAFF MEMBERS ARE
DEDICATED TO THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY, UH, WHERE WE HAVE, UM WE CARE FOR OUR STRAY PET STRAY ABANDONED DISPLACED PETS. UH, WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER
PROGRAM, FOSTER PROGRAM, ADOPTION PROGRAM, PET FOOD PANTRY. UM, AND MOST OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS, UM, DRIVEN BY THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE AT OUR ANIMAL CARE FACILITY.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AND MYSELF, UM, WHICH ARE FOUR THAT ARE STATIONED OUT OF OUR TENT MASS OF LOCATION. UH, THE STAFF THERE ARE OUR
CHARGE OF MANAGING OUR NURSES AND DANGEROUS DOG HEARINGS. UH, LICENSING OF PETS. THE MAJORITY OF. LICENSING OF PETS. UH DOG BITE REPORTS UH, COLLABORATION WITH BOSTON HEALTH AND BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH
COMMISSION UH AND LOTS OF OTHER DATA ENTRY UH INCLUDING RABIES UH CERTIFICATES. UM AND LIKE I MENTIONED, THE MAJORITY OF OUR CALLS ARE DISPATCH THROUGH THOSE STAFF MEMBERS UM, WITH UM THE SUPPORT
OF 311. UH, OUR ANIMAL CONTROL OPERATORS WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AND A SUPERVISOR. THOSE TEAM MEMBERS, UM, CAN BE
CALLED AWAY TO HELP SUPPORT THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY AND OUR OPERATION AT 1010 UP WITH THEIR PRIMARY JOB FUNCTION. OUR FIELD SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE UH, SPAY STREET AND
INJURED DOMESTIC PET SCREENINGS AND WILDLIFE UH, DOG BITE INVESTIGATIONS, CRUELTY COMPLAINTS. UM AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
AS YOU ALLUDED UH, THERE ARE UM SOME STATUTES THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING UH MATTER ON OUR LAWS 146 AND 136 TO 1 SET BEFORE F INCLUDING UM
THE LICENSING OF DOGS IN. THE A LEASH UH, DOGS IN OUR PARKS. UM, MOST OF OUR PARKS HAVE CLEAR SIGNAGE UM, DISPLAYING UM HOW THE.
PARKS SHOULD BE UTILIZED BY DOG OWNERS THAT THEY SHOULD BE LEASHED AND PICKED UP AFTER OUR OFFICERS UM, TO RESPOND OUR PATROL. ARE THE MOST.
UM, COMMON CALL TYPE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE RESPONDING TO. THEY CAN AND DO ISSUE CITATIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE LEASH LAW AND FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH UH. UH ORDINANCE ON UM LICENSING
STATE LAW AND. >> WHAT IS ON LICENSING PETS. UM THERE IS UH INCREASED DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES UM, SINCE 2020 THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN OUR
UH OUR SERVICES. UM, SOME OF THOSE ARE DRIVEN BY THE POST PANDEMIC PET OWNERSHIP, THE SPCA. UM, ACCORDING TO THEIR DATA, 1 IN 5 PETS, 1 IN 5 HOUSEHOLD
ACQUIRED PETS UM, DURING COVID AND MANY OF THEM HAVE RETAINED THEIR PETS. UM ANIMAL CONTROL DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION UM HAVE UM SEEN THEN UM AS A
RESULT UH INCREASED CALLS FOR SERVICE UM AROUND PARTICULARLY DOGS UM WHETHER THEY'RE OFF LEASH DOG BITES UH DOGS ARE UNDER SOCIALIZED AND THE NEED FOR HUMANE UH EDUCATION.
UM. >> WE RESPONDED TO UH 909,519 CALLS FOR SERVICE IN 2020. WITH US. >> UH, WE. >> ALSO EXPRESSED THE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS NEEDING SHELTERING.
UM THE DIVISION PROVIDES UM THE SUPPORT FOR ANIMALS THAT ARE DISPLACED AND ABANDONED. UM SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE HOSPITALIZED. INCARCERATED? UM, EVICTED. AND SO ABOUT 20% OF OUR ANIMALS
AT THIS POINT ARE. WHAT WE CONSIDER, UH, CHARITY BOARDING CASES THAT FALL IN THAT UM, ALONG THAT CRITERIA. UH YOU'LL SEE UH, YEAR FOR YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE IN PETS.
UM, THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON HAVE UM IMPOUNDED FROM. 2020 TO 2025. >> WE ALSO OFFER SERVICES FOR OUR UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS.
SO IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR THE PETS THAT ARE AT OUR SHELTER, UM, WE OFFER UH, ANNUAL UH, PET COMMUNITY CLINICS FOCUSED ON RABIES VACCINES.
UH, WE HAVE A YEAR-ROUND PET PANTRY BUT PET ADOPTION PROGRAM. OUR SHELTER HAS, UM, A FULL TIME THAT STAFF UM, THAT'S HEADED BY OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR .
UM, THEY ALSO DO SOME LICENSING AT OUR ANIMAL CARE FACILITY. YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE CHART, UM, SHOWING THAT, UH, THE INCREMENTAL INCREASE UM ,UH, RABIES VACCINES AND
LICENSES AT OUR COMMUNITY CLINICS AGAIN, WHICH IS DRIVEN BY OUR SHELTER TEAM. FROM 2024 TO 2525. SO JUST TO KIND OF, UH, RECAP UM, SOME DATA POINTS THERE FOR
YOU. WE'VE HAD A 1,330% INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF UH, LICENSED DOGS FROM 2020 TO 2025. UH, A 50% INCREASE IN CALLS FOR SERVICE FROM 2,036% INCREASE IN
CALL FOR SERVICE FOR. 2020 TO 2025 AND UH, A LITTLE OVER 50% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CATS AND DOGS IMPOUNDED AT THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY AND UH ,73% INCREASE IN. THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF ANIMALS.
>> THAT WE PICK UP. . >> UM, AND UH, FROM. EITHER MOST PRIMARILY TO OUR ANIMAL CARE. FACILITY. >> UM. >> SOME OF OUR INTERNAL WILDLIFE ARE BROUGHT TO UM OUR ANGEL. UM. >> A PARTNER AND UM. UH AND THEN BLUE MARLIN.
FOR THOSE UH, THE GRAPH ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE HAS OUR PERCENTAGE OF CALL. VOLUMES BROKEN DOWN BY NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, FOR BOSTON. HOW ARE WE TYPICALLY. REFERRING TO BOSTON PROPER? UM. >> ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE BOSTON
PROPER, UH, LOCATIONS ARE SEPARATED IN THOSE DATA POINTS . UH, GENERALLY BOSTON IS OUR WATERFRONT UH, SOUTH AND BACK BAY THAT WAY. UM AND, UM.
BAY VILLAGE. >> AND ALSO UM OTHER TYPES AND OTHER NEIGHBORS. FINALLY UM WE HAVE SOME SOME UM. PETS THAT THE ANIMAL AND WILD ANIMALS THAT. THE UH.
SHELTER HAS CARED FOR OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND. >> SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS? WELL. >> THANK THANK YOU. UM, LET ME LET ME GO TO OUR
NEXT OUR NEXT GUEST WOULD WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UM, MR KILEY GIVE A OPENING STATEMENT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR INVITING MEJIA AND, UH, HAPPY TO STAND BY ALEXIS AND THE
BOSTON ANIMAL CONTROL, UH, TEAM AS WE WORK WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS AS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE NUMBER OF PETS IN THE CITY IS
RISING EXPONENTIALLY WHILE THE COST OF AFFORDABLE VETERINARY CARE IS, UH, SKYROCKETING. SO THE UH, THE OR THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE CARE IS UH, DIMINISHING. SO I THINK WE ARE IN A
SITUATION WHERE, UH, A CITY FUNCTION OF A MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION CHARGED WITH SO MUCH WORK TO PROTECT THE CITY 24 SEVEN UM, WITH A LARGE ANIMAL OWNING POPULATION, UH,
LEADS TO SOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN THE CITY. UM, I WORK NATIONALLY, UM, WITH OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITIES AND I CAN
CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT, UM, A GOOD ANIMAL CONTROL ORGANIZATION IS PART OF THE LIFEBLOOD OF A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, BOTH ANIMALS AND PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED AND HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO
BE SUCCESSFUL. UM, I CAN ALSO SAY THAT, UM, KNOWING ALEXIS AND HER TEAM, THEY ARE STRETCHED VERY THIN. THEY HAVE, UM, NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS ON THE STREET.
UM, AND A COMPLEX SET OF CASES THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY HAVE TO TRIAGE CONSTANTLY . UM, AND I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AND INTERACTIONS WITH OFF LEASH
ANIMALS, THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO SOLVE IN A CITY IN SITUATION. UM, BUT GIVEN ALL OF THE OTHER UM, HIGHER PRIORITY ISSUES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH WITH A
SMALL TEAM, UH, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE HEAD ON AND PROACTIVELY WITHOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. UH, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GLARINGLY
APPARENT WITH UH, THE CITY OF BOSTON ANIMAL CONTROL IS THAT THEY HAVE A AGING FACILITY THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. UM, AS IT IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT COME THROUGH AND ESPECIALLY THE
TYPES OF ANIMALS THAT COME THROUGH THAT, UM, THAT ALSO CAN THREATEN THE SAFETY OF THE STAFF THAT ARE HANDLING THEM. UH, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON ISSUE. I THINK EVERY CITY DEALS WITH
OFF LEASH ISSUES THAT RESULT IN HUMAN SAFETY CONCERNS. I UM, WORKED IN 2012 WITH THE CITY OF LOWELL FOR A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE WHERE UM
RESIDENTS WERE GETTING HARMED BY UH, LOOSE, UH, LOOSE DOGS AND UH IN FACT SOME OF THOSE WERE SO SIGNIFICANT AND LOSS OF LIFE WAS INCLUDED IN THOSE ISSUES. SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE I THINK.
UM, I WOULD SAY THAT SOMETIMES THIS ISSUE GETS LOOKED AT FROM THE INCIDENT BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE SYSTEMS ISSUES THAT ARE THERE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I THINK MORE RESOURCES FOR
ANIMAL CONTROL WILL BE ONE OF THOSE SOLUTIONS TO HELP GET TO A PLACE OF GREATER SAFETY FOR THE, UH, CITY OF BOSTON RESIDENTS AND PET OWNERS. I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE IS, UM
,A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO HOW TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. UM, WITH WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF LOWELL THEY WERE TRYING TO SOLVE HOW DO WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BITE
INCIDENTS WITH LOOSE DOGS AND UM, FOR MOST OF THE YEAR THAT WE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE, MOST OF THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON INCREASING PUNITIVE ACTIONS. UM, AFTER AN INCIDENT HAPPENS
AND I THINK WHERE WE ENDED UP WAS UH A MORE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO IT OF SAYING, UM, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
AFTER SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, INSTEAD OF LOOKING THROUGH THE PROBLEM SET FROM HOW DO WE KEEP THE BAD THING FROM HAPPENING? AND I THINK WHAT BOSTON ANIMAL CONTROL DOES REALLY WELL IS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT RESOURCES ARE
PART OF THE REASON THAT THESE ISSUES COME INTO PLAY AND AND UH, LOOKING AT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, UH, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE RESOURCES IS AT THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM. UM, AND PART OF THAT IS INFORMATION SHARING AND PART OF IT IS ALSO TRUST AND COMFORT WITH ANIMAL CONTROL.
IF THEIR ONLY APPROACH IS PUNITIVE THEN THEY BECOME UH AN UNTRUSTWORTHY PLACE FOR THE CITY TO APPROACH WHEN THEY ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES AND STAYING IN A MORE PROACTIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOCUSED APPROACH THAT
THEY ARE DOING ALREADY PUTS THEM IN A POSITION TO UM, BE ABLE TO CURB THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT LED TO THIS CONVERSATION AND UH, SOMETHING THAT WITH MORE
OFFICERS UH, ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND GREATER RESOURCES I BELIEVE THAT, UH, FAITH IN ALEXIS AND HER TEAM THAT THEY ARE THE TYPE OF ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT THAT COULD START TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE PROACTIVELY IF THERE IS AN INVESTMENT UM, IN THEIR UM IN THEIR TEAM. UM, I WORKED WITH ANIMAL CONTROL IN EVERY SINGLE CITY UH, IN MASSACHUSETTS AND AGAIN
LIKE I SAID NATIONALLY AND I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY YOU HAVE ONE OF THE VERY BEST DIRECTORS OF ANIMAL CONTROL AT YOUR SERVICE AND IF YOU PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO ALEXIS THAT SHE NEEDS I HAVE, UH, ALL THE FAITH
IN THE WORLD THAT, UM, MUTUAL GAINS WOULD HAPPEN AS A RESULT. SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS. AND ALSO THE MSBA STANDS IN SERVICE WITH THE CITY TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A
COMPLEX ISSUE AND TAKES UM A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND RESOURCES TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE WANT TO BE. I WILL ABSOLUTELY SAY THAT THE SPCA AND BOSTON ANIMAL CONTROL
ENJOY A MUTUAL MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP AND WE UM WE WILL HELP IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN. THANK YOU MIKE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM AT
THE AT ANGEL MEMORIAL UH THAT DO OUTSTANDING WORK AND BUT ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP YOU DO HAVE WITH UM CITY OF BOSTON. UM, I DO WANT TO MENTION ONE
OF MY COLLEAGUES DID SUBMIT A LETTER OF ABSENCE COUNCILOR ENRIQUE PEPEN, YOU WILL FOLLOW UP WITH UM WHO WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS UPON REVIEWING UM HIS
STAFF'S NOTES AND WATCHING THE RECORDING. UH, SO JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE UM COUNCIL PIPPEN'S LETTER OF ABSENCE. UM, I DO NOT I DO WANT TO NOTE
THAT WE HAVE INVITED THESE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO TESTIFY. I DO BELIEVE THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO BE HERE, SO MAYBE THEY'RE RUNNING A LITTLE LATE SO MAYBE THEY'VE THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY DOWN NOW.
BUT, UM, HAVING SAID THAT, I'M GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY FIRST. I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S 2 OR 3 PEOPLE VIRTUALLY AND I WANT TO I WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR BUT IS THERE AND BEFORE I DO THAT, IS THERE ANYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT IS PLANNING TO TESTIFY?
OKAY. UM, CAN WE GO TO, UM VIRTUAL TESTIMONY PLEASE?
SO OKAY. GOOD MORNING. WENDY. UM. CHRIS GOOD MORNING CHRIS.
HEY CHRIS ARE ON. GO AHEAD PLEASE. WELL GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. UM, I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS PARTICULAR HEARING AND THE
REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE COINCIDENTALLY WE HAD THIS VERY TOPIC AT ONE OF OUR RECENT DORCHESTER HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS WHICH IS ACTUALLY A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN SOUTH BOSTON.
AND THE REASON WHY WE HAD THAT A MAJOR CONCERN IS THE OFF LEASH DOGS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING UP AT OUR PARK, WHICH IS DORCHESTER HEIGHTS MONUMENT AS WELL AS AT CARSON BEACH.
I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AT LEAST DURING THE MEETING, WHAT WE DID WAS WE OURSELVES HAD BRAINSTORMED. TO DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST SOLUTIONS COULD BE TO ADDRESS THE OFF LEASH DOGS. WE CAME UP WITH A NUMBER
OF BULLET POINTS THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD START TO WORK ON TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS AND WE WERE LOOKING AT IT FROM A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SINGLE SOLUTION THAT'LL FIX THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE. I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT WE COULD DO AROUND THIS IS REALLY PUBLIC EDUCATION. I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THIS LEASH LAW THAT'S IN EFFECT THAT IT IS THE LAW OF THE LAND AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT IT EXISTS. SO WHEN I HAD SPOKEN WITH
LYDIA, WHO WAS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I SUGGESTED THAT WE DO SOME SORT OF A MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND SHE WAS GOING TO BRING THAT BACK TO HER OFFICE AND SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO CREATE SOME SORT OF PUBLIC AWARENESS AROUND
THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE BOSTON NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO FIGURE OUT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WE'RE THINKING MORE SIGNAGE
COULD HELP. UH, WE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS AROUND THAT AND THEN WE ALSO THOUGHT WE COULD USE SOME COMMUNITY INPUT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO ENLIST PEOPLE FROM
THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY SERVE AS WHAT WE'RE CALLING BARK RANGERS AT THE PARK JUST TO HAND THAT INFORMATION, EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THE LEASH LAWS ARE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS.
BUT THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FIND IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST A CITY ISSUE. WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS THAT WE DEAL WITH AND AT CARSON BEACH WE HAVE PEOPLE THERE WHO WILL JUST LET
THE DOGS OFF LEASH IN THE OFF SEASON THINKING THAT THAT'S OKAY AND THE SIGNAGE SAYS THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE DOGS AT THE BEACH IN THE OFF SEASON, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY SPECIFICALLY SAY
THAT IT HAS TO BE ON A LEASH. SO AGAIN, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MORE OF AN EDUCATION THING THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE AND PROBABLY IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS MIKE HAD MENTIONED, AN INCREASE IN ANIMAL CONTROL
OFFICERS ARE ACTUALLY IN THE FIELD TO HELP ENFORCE THESE LAWS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE WE'RE KIND OF FALLEN DOWN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU CHRIS.
>> GOOD MORNING KYLA YOUR NEXT. UH. >> GOOD MORNING KAMI. YES WE CAN HEAR YOU KYLE. GO AHEAD PLEASE.
HI MY NAME IS KYLA. I AM A PRIMARY CARE NURSE PRACTITIONER IN COMMUNITY HEALTH. I CARE FOR PATIENTS LIKE DOG BITES AND I PERSONALLY BEEN BITTEN BY A OFF LEASH PIT BULL. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY BUT I'LL SAY FAR MORE COMMONLY I SEE THE EFFECTS OF LONELINESS AND ISOLATION FOR MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING ME. DOGS ARE A VITAL PART OF COMPANIONSHIP AND CONNECTION.
BOSTON MAKES RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. HOUSING IS LIMITED. MOST BUSINESSES AND WORKPLACES PROHIBIT THEM. THERE ARE VERY FEW LEGAL PLACES TO RUN YOUR DOG.
UM, EVEN FOR A RESTAURANT TO ALLOW DOGS ON THE PATIO YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR A SPECIAL LICENSE. YET DOGS NEED TO SNIFF, PLAY, RUN AND EXPERIENCE THE WORLD TO REMAIN PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY
ACTIVE. I WOULD SAY AS A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER WE OWE THAT TO OUR DOGS AND IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IN BOSTON BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LAWS ARE. I HAVE INVESTED SUBSTANTIAL
TIME IN TRAINING MY DOG WHO HAS 100% RECALL 20 MINUTES OF RUNNING AFTER A BALL AND BRING IT BACK GIVES MORE STIMULATION THAN AN HOUR ON LEASH CAN.
SO I URGE YOU TO AVOID LAWS THAT TREAT EVERY OFF LEASH DOG IN EVERY SITUATION AS EQUALLY DANGEROUS. A TRAINED DOG PLAYING FETCH UNDER ATTENTIVE CONTROL IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN A
DOG WHO CHASES, THREATENS OR INJURES. AND OUR LAWS NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT DISTINCTION. BLANKET LAWS UH, BLANKET LEASH RULES PAIRED WITH FLAT FINES ARE INEQUITABLE.
SOME RESIDENTS WILL TREAT FINES AS THE COST OF DOG OWNERSHIP WHILE OTHERS FACE IT WHILE OTHER OWNERS WILL FACE SERIOUS HARDSHIP FOR THE SAME CONDUCT. EFFECTIVE LEGISLATION SHOULD
OFFER MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVES, SO THOSE OF US WITH DOGS WHO WANT TO HAVE OFF LEASH CAN FOLLOW THE LAW. UM IDEAS. THAT MANY OTHER CITIES DO WHO ARE MORE DOG FRIENDLY ARE
DESIGNATED OFF LEASH AREAS WITHIN LARGER PARKS SCHEDULED OFF LEASH HOURS. ADDITIONAL DOG PARKS. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT ALREADY. UM AND PERMITS FOR DOGS THAT
PASS UH RECOGNIZED RECALL AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT DOGS WITH. DEMONSTRATED RELIABLE RECALL SHOULD BE ALLOWED OFF LEASH IN APPROPRIATE SETTINGS UNDER ATTENTIVE SUPERVISION. THE LAW COULD ESTABLISH CLEAR
STANDARDS FOR DISTANT VOICE CONTROL YIELDING TO OTHER PARK USERS. EDUCATION AND WARNINGS SHOULD BE USED FOR LOW RISK VIOLATIONS ,WHILE STRONGER PENALTIES SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR DOGS
THAT CHASE, THREATEN, INJURE OR REPEATEDLY DISREGARD RULES. UM PLEASE CREATE LAWS THAT ARE PROPORTIONATE, EQUITABLE AND FOCUSED ON ACTUAL RISK.
ANIMAL CONTROL RESOURCES SHOULD PRIORITIZE GENUINE GENUINE PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS. AND WHILE I HEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN. DOG BITES. I'LL SAY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S A PACK OF WILD. COYOTES THAT DEN AND ROAM IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN I TAKE MY DOG OFF LEASH I REGULARLY BRING A KNIFE. UH, BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY I DON'T EAT HERE SO PLEASE. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TOO. SO I'D SAY RATHER THAN. TREATING EVERY OFF LEASH DOG AS
AN EQUAL. RISK. ,PUBLIC SAFETY AND RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP ARE NOT COMPETING GOALS. I THINK WITH APPROPRIATE ATTENTION THEY REALLY CAN GO HAND IN HAND AND BOSTON CAN AND
SHOULD PROTECT BOTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CAROL. AND WE HAVE WE HAVE ONE MORE WENDY. HI.
>> GOOD MORNING WENDY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. GLAD TO HAVE YOU WENDY. HEY I. >> LIVE IN. BROOKLINE WITH MY. 11.12 POUND YEAR OLD DOG MALTESER. ON SUNDAY, JUNE. >> 28TH AFTER MY DOG AND I
RETURNED TO OUR APARTMENT BUILDING AND WE TOOK THE OTHER WAY OVER TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND WHEN THOSE ELEVATOR DOORS OPENED, A NEIGHBORS UNLEASHED A 110 POUND AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD DOG WITHIN MOMENTS HAD LUNGED
AT MY DOG AND HAD MY DOG'S ENTIRE HEAD IN HIS MOUTH AND HE BIT DOWN THE NEXT FEW SECONDS WITH THE MOST TRAUMATIC MOMENTS OF MALTESERS AND MY LIFE. I QUICKLY GRABBED MY DOG AS THE
OTHER TRIED TO CONTROL HIS DOG WHICH HE COULDN'T BECAUSE THE LEASH WAS NOT IN HIS HANDS IT WAS INSTEAD ON THE FLOOR. MALTESE WAS TRAINED ON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD AND I SCREAMED PROFANITIES AND TOLD HIM THAT
THIS TIME I WAS QUOTING HIM BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS EVENT IN MARCH WHEN MY DOG WAS ATTACKED BY HERTZ BUT THE INJURY WAS MINOR AND I WAS PERSUADED NOT TO REPORT IT. HE WAS BEGGING ME NOT TO REPORT
IT THIS TIME AND I REALIZED MY DOG WAS STRUGGLING AND THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIS EYE. I RUSHED TO MY APARTMENT AND TOOK ANOTHER LOOK OF THE HORRIFIC INJURY. MY DOG'S LEFT EYE WAS OUT OF ITS SOCKET.
I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO ANGELS HOSPITAL. SOMEHOW I WAS LATER MY SON AND I WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T SAVE MALTESE HIS LEFT EYE AND THAT THERE WAS THEY WERE VERY SURE THAT THE DAMAGE BEHIND HIS RIGHT EYE WAS SO BAD THAT A
SPECIALIST WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE THE FOLLOWING DAY IF YOUR EYESIGHT COULD BE RESTORED OR DO I SAY FOR COSMETIC REASONS? WE WERE DEVASTATED. WE WERE THEN TOLD WE WOULD HAVE
TO PAY THE LOWEST AMOUNT THE ESTIMATE FOR MALTESE OR TO REMAIN IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OVERNIGHT. WE HAD TO RETURN WITHIN A FEW HOURS ON A SUNDAY WITH $4,000
FOR THE TREATMENT TO HAPPEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE SPECIALIST TOLD US MALTESE IS RIGHT I COULD NOT BE SAVED. WE HAD TO MAKE THE HEARTBREAKING DECISION TO LET THEM REMOVE BOTH OF MALTESE HIS
EYES THAT AFTERNOON AND CREATE A DEEP TOOTH WOUND IN THE TOP OF HIS HEAD AND THEN WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD NEED TO PAY ANOTHER 2000. WE CAME TO FIND OUT PRETTY
QUICKLY MY DOG IS CONSIDERED PROPERTY NOW THE LIVING BEING WHO IS MY SON IN EVERY ASPECT POSSIBLE. IF HE WERE CONSIDERED HUMAN EVERYTHING THAT CAME NEXT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. THE FIRST POLICE OFFICER WOULD
HAVE TAKEN THE INJURY MORE SERIOUSLY. THE DOG WOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THE OTHER DOG WOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED IMMEDIATELY OR AT THE VERY LEAST FROM THE FLOOR THAT I LIVE ON. THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
WOULD HAVE RESPONDED SOONER THAN THREE DAYS. IT WOULD HAVE MATTERED THAT THE OTHER DOG THE OTHER OWNER'S DOG WAS UNLICENSED AND THEY DIDN'T PRODUCE VACCINE RECORDS. IT WOULDN'T TAKE A MONTH TO
HAVE A DANGEROUS DOG HEARING MY SONG. I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO FIND A LARGE SUM OF MONEY JUST TO SECURE THE EMERGENCY EMERGENCY TREATMENT HE NEEDED. WE ARE ON A JOURNEY OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A NEW NORMAL
WHILE HAVING TO CONTINUE TO LIVE ON THE SAME FLOOR AS THE DOG THAT CAUSED THE SEVERE INJURIES BECAUSE MY DOG CHILD IS NOT HUMAN. WE LIVE IN FEAR OF ANOTHER ATTACK. WE NEED MORE ENFORCEMENT WITH
THE LEASH LAWS, MORE FUNDING SO TOWNS DON'T HAVE ONLY ONE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR TOWNS TO HOLD TINY HEARINGS AND WE NEED EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
DOGS ARE NOT PROPERTY. DOGS ARE LIVING, BREATHING FAMILY MEMBERS. MALTESER AND I CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY BUT THE TRAUMA IS OVERBEARING MOST DAYS A LEASH MAY HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS HEARING AND FOR TRYING TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES FOR THOSE OF US WHO COMPLY TO THE DOG LAWS AND FOR DOING THIS FOR OUR DOGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU WENDY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU KYLER AND CHRIS AS WELL. I'M GOING TO GO TO CITY COUNCILOR MURPHY TO OPEN UP THE Q&A PERIOD. I'M GOING TO GIVE EACH CITY
COUNCIL A AT THIS ROUND AT LEAST. UM SIX MINUTES AND WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. UM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATIONS BUT ALSO THOSE WHO CALLED IN I THINK IT TO ME SHOWS THE TWO EXTREMES AND THERE'S ALWAYS NOT ALWAYS BUT
WHEN THERE'S A THREAT, A REAL THREAT OR AN ATTACK THEN I DO THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT DIFFERENTLY. BUT WHAT I GET A LOT OF CALLS OR SEE JUST MYSELF OUT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I WOULD SAY THE OTHER END
OF IT. LIKE AND IT DOES SEEM YOU KNOW I IF YOU AGREE OR NOT BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A SHIFT IN CULTURE WHERE THERE WAS A TIME AND I THINK THIS DOES KIND
OF VIOLATE A LOT OF THE DISABILITY LAWS WHERE DOGS ARE NOW JUST GOING INTO SUPERMARKETS OR PLACES WHERE DOGS DIDN'T GO BEFORE LIKE I WAS AT A DOCTOR'S VISIT THE
OTHER DAY AND SOMEONE NEW IS JUST BRINGING THEIR DOG PLACES WHERE IN THE PAST YOU DIDN'T OR THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU DO NEED TO LEAVE YOUR DOG AT HOME. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE A
RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER WHICH WE WOULD HOPE EVERYONE IS BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE KNOW THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE. THERE ARE IRRESPONSIBLE PARENTS TO CHILDREN TOO UNFORTUNATELY. RIGHT?
LIKE WE JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE TAKES THEIR DOG FOR LONG WALKS, THROWS THE BALL FOR 20 TRAINS AND WHILE AND LIKE KYLA WAS MENTIONING AND
THAT'S WONDERFUL AND MOST TIMES I DO SEE DOGS IN PLACES MAYBE OFF LEASH AND I CAN TELL RIGHT AWAY THAT THAT IS THE TYPE OF DOG AND I HAVE NO CONCERN AND NO WORRY AT ALL.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS AND IT'S KIND OF MORE OF LIKE ON THE CITY LEVEL QUESTIONS OF CONFUSION WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE REF IS STOPPING A SOFTBALL GAME OR
PARENTS ARE HAVING TO LEAVE A PARK BECAUSE DOGS ARE LIKE IN WHERE THE SLIDES AND STUFF ARE AND THEIR KIDS DON'T FEEL SAFE OR THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. WHO WERE THEY CALLING? IS IT 311?
IS IT 911? IS IT ANIMAL CONTROL DIRECTLY WHO'S COMING OUT? UM, TO BE QUITE HONEST, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE MONITORING.
SO, UH, IS THERE A GROUP OF CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR MY ISD ? IS IT JUST YOUR STAFF WHICH WE KNOW YOU ARE UNDERSTAFFED IN SO MANY WAYS.
DO THEY PATROL LIKE PARK RANGERS WOULD PATROL IT OR ARE THEY ONLY COMING OUT TO A CERTAIN PLACE IF A CALL IS MADE. LIKE US AND YOU JUST KIND OF TALK THROUGH WHAT. THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR RESIDENTS. SO FIRST YOU CAN REACH ANIMAL
CONTROL. AND WE CAN CONTROL EITHER THROUGH 311 OR DIRECTLY. UM WE. DO HAVE OFFICERS ON 24 HOURS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. UM OUR PATROLS UM, ARE OUR MOST
COMMON SERVICE TYPE FOR THE CITY. UH, IN 2025 WE HAD ABOUT 1800 CALLS FOR PATROLS. UM, IT IS UM, VERY DIFFICULT
GIVEN OUR STAFFING LEVEL TO HAVE REALLY PULL OUT SUSTAINED PROACTIVE PATROLS BECAUSE OUR OFFICERS ALL, UM, HAVE POOR PRIORITIES. FOR RESIDENTS, UM, IN ANY
DANGER FOR ANIMALS AT LARGE. UM, ANIMAL. CRUELTY AND WELFARE CONCERNS. UM, BUT. >> WE DO RESPOND. UM. AND IF THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERN 911 WOULD.
BE THE FIRST RESPONDER. BECAUSE ON ANY GIVEN DAY AND WE HAVE 3 OR 4 OFFICERS UM, FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AND IF THEY'RE IN WITH ROTHBURY IN THE CALLS IT
MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO. UM OR. IS IT YOUR. OFFICER WHO THEN INITIATES THE CALL TO 911. SO IF NEEDED. YEAH. SO TYPICALLY. WE IF WE DETERMINE THAT THERE'S
AN IMMEDIATE RISK WE WOULD CONTACT NINE ONE OURSELVES BUT IDEALLY THE PERSON EXPERIENCING. >> THE EMERGENCY IS CALLING. NINE ONE. >> SO. THEY CAN PROVIDE THE DISPATCHER. UM THE. >> MOST ACCURATE. INFORMATION ON THE PAGE WHERE
YOU LIST THE NUMBER OF CALLS. UM AND I KNOW DORCHESTER IS THE. >> LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD. IT HAS THE MOST. NUMBER OF CALLS. BUT ONE QUESTION. IS CAN YOU JUST LIST THE TYPE OF.
CALLS THAT COME IN AND THEN ALSO KIND OF SURPRISE I MEAN THE CELL PHONE I KNOW WAS SMALLER HAS SO MANY DOGS THOUGH LIKE SO WOULD I ASSUME BY READING THESE NUMBERS THAT LESS
CALLS COULD POSSIBLY MEAN. LIKE BETTER DOG LIKE MORE RESPONSIBLE. DOG OWNERSHIP MORE DOG PARKS? LIKE WHAT DO I MEAN? I ASSUME YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS DATA LIKE DO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO, YOU.
KNOW. >> PLACES TO RUN THEIR DOG TO OR IS IT JUST LESS NEED FOR CALLING BECAUSE DOGS AREN'T OFF LEASH OR DOGS AREN'T BITING OTHER DOGS? UM SO I COULD DEFINITELY GIVE.
YOU A BREAKDOWN OF CALL TYPE TO CORRESPOND. UM WITH THE. DATA THAT I THAT I GAVE YOU. UM, OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES PARTICULARLY DORCHESTER. UM. >> ARE DOES REQUIRE THE BIGGEST
NUMBER OF RESOURCES. UM AND IT ISN'T REALLY A FACTOR . OF THAT. THAT DORCHESTER GETS MORE PATROLS IT'S MORE THAT THEY'RE MORE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE
BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS ARE DESTABILIZING FOR HOUSING INSECURITY. UM. >> CHALLENGES AROUND GETTING HOUSING THAT ACCEPT THEIR PETS. PARTICULARLY LARGE BREED DOGS. AND SO WE DEDICATE OUR
RESOURCES. TO CALLS BASED ON A PROTOCOL CALLED PRIORITY. AGAIN, THOSE ARE, UH, ANIMALS ARE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE IMMEDIATE RISK. UM, IN. UH ANIMALS THAT. ARE SICK OR INJURED OR
SUFFERING. AND OUR UH, WELFARE CONCERNS. SO, UM, THE SOUTH UH, AND UM THEIR DATA POINT FOR THE SOUTH AND UM, PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT,
UM, SOME OF THE GROUP THAT'S CALLED BOSTON THE WAY OUR SYSTEM IS IN FOSTER. PROPER WOULD INCLUDE. PARTS TO THAT EXACT THAT. >> MAKES SENSE. UM, IF WE. COULD GO BACK TO THE.
IF THERE'S A PARK. THAT OFTEN. LIKE DO YOU HAVE. LIKE KIND OF HOTSPOTS THAT. YOU'RE AWARE OF AROUND THE CITY IS IT DORCHESTER. PARK OFTEN I SEE.
AND THEN YOU SEE ON THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THERE'S CERTAIN SPOTS YOU SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE VERY VOCAL ABOUT CONCERNS. AND THEN. AS WE ALL KNOW WHEN YOU SAID UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THERE'S NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE A CONCERN AND IT'S A DEFINITE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. BUT MAYBE THE RESIDENTS AREN'T CALLING IN AND MAKING THOSE CALLS. TO HAVE SUPPORT COME AND. SUPPORT THEM. SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO
SUPPORT. UM COMMUNITIES IF THAT'S THE CASE THAT THEY'RE NOT CONTACTING US. AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE ARE WE ARE COMFORTABLE ENGAGING WITH US ARE ARE LOW COST EVENT RIGHT.
WE COME TO OUR RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE SERVICES SO THAT THEY DON'T THINK ANIMAL CARE CONTROL OR ANIMAL CONTROL. OFFICER ARE GOING TO JUST. THEIR ANIMALS UP. UM, SO YOU KNOW THAT IS OUR OUR WAY OF TRYING TO.
LET PEOPLE. >> KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE. UH WE DO KNOW SOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ENGAGEMENT ANIMAL CARE CONTROL BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES. UM. >> YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AFRAID THAT THEY'LL COME. IN AND. BE DEPORTED AND CERTAINLY HAVE
HAD THOSE TYPES OF CALLS. UM, AND. >> I CERTAINLY LOST YOUR FIRST. POINT OF. >> NO NO IT'S FINE. AND ONE LAST THING COUNCIL YEAH YEAH YEAH AND I KNOW WE'D. >> HAVE TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE STATE FOR OUR. DCR PARKS. WHICH THERE ARE A LOT OF BUT
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CITY OF BOSTON PARKS ARE THERE CLEAR SIGNAGE. AT EACH PARK ABOUT THE DOG. RULES AND IF THEY NEED TO BE ON LEASH OR WHAT PART OF I KNOW
LIKE YOU KNOW GARVEY PARK RECENTLY GOT A FULL RENOVATION AND WE PUT A DOG PARK IN. BUT MOST DOGS ARE ON. >> THE. TURF SOFTBALL RIGHT. SO YOU SEE OR IN MCCONNELL PARK EVERYONE DRIVES BY ON THE
EXPRESSWAY COMING INTO WORK AND YOU SEE THAT THE DOGS AREN'T OVER EITHER WALKING ON. >> THE BEACH WHICH DOGS. LOVE TO BE OR ON THE PATH BUT THEY'RE ON THE FIELD. SO IS THERE CLEAR. SIGNAGE TO. >> THEN MAKE SURE WE CAN ENFORCE IT? YEAH. >> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT.
>> WE ARE REALLY. UM INTERESTED IN IS EDUCATION RIGHT. AND SO WHEN WE HAVE THESE. AREAS WHERE WE KNOW OUR SORT. >> OF. HOTSPOTS MILLENNIUM PARK AND STREET PARK THE ROAD WE KNOW
THE DOGS ARE OFF LEASH THERE. WE DO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ADEQUATE SIGNAGE. >> AND WE DO. COMMUNICATE BACK WITH UH, DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PARKS. DEPARTMENT TO MAKE. SURE THAT THE SIGNS ARE IN PLACE. UM. >> YOU KNOW IT'S THE.
OFF LEASH DOG UH, ISSUE IS GOING TO. BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE CONTINUALLY. ,CONTINUALLY ADDRESSED. IT'S SORT. >> OF LIKE PEOPLE PARKING. >> YOU KNOW, AN ILLEGAL PARK HAS LOTS OF PEOPLE SPEEDING LIKE THOSE ARE. QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS THAT NEED.
AN AGENCY. ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE. TICKET PEOPLE. >> THOUGH. WE AS I KNOW PEOPLE DO MOSTLY GET A TICKET. >> IF THEY'RE YOU. >> KNOW, BLOCKING A HANDICAP RAMP OR IN. >> FRONT OF A HYDRANT BUT ARE WE TICKETING. HOW MANY TICKETS A YEAR DO WE GIVE OUT? YEAH. >> SO I, I PROVIDED THAT DATA
POINT TO UM SO. >> IN 2025. >> WE ISSUED. UM 2774 CITATIONS. . >> UM MANY OF THOSE. CITATIONS ARE FIRST OFFENSE OUR. WARNINGS AND IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY. TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS AROUND.
UH. PROPER PET OWNERSHIP. UM. >> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO WE HAVE ROLLED OUT WE ROLLED OUT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. OR MAYBE. LONGER TIME SEEMS TO GO BY SO
QUICKLY IS UM WHEN WE IMPOUND OUR STRAY DOGS, THE DOGS THAT ARE ROAMING AT LARGE WE ARE RETURNING. TO OWNERS. >> IN THE FIELD WHICH PROVIDES THE OFFICER AN. OPPORTUNITY TO. OBSERVE THE ENVIRONMENT THE DOG
IS KEPT IN, PROVIDE THE. OWNER EDUCATION. THERE AND THEN IT. ALSO INSTILLS LIKE GOODWILL RIGHT? THIS IS A SERVICE THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING. THIS IS HOW WE'RE ENGAGING. WITH YOU. >> AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE YOU UM AND NOT JUST
ISSUE A CITATION. AWESOME. >> THANK YOU THANK. >> YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MURPHY. >> I KNOW COUNCIL MURPHY SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU HIGHLIGHTED UM.
WERE GENERATED OR COULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED BY PARKS DEPARTMENT BUT PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS NOT SHOWN UP YET. UM. >> IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP, UM, WE'LL HAVE TO SEND A LIST
OF QUESTIONS TO THEM ASKING FOR A FOLLOW UP. BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER IF THEY IF THEY WERE HERE ANSWERING QUESTIONS. UM. >> FOR FLYNN. SO WE DO HAVE UH. OUR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BREEZE
OUTLAW. >> IN THE. AUDIENCE FROM THE PARKS. AND RECREATION. OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US? OKAY. >> BREEZE IS RELATIVELY NEW. TO PARKS. >> UM. SO I'LL. >> OPEN THIS.
SO THANK YOU. >> HOW ARE YOU? SO I THINK. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. COULD YOU. >> COULD YOU. UM, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? BREEZE OUTLAW.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER. POLICY ADMINISTRATION FOR PARKS DEPARTMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM. >> ALEXIS, CAN YOU. TELL ME, UM, HOW MANY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WE CURRENTLY HAVE?
UM, IN THE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE HAVE SIX, UH, OFFICERS AND. ONE ANIMAL. CONTROL OFFICER. . >> SUPERVISOR. UM ONE SUPERVISOR. CORRECT. >> WE DO. HAVE ONE, UH, VACANT POSITION THAT UM I DID.
>> SPEAK. WITH THE. >> PARKS COMMISSIONER. UM, AND I. >> KNOW WHAT'S BEING PRIORITIZED. >> AND SO WE HOPE. TO HAVE THAT POSITION RELEASED VERY, VERY SOON. IS THAT UH, OF THOSE SEVEN IS
IT MONDAY TO FRIDAY OR IS IT WEEKENDS INCLUDING. YEAH. >> SO THEY. ARE MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. AT DIFFERENT SHIFTS MONDAY. >> SO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK CORRECT. EXCELLENT. UM 24 HOURS A DAY. THE OFFICERS UM, ARE ASSIGNED
WHAT WE CALL. >> ON CALL. FROM 8:45. >> P.M.. TO 6 A.M. ON A ROTATING BASIS. SO THEY HAVE THEIR. TOURS UM. OR THEIR. >> WORKDAY AND THEN THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES.
AFTER HOURS. THANK YOU. I'M JUST LOOKING UP THE CHART AND.
THE CITATIONS ISSUED HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 2021. AND SO I CREDIT YOUR TEAM FOR EXCELLENT WORK. REALLY?
UM BUT BUT EXPLAIN. >> TO ME ALEXIS SO THE CITATIONS WENT UP. BUT THE. PATROLS IN.
20 2124 100 AND THEN IN 2025 JUST ABOVE 1700 TELL ME WHAT A PATROL IS. YEAH. >> PATROL IS AN. OFFICER GOING OUT TO A PARK. TO IDENTIFY LOGS. ARE BEING KEPT IN. VIOLATION OF THE.
>> ORDINANCES AND THAT WAS OKAY. SO EVEN THOUGH EVEN THOUGH PATROLS ARE DOWN CITATIONS ARE UP IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY. >> THAT IS ACCURATE.
SO OUR CITATIONS ARE NOT. ONLY JUST ISSUED. PATROLS ARE ISSUED WHEN WE ARE . UM WHEN WE GO. TO CALLS UH ANIMAL BASED INVESTIGATIONS CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS UH DOGS AT
LARGE. OKAY CRUELTY AND NEGLECT HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY 20 2194
2025 UM ALMOST 550 WHAT IS WHAT IS THE REASON FOR UM OR WHAT IS WHAT IS THE USUAL REASON? WELL YOU WRITE SOMEONE UP OR UM
PROVIDE ACTION AS IT RELATES TO CRUELTY AND NEGLECT. YEAH. >> SO IN TERMS OF UH. CITATION UM WE. >> DO ISSUE CITATIONS FOR VIOLATION OF WHAT WE CALL THE TETHERING LAW, UM, WHICH IS UH. UH, KEEPING DOG IN A SPACE.
THAT IS UM INADEQUATE. UM, WHETHER IT'S NOT CLEAN ENOUGH, NOT SAFE ENOUGH. UM, THE. CRUELTY STATUTES. ACTUALLY UM. FELONY UM AND. WE AND IT'S NOT THE FORCE.
>> OF THE ANIMAL CARE. CONTROL. >> SO WE DO, UM, WORK ALONGSIDE THE. HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF. >> THAT. MUSKOKA ANGEL. AND UH, BUT. >> THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF. BOSTON THEM ALONG WITH BOSTON MEMBER OF THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT OKAY. AND ON AS IT RELATES TO NOT NOT FROM THE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL BUT AS A WHICH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES.
PARKS ALSO HAVE SPECIFIC PEOPLE THAT ALSO DO PATROLS AS WELL OR IS IT JUST FOR THE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL? UM WE. HAVE OUR. PARK RANGERS THAT ALSO. JUST DO GENERAL.
PATROL AND THEY ALSO SUPPORT. >> THE ANIMAL. CONTROL OKAY. AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE INCLUDED IN THESE NUMBERS THAT KNOW ARE THEY NOT OKAY.
DO YOU DO YOU HAVE THOSE NUMBERS THAT UM PARK RANGERS HAVE UM ISSUED CITATIONS OR CRUELTY NEGLECT? UM I CAN I CAN LOOK.
>> AND SEE. >> IF THERE'S SOME INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET IN FOR THAT TO YOU. OKAY. >> AND HOW MANY HOW. >> MANY PARK RANGERS DO WE HAVE? SO. >> UM, I'M NEW. >> ON THE JOB. I STARTED A LITTLE. OVER A MONTH AGO. UM. SO I CAN.
FOLLOW UP ON THAT NUMBER, THE ACCURACY OF THAT AS WELL. OKAY, OKAY. THAT'S FINE. UM AND THEN LET ME LET ME ASK A QUESTION TO MIKE. MIKE WHEN THERE IS CRUELTY ON
NEGLECT. AND AND THERE'S SOME INJURY TO THE DOG TELL ME. WHAT YOUR TEAM DOES IN SUPPORTING THE DOG SUPPORTING
THE OWNER AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT MAYBE THE PERSON DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE THE FUNDS TO TO PAY FOR THE MEDICAL CARE? YEAH. >> SO I THINK UH YOU KNOW WHAT
UH THE MSBA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE CHARGED WITH THEY ARE ESPECIALLY STATE POLICE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS THAT ARE CHARGED WITH ENFORCING THE MASSACHUSETTS ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS, UH, WHICH ARE AT AN UM
ARE A FELONY LEVEL CHARGE. SO IT IS A PRETTY HIGH BAR IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO, UM, SEIZE AND PROSECUTE ON THE ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE CRIMINAL NEGLECT, UH, PHYSICAL ABUSE
CASES, UH, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES THAT ELEVATE ABOVE UM THE CITATION LEVEL ISSUE. UM SO THERE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WORK WITH UH AND DEAL WITH ALONGSIDE ANIMAL CONTROL
WHEN IT RISES TO THAT LEVEL AND WE WORK WITH BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO A COMPLAINT THAT WE FIELD IN WHICH THE ISSUE IS BASED IN RESOURCES, THEN OUR OFFICERS
HAVE MULTIPLE TOOLS IN WHICH THEY CAN CONNECT THE PERSON INTO RESOURCES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM, OUR COMMUNITY CLINICS, THINGS ON THOSE LINES TO GET CARE FOR THEIR ANIMAL UM UNDER THE
ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS, UH, FAILURE TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE IS ONE OF THE ENFORCEABLE ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS THAT'S ON THE BOOKS. AND WHEN RESOURCES OF THE REASON THE PERSON'S NOT PROVIDING TREATMENT, THAT'S
WHERE CHARITABLE DOLLARS ARE USED TO TRY TO HELP UM, CLOSE THAT GAP. IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO BE DONE GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF IT, BUT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TREATABLE WE USUALLY ARE
WORKING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM UM BY ADDING A RESOURCE TO IT. OKAY. ,I, I HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION AT THIS ROUND AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCIL MURPHY OR
TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. UM, BUT BUT. LET ME ASK ONE. ONE QUESTION, MIKE AND. A COMMON. QUESTION A COMMON COMPLAINT I
HAVE FROM THE ELDERLY ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY WHEN THE ELDERLY HAVE AN OLDER DOG THEY'RE TRYING TO GIVE THE DOG MEDICINE AND THEY'RE HAVING A
VERY DIFFICULT TIME DOING THAT AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE STRENGTH ANY LONGER. TO TO IF THAT THEY TRY TO THEY TRY TO PUT THE MEDICINE IN A IN. >> A.
IN SOME FOOD UM. THEY TRY TO PUT THE MEDICINE IN SOME FOOD SOMETIMES IT WORKS AT A AT A CERTAIN POINT OF TIME AND NO LONGER WORKS BUT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH
ANY LONGER TO KIND OF FORCE IT DOWN THE DOG'S THROAT. SOUNDS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SAY THAT BUT UM. BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO TO.
SUPPORT ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT THAT LOVE THEIR PET THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THEIR MEDICATION AND NEEDED MEDICATION. TO TO THEIR DOG? YEAH, IT'S A IT'S A SITUATION
THAT I DON'T THINK WE'VE COME ACROSS VERY OFTEN BUT I THINK IF I WERE AT PROBLEM SOLVING FOR THAT I THINK THERE IS A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN ELDER SERVICES AND UH HUMANE ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY TO PROVIDE
SOLUTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY AS THEY ARE PART OF THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO CLOSE GAPS FOR. UM, SO I THINK IN THOSE SITUATIONS WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL SITUATION AND IF IT WAS A
PHYSICAL COMPONENT, UM, IDENTIFY IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF IT'S A DAILY MEDICATION OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE A CHALLENGING RESOURCE TO SOLVE FOR UM, IF IT'S A ONE TIME SOLUTION OR A MEDICAL SOLUTION
THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO UH SOLVE THAT MORE LONG TERM. UH, WE HAVE WORKED UH IN COORDINATION WITH HUMAN SERVICE GROUPS AND UM, HUMANE ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY TO CLOSE
THAT GAP. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M UH NOT TO TAKE THAT STAGE TOO MUCH BUT I DO THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE RESOURCE GAPS . I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS COVERING THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE IN THE ISSUES THAT THE CITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, A REALITY IN WHICH YOU'RE COVERING SOME 50MI2 AND
SOME 700,000 RESIDENTS, UH, MANY OF WHICH ARE PET OWNERS. UM, THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT ALEXIS MENTIONED HAVE OVER 9000 CALLS FOR SIX OFFICERS, UH, IN THAT SPAN.
I THINK WHAT THE REALITY IS THAT THEY ARE IN A UH UH A SITUATION WHERE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN DO IS BE RESPONSIVE WHEN I THINK WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR IS PROACTIVE NESS
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THAT IS THE RESOURCE GAP ISSUE THAT UM, THERE IS NO OFFICER GROUP THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT NUMBER OF CALLS OVER THAT DISTANCE AND OVER THAT PERIOD
OF TIME WITHOUT MORE RESOURCES. AND SO I THINK IF UM, YOU KNOW, ADDING DOG PARKS AND ADDING THOSE TYPES OF RESOURCES ARE GOOD BUT PATROLS I THINK WOULD NEED UH, AN ADDITIONAL OFFICER BAND WITH THEM.
I DON'T MEAN TO BEAT THAT DRUM TOO HARD, BUT I DO THINK I KNOW WHAT ALEXIS AND HER TEAM DEALS WITH. THEY ARE, UH, LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO REMOVING EIGHT, UH, DOGS LIVING IN A BASEMENT IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, UH, RESPONDING TO, UH, INJURED PEOPLE FROM A DOG ATTACK, UH, AN ANIMAL SUSPECTED OF HAVING RABIES THAT COULD BE A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
THEY ARE SPANNING SUCH A, UH, SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF, UH, ISSUES THAT, UM, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH OFF LEASH DOGS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO SOLVE FOR WITHOUT MORE RESOURCES.
AND WITHIN THAT I THINK THERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES AND KNOW THE RULES AND DOING A GOOD JOB. THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT NO MATTER WHAT RULES AND ENFORCEMENT YOU PUT IN PLACE ARE GOING TO VIOLATE THOSE.
AND THEN THERE'S THE MIDDLE AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST MAJORITY OF IT. AND A LOT OF THAT IS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE RESOURCES INCLUDING UM INCLUDING INFORMATION. UM AND I THINK WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT SIGNAGE, I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT SIGNAGE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT RESOURCE, UM, OF SHARING INFORMATION AND RECOGNIZING THAT A DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEANS
THAT WE NEED UM, MANY DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO TRY TO GET THE RESULTS THAT WE ALL WANT. SO I WOULD LOVE TO BRAINSTORM THAT WITH ALL OF YOU. UH, I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THESE TWO AMAZING LEADERS TO UH, WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE SUSTAINABLY ADDRESS THE THE SAFETY AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL RELATED PROBLEMS. THEN THANK YOU MIKE I'M GOING TO GO TO I'M GOING TO GO TO
COUNCIL MURPHY BUT JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION AND IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME A QUICK RESPONSE BUT DOES THE MASS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DO THEY HAVE THE CAN
CAN YOU GIVE OUT A CITATION TO A DOG OWNER BECAUSE OF THEIR DOG BEING OFF LEASH? WE ARE NOT UH WE'RE NOT A MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO. DO THAT. >> OKAY. UM, COUNCILOR MURPHY, I'M GOING
TO WELL BEFORE THAT. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE? OKAY. NO. >> NO PUBLIC. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY IF YOU CAN JUST SIGN IN BRIEFLY?
YEAH, YOU CAN SIGN IN AFTER BUT YOU CAN SPEAK NOW AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND WELCOME AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. GO RIGHT DOWN. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING TO YOU. THANK YOU. >> UH, COUNCILOR FLAN COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS MYRON ADAMS AND I AM A RESIDENT. UH, DORCHESTER. UH. I'VE BEEN HERE 30. PLUS YEARS. DON'T MEAN TO DO IT MYSELF, BUT
LONGTIME RESIDENT, UH, AND PEDESTRIAN. UM, I LIKE TO FREELY WALK THE CITY STREETS WITHOUT, UH, FEAR FOR RESERVATION CARE OR CONCERN
OF BEING BIT. UM, I THINK THE YOUNG LADIES WHO SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THEIR DOGS SPOKE UH, VERY. UH DEEPLY. >> AND COMPASSIONATELY. AND IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT UH MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE A
DEEP AND PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THEIR DOGS. UM, OR THEIR CAT. OR THEIR. >> SEVERED OR THEIR BIRD. WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. HOWEVER, UM. THERE ARE I BELIEVE PERSONALLY .
I'VE HAD NEARLY I'VE HAD TWO. NEAR RUN INS WITH A DOG. UM UH AND IT WASN'T FUN IF I MAY SAY. UM I'M NOT SURE HOW TO BEST
DESCRIBE THE FEELING UH, WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A FIGHT OR FLIGHT DECISION IN THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A STAREDOWN. >> WITH. A PET WITH AN ON LEASH ON MUZZLED PITBULL. OR WHEN YOU'RE.
FEELING THREATENED THAT OKAY, THIS DOG IS NOW COMING OFF OF ITS PROPERTY AND YOU'RE JUST CASUALLY WALKING. BY SHOULD YOU NOW HAVE TO CROSS THE STREET TO DEFEND YOURSELF
OR WHAT ELSE MIGHT YOU HAVE TO DO TO TO DEFEND YOURSELF? SO I'M NOT ANTI DOG I'M ANTI GETTING BIT BY A DOG. MHM.
THAT'S MY CONCERNS. SO ON BEHALF OF OTHER RESIDENTS PEDESTRIANS WHO LIKE TO WALK THE CITY STREETS WITHOUT FEAR OR. RESERVATION CARE OR CONCERN ABOUT BEING BIT WHAT RECOURSE.
DO WE. HAVE IF IN THE EVENT GOD FORBID. WE ARE BIT BY A DOG. AND UNLEASHED ON MUZZLED DOG? UM THANK YOU MUCH FOR THE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.
YEAH IT WAS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. UM AND BEFORE I GO TO COUNCILOR MURPHY, UM, WE USUALLY DON'T GO BACK AND FORTH
WITH THE PUBLIC ON QUESTION AND ANSWERING AND KIND OF GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ASK TO GIVE A COMMENT OR A QUESTION. BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE UM
PANEL'S JOB TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. BUT WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT COMMENT OR QUESTION? I THINK IT IS. I THINK IT CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF OF WHY WE'RE HERE.
BUT JUST WANT TO ASK ANYONE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON IT. FINE. IF YOU IF YOU DON'T WANT TO COMMENT ON IT THAT THAT'S ALSO FINE. THAT'S UM I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THE OPTION. YEAH SO I CAN I CAN TAKE THAT
QUESTION. UM SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS UM THAT THE ANIMAL. CONTROL OPTIONS ARE ABLE TO. UM, DO IN THE SITUATION OF THE GENTLEMAN EXPLAINED UM, SO WE
DO RESPOND TO THOSE TYPES OF CALLS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY. DOGS ARE UH UH UM CONFINED DOGS OR ROAMING DOGS. UM AND WE DO ISSUE CITATIONS
FOR UNLEASHED DOGS FOR CHRONIC OR REPEAT OFFENDERS OR DOGS THAT ARE DANGEROUS. UM WE DO HAVE A HEARING PROCESS. IT IS UM 146 AND 157 ONE PLACE
WHERE WE COULD HAVE A RESIDENT SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. AND FOR GET IN OF THE HEARING OFFICER AND UM THE HEARING OFFICER CAN IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THE PET. OWNER IS MANAGING THEIR PET.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, UM THE MDLZ IS A STRICT LIABILITY FOR FOR DOG OWNERS. UM THE ONE 4155 ANY DAMAGE THAT'S DONE BY A DOG NO ONE WANTS TO GET THAT OBVIOUSLY RIGHT. BUT THEY'RE FULLY AND WHOLLY
LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO THEIR DOG UM, CAUSES TO ANOTHER PERSON. SO CONTACTING US UM, EITHER. DIRECTLY OR BY 311 SO THAT WE
CAN UM SPEAK WITH THE OWNER, UM, ENGAGE WITH THEM, PROVIDE UM EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE THE VERY FIRST STEP THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO SOMEONE TAKE. THANK YOU. >> ALEXIS I WANT TO GO TO
COUNCILOR MURPHY. UM, FOR THE SECOND ROUND COUNCILOR MURPHY WILL GO WITH, UM, FIVE MINUTES. UH, COUNCIL MURPHY OF THE FLOOR . THANK YOU. UM. AND MICHAEL, YOU SAID IT IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS AND
THAT'S SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT A LOT HERE THAT I WISH WE ALWAYS WERE PROACTIVE NOT REACTIVE WHERE AFTER SOMETHING HAPPENS BUT. WITH THE. UNDERSTANDING WHICH I ALREADY
DID KNOW I KNOW COUNCIL FLYNN YOU HAVE VISITED ALEXIS AND THE TEAM THERE AS MYSELF A FEW TIMES WHERE NOT JUST AS YOUR BUILDING NEED UPGRADES. UM YOU KNOW YOUR STAFF DOES AN
EXCEPTIONAL JOB SO I DO JUST WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY BECAUSE I DO KNOW AND THESE NUMBERS SHOW THAT. THE NEED FOR THEM IS INCREASING BUT WE'RE NOT GIVING MORE STAFF
OR RESOURCES. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CLOSELY BECAUSE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE I THINK MORE CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS.
BUT A DIRECT QUESTION IS UM, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS? BECAUSE WHAT I DO SEE EITHER
I'VE SEEN IT PUBLICLY OR I HEAR PEOPLE CALL IN IS YOU END UP HAVING RESIDENTS EITHER YOU KNOW, AT THE BEACH AT A PARK WHERE THE DOG OWNER IS AND THE
RESIDENT IS HAVING CONVERSATION THAT SOMETIMES GETS HEATED ABOUT WELL OF COURSE I CAN BE HERE WITH MY DOG OR YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR DOG ON A LEASH AND OFTENTIMES YOU KNOW THE ANSWER IS OH HE'S FRIENDLY, SHE'S
FRIENDLY. BUT TO ME SO IT IS THAT QUESTION OF IS HOW DO WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE THERE IS CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT? BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO START
WITH WHAT IS THE RULES AND THE LAWS BECAUSE MANY TIMES PEOPLE JUST MAYBE CONVENIENTLY BUT SAY THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT AWARE OF THEM. SO IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN GET THERE? AND I THINK PART OF THAT
ANSWERS I KNOW THAT YOU TECHNICALLY YOU KNOW, YOU FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE PARKS COMMISSION BUT WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT? YOU MENTIONED THE PARKS RANGERS
I KNOW WE HAVE YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS THAT ARE AT OUR PARKS CLEANING SO IF YOU COULD KIND OF TOUCH ON THAT ALSO WHAT OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THIS? YEAH. >> SO SPECIFICALLY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UM PATROLS
AND UM, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY UH INVESTIGATIONS INTO ANIMAL CRUELTY AND WE DO WORK WITH BOSTON POLICE UM, WE CAN AND TO ENGAGE WITH THE POLICE SERVICE OFFICER UM, AROUND PATROLS
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WILL WALK AWAY FROM US, YOU KNOW, UM AND YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO STOP THEM SO WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT UH, IN UH THE PARK SORRY. FRANKLIN BLACKSTONE PARK IN THE
SOUTH END. I'M SORRY. UM, WE'VE DONE THE MILLENNIUM. UM, TO GO BACK TO A QUESTION YOU ASKED EARLIER ABOUT, UH, DOGS IN IN SUPERMARKETS AND STORES, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOME, UH, DISABILITIES ARE INVISIBLE. AND SO EVEN THOUGH THE ANIMAL MAY NOT LOOK LIKE A REGULAR PET ,UM, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE, UH, MARKED IN ANY WAY TO WEAR
ANY SPECIAL TAGS OR CLOTHING IDENTIFYING THE MOST OBVIOUS ANIMALS. WE WANT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL THAT WE ARE ALLOWING OUR, UH, RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO USE SERVICE DOGS AND FUNCTIONS THAT THEY ARE NEEDED
TO. I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE, UM, THAT THE UM THE SUPPORT THAT THE ANIMAL SERVICE ANIMALS CAN PROVIDE TO OUR POPULATION UM BUT WHERE WE HAVE
UM PET OWNERS THAT ARE. SORT OF. HOLDING THEIR ANIMALS AS SERVICE ANIMALS UM, THOSE THAT WHERE WE DO REFER THOSE CALLS TO INSPECTIONAL SERVICES. UM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO SO. IT'S ISD HEALTH DEPARTMENT
THAT. YES THAT WE DO REFER THOSE TYPES OF. CALLS TO. IN ONE QUESTION AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO JUST PEOPLE OWN MORE PETS
AND I WOULD ASSUME THE MAJORITY OF THE CHRONICALLY NEGLECT A PROBLEM. THERE COULD BE CATS TOO I GUESS BUT DOGS BUT THE NUMBER WENT FROM 2021 194 AND NOW IT'S UP
TO 544 CALLS LAST YEAR ALONE AND I ASSUME IN 2026 WE'RE ON TRACK TO BE PROBABLY EVEN HIGHER BECAUSE IT JUMPED UP CONSIDERABLY. SO DO WE KNOW. I THINK IT'S ALSO SOCIOECONOMIC
FACTORS RIGHT. UM AGAIN HOUSING STABILITY UM PEOPLE CAN BE THEIR OWN FAMILIES. UM AND THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT AN EXCUSE TO NEGLECT YOUR PET. BUT ACCESS TO. RESOURCES IS A BIG.
CHALLENGE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND UM, THEY ALSO ACCESS TO ANIMAL SHELTERING. THE SHELTERS ARE SOMETIMES OVERCROWDED. WE CAN'T ALWAYS TAKE PETS. AT THAT EXACT. MOMENT WHERE RESIDENTS ARE
NEEDING, UM, WE COULD CERTAINLY DO MORE ON TERMS OF OUTREACH, BUT WE DO HAVE A FEW EXCELLENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO PROVIDE UH. SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. >> UM SPCA AND ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE. UM THEY BOTH RUN PRETTY.
ROBUST PET SUPPLY AND FOOD CAMPAIGNS AND THEY'RE OUT THERE IS REALLY AMAZING THE COMMUNITY . SERVICE TEAMS OUT THERE. UM BUT YEAH WE ARE AND THEN PEOPLE ARE. REPORTING MORE RIGHT? SO THEY'RE SEEING SOMETHING
THEY'RE SAYING SOMETHING AND WE'RE SEEING THESE ANIMALS COMING IN AND THEY'RE UNDER CONDITION OR THEY'RE MATTED AND AGAIN IT'S WHERE. THOSE THINGS ARE. YOU KNOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE GROOMING FOR THEIR PETS. >> AND SO THE SITUATION. IS OUT OF CONTROL AND THEY
DON'T KNOW WHO TO ASK FOR HELP. UM, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE UM CRIMINALIZED. >> YOU KNOW SO THOSE IT'S IT'S A KIND OF. VICIOUS CYCLE. UM, THAT. >> WE ARE AND THAT'S WHY WE THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST COMING FROM A PUNITIVE, UM, FUNCTION THAT WE'RE REALLY LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR THEM . UM. >> AND UM AND JUST TO KIND OF LIKE GO BACK. >> TO A. QUESTION THAT COUNCIL OF GLEN ASKED, YOU.
KNOW. >> ABOUT YOU KNOW, SORT OF LIKE WHERE'D YOU GET THIS ALL THIS UM WHERE. WHERE ARE. >> WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK? AND YOU DON'T EVER SEE THEM. WE'RE THERE, YOU KNOW? BUT THIS MONTH ALONE WE LIKE MIKE SAID WE PULLED EIGHT DOGS
ON MY BASEMENT. WE PULLED 11 CATS OUT OF A RESIDENCE WHERE A PERSON WAS EVICTED. WE PULLED FOUR DOGS UP A CLOSET. ONE WAS A WALKING SKELETON. WE PULLED A DOG AT CREIGHTON ASHMONT STATION AND WAS
SEVERELY MATTED LIKE THOSE. >> ARE THE TYPES OF CALLS. THAT THEY'RE RESPONDING TO AND THEN THEY GOT TO GO BACK OUT IN THE HOSPITAL PARKS RIGHT? SO AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT MINIMIZING IT IS. A PUBLIC. SAFETY ISSUE BUT THE EMOTIONAL
IMPACT ON THE OFFICERS THAT ARE SEEING. THESE ANIMALS BECAUSE WE. >> ALL LOVE ANIMALS. IN THIS STATE AND IT TAKES THEM A LITTLE TIME TO. RECOVER AND THEY HAVE TO REPORT RIGHT AROUND AND CLEAN OUT THEIR VEHICLES. >> AND SO. YOU KNOW. THE 6 OR 7.
OFFICERS, YOU. >> KNOW IT REALLY. REALLY WE NEED TO WORK TOWARDS A GOAL OF HAVING ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WOULD SUPPORT UM AND YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I
JOINED UM ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL WITH MANY MANY YEARS AGO WE HAD PARK. OFFICERS AND SO. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD MENTIONED TO UM COMMISSIONER AND UM UH.
THE ISSUE AT LAW IS UM, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO KIND. OF REALLY TEACH IT OUT BECAUSE THEY THEY REALLY ARE REALLY NEW IS WHETHER WE CAN HAVE PARK OFFICERS AGAIN OR POTENTIALLY. SEASONAL PARK OFFICERS.
>> IN THE SUMMERTIME WHERE OUR CALL VOLUME IS HIGHER. SORT OF LIKE THE PARK RANGERS DO. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT WOULD UM ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE THE. UM WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO UM,
AND ALLOW US TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS THAT ARE. MORE I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FOR ME IS. >> THE. NEED FOR MORE RESOURCES. AND IF IT'S PARK OFFICERS AND I
KNOW COUNCIL FLYNN IS A STRONG ADVOCATE ABOUT YOU KNOW OUR POLICE NUMBERS ARE DOWN ALSO. SO OUR PATROLS THIS SUMMER A LOT OF NEIGHBORS ARE ASKING WHERE ARE THE POLICE ON THE BIKES I DON'T SEE THEM IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU WOULD SEE THEM YOU KNOW, DRIVE THROUGH THE HEMI PARK. YOU'D SEE THEM AT MILLENNIAL AND NOT THAT THEY WERE TASKED JUST TO BE THERE TO ENFORCE DOG LEASH LAWS, BUT THEIR PRESENCE WAS SUPPORTIVE IN THAT.
AND SO I THINK IT'S ALL TIED TOGETHER TO THE STAFFING. BUT THANK YOU THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> UH THANK YOU COUNCIL MURPHY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BUT THE
CRITICAL ROLE SERVICE DOGS PLAY IN SUPPORT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IS IS IS EXCEPTIONAL AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT AND
SERVICE AS WE CAN TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN SUPPORT OF SUPPORT OF THEM. UM I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE AS WELL
ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL ALL SPACES WITH WITH A SERVICE DOG. I DO I DO SOME WORK. >> WITH THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AND THIS IS AN ISSUE WE FOCUS ON UH FREQUENTLY AS
WELL. UM ALEXIS. I USE THIS. OPPORTUNITY OFTEN JUST TO EDUCATE. >> THE PUBLIC. BUT OUR OUR RESIDENTS ABLE.
TO UNLEASH THEIR DOGS AT A PARK AND AND WATCH THEIR DOG FROM A DISTANCE. YOU KNOW. SO DOGS HAVE TO BE. LEASHED IN, UM, OUR. PARKS UNLESS THEY'RE IN A DESIGNATED OFF LEASH. DOG. >> UM, SPACE.
AND AND UNLEASHED INCLUDES DOGS ON A LEASH THAT NO ONE'S HOLDING. UM, YEAH. SO YOU KNOW THAT IS THAT EXPECTATION. FROM PARK. >> USERS. UM, ON MY LUNCH BREAK FROM YOU KNOW, GET THEM BECAUSE YOU KNOW
YOU GUYS KNOW IT'S CAN BE OKAY. I THINK YOU KNOW, I I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE. UH. >> RESIDENT UM, TRYING TO ENTER UH, LIKE SOME PARK, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A DOG OFF LEASH. SHE HAS A STROLLER. AND SO. >> SHE'S LIKE. CONTEMPLATING WHETHER SHOULD GO IN OR NOT WITH THE STROLLER BECAUSE THE DOGS. >> ARE.
SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING. THAT WE YOU DON'T KNOW, UM, IS HAPPENING WE ARE AWARE AND WE REALLY ARE TRYING AND I DO THINK THAT UM ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT IS HAPPENING. >> IN. THIS CONVERSATION THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE SOME MORE EDUCATION AND MAYBE USING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I CERTAINLY COULD UM I'LL TAKE MY UP ON THE OFFER, UM, POTENTIALLY. USE HIS TEAM TO KIND. >> OF HELP US WITH UM. WHATEVER YOU NEED.
>> YEAH. OKAY. >> BECAUSE THAT REALLY. REALLY GREAT, UH, PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN SO POTENTIALLY THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK. AT AND LOVE THE UM THE YOU
KNOW, THE PART. >> OF WHAT. >> YOU. HAVE ABOUT, YOU. KNOW, POTENTIALLY ADDING SIGNAGE IN DIFFERENT. LANGUAGES SOMETIMES WE FORGET. RIGHT THAT YEAH. IT'S NOT PEOPLE. >> TO. BE READING IN ENGLISH. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
IMPACT THAT AS WELL. YEAH. >> THANK YOU. AND. UH SOME. CALLS OF CONCERNS I GET UH FROM . SENIORS UM, NOT WITH THE DOG
JUST WALKING THROUGH THE PARK AND THEY'RE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. THEY GET NERVOUS WHEN THEY SEE AN UNLEASHED DOG AND AND I DON'T BLAME THEM. UM.
BUT THEY ALSO ARE. >> PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND ALSO. SHOULD BE. >> INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED. >> BUT IT IS IT IS. DIFFICULT FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN OR A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, OR SOMETIMES YOU SEE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN WITH THE LITTLE KID AT A PARK AND WITH WITH AN UNLEASHED DOG. IT'S VERY. IT'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR
THEM TO BE THERE. UM, THEY ALMOST HAVE TO LEAVE THE. PARK IF THEY SEE THAT THEY. JUST DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. UM. BUT THAT'S WHY I GO BACK TO.
IT'S A IT'S ABOUT A PUBLIC EDUCATION. AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. I DON'T I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO SEE MORE LAWS WRITTEN ON THE BOOKS. I JUST WANT US TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS.
BUT BUT. BESIDES ENFORCING THE LAW, I DO. THINK RESIDENTS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. TO BE. RESPECTFUL TO EACH OTHER, BE RESPECTFUL TO THEIR. NEIGHBORS. >> BE RESPECTFUL TO SENIOR.
CITIZENS. >> TO. TO FAMILIES, TO. PERSONS WITH. DISABILITIES. >> TO OTHER. >> DOGS THAT HAVE THEIR. DOG ON A LEASH. UM BUT I JUST I JUST THINK THERE HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT
OF UM. RESPECTFUL DIALOG. AND COMMUNICATION TO ENSURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE LAW. >> BECAUSE. I THINK SOMETIMES WE CAN'T ASSUME EVERYBODY. KNOWS WHAT THE. LAW IS.
AND I AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ALEXIS, YOU MIGHT DO A LITTLE BIT OF MORE WORK WITH. THE UM, MASS SOCIETY PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ABOUT MAYBE DOING SOME OF THAT TYPE OF.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU COULD UM . YOU COULD. >> CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT? OKAY. >> ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT I MIGHT SUGGEST UH, BRAINSTORMING IS UH, THERE'S
INFORMATION SHARING TO THE PUBLIC AND THERE'S INFORMATION SHARING WITHIN THE CITY GOVERNMENT. AND I DO THINK THAT SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS WITH ANIMAL CONTROL IS THAT IT'S LOOKED AT AS AN ANIMAL ISSUE AND NOT A
HUMAN ISSUE WHEN THE REALITY IS THOSE TWO ARE FULLY INTERTWINED. I DO THINK THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR UM, INFORMATION SHARING WITHIN THE CITY POLICE
OFFICER DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY UH, UNSAFE SITUATIONS WITH ANIMALS OR ANIMAL CRUELTY RELATED ISSUES. I THINK THAT COULD BE AN AREA WHERE THERE'S MORE EYES IN THE CITY. UM, THROUGH THAT LENS MAY BE
ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE ADDRESSED IN THIS UM, IN THIS ROOM AND ALSO I THINK TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO BROUGHT UP UM, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERN OF SAFETY OF WALKING DOWN THE STREET THAT
IS A REALLY HIGH NEED. AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT RESOURCE GAPS AND UH, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WHEN I CAN UM, ALMOST BET WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE DATA IS THERE'S PROBABLY TWO DATA
POINTS THAT AREN'T BEING LOOKED AT BEYOND THE OFF LEASH COMPONENT. ONE IS WHERE IS THE UM LIKE THE SOCIOECONOMIC COMPONENT? I WOULD BET THAT THE MOST UNDER-RESOURCED PARTS OF THE CITY ARE WHERE THE HIGHEST
RATES OF INCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING, WHICH CALLS FOR MORE UM, SHARING OF RESOURCES. AND I WOULD GUARANTEE THAT WITH THE BITE INCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH EITHER
INDIVIDUALS OR A DOG FIGHT THAT LEADS TO INDIVIDUALS OR ANIMALS BEING HARMED, THAT THOSE ARE MOST LIKELY INTACT ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT SPAYED AND NEUTERED AND SPEAKS TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES FOR AFFORDABLE SPAY NEUTER THAT
I THINK NEEDS MULTIPLE AGENCIES BOTH UM MUNICIPAL AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO COME TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
THROUGH TECHNIQUES LIKE SPAY NEUTER AND ACCESS TO UM AFFORDABLE DOG TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND THINGS ON THOSE LINES. UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DID IN THE LOWELL CITY COUNCIL WAS TO
FORM AN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS UH, CITY COUNSELORS, PROFESSIONALS, UM, YOU KNOW, BOTH IN THE NONPROFIT AND MUNICIPAL SECTOR AND UH CITIZENS TO COME TOGETHER TO
FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS VERY COMPLEX ISSUE THAT NEEDS MORE TIME AND ENERGY SPENT ON IT TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COME UP WITH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS THAT GET TO A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS GOOD ABOUT
THE ANIMAL INTERACTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE IF UM, IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECOMES UH UH SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE. THANK YOU.
THAT'S THAT'S EXCELLENT MIKE AND MAYBE MY MY LAST QUESTION I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED AN ANSWER NOW BUT UM, CAN I GET A LIST OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE
CITY THAT HAVE DOG PARKS IN AND THAT DON'T HAVE DOG PARKS. AS WELL? UM. >> COULD YOU INCLUDE STATE ONES ALSO WHICH. >> UM, YEAH, SOMETIMES. >> A NEIGHBORHOOD. HAS ONE. IS YEAH.
UM BUT. ONE ONE FINAL QUESTION BUT WHEN WHEN THERE ARE DOG PARKS. LIKE PETERS PARK. HAS A CONFINED DOG PARK.
WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO WELL YOU ARE ABLE TO LET YOUR DOG OFF. >> THE LEASH INSIDE PETERS PARK THIS NARROW LITTLE LITTLE PARK INSIDE THIS MAJOR. MAJOR PARK. . UM BUT. >> DO YOU STILL HAVE. INCIDENTS AT THAT CONFINED
AREA. WITH WITH DOGS? UM YEAH. WE DO I MEAN THEY GET IN SCUFFLES THEY'RE THEY'RE ANIMALS RIGHT? YEAH. AND YOU. >> KNOW THEY'RE THINKING WELL I'M ACTUALLY READING BODY LANGUAGE BUT WE DO WE HAVE MINOR SCUFFLES, UM, YOU KNOW,
BITES AND. SCRATCHES THAT YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE POINTING TOWARDS THAT'S PRETTY. ROUTINE ANY TIME YOU HAVE A. >> WITH. ANIMALS TO GO. TO THAT. >> BUT MOREOVER I THINK THERE'S
A LOT OF VALUE IN THE DOG PARK FOR. THIS COMPONENT OF IT AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT PARKS IS LOOKING AT WHEN THEY DO. UM. >> REDESIGNS OF THEIR PARKS. THAT THEY'RE LOOKING ACTIVELY AT ADDING. SPACES IN.
TO THOSE PARKS FOR OUR PET OWNERS. UM, THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN TAKEN IF. IF A DOG. OFF A LEASH. ATTACKS BITES. >> A PERSON.
UM. >> IS THE CITY RESPONSIBLE? AND SO MASSACHUSETTS HAS A STRICT. LIABILITY ON DOG OWNERS. SO WOODY. >> ALLEN ONE 2625. THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE. WE HAVE SOME SORT OF. SITUATIONS WHERE THE OWNER MAY
NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DOG BITING, BUT IN THE SCENARIO YOU DESCRIBE. >> IT THE SUPPLY. IS ON THE PET. OWNER FOR HAVING THEIR DOG. UM KEPT IN VIOLATION OF THE STATUTE. OKAY, SO.
BOSTON AND BOSTON IS NOT. RESPONSIBLE FOR. OR UM. DOG ATTACKING. UM ANOTHER. PERSON. OKAY.
UM. I HAVE HEARD COMPLAINTS TO THAT IF THERE ARE TWO DOGS THAT ARE OFF THAT ARE FIGHTING OR.
IF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DOES COME UM AT TIMES IT CAN BE. DIFFICULT JUST. >> TO GET SOMEONE'S NAME AND ADDRESS THAT WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT. WHERE THE. >> PUBLIC WILL NOT AT TIMES
GIVE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH. THE CITY OFFICIAL. TRYING TO. DO THEIR. >> JOB OF. IDENTIFYING WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW WE PREVENT IT AND. THE PERSON. >> WILL JUST KIND OF WALK AWAY FROM FROM AN INCIDENT IS THAT
IS THAT COMMON? SO YOU'RE. >> TALKING ABOUT. AS IT RELATES TO A DOG. >> BITE INVESTIGATION. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES JUST UM IF YOU. HAVE A HAVE AN ANY TYPE
OF INCIDENT AT A DOG PARK AND IF. >> YOU ARE APPROACHED BY A CITY OFFICIAL. SOMETIMES THEY SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC WILL JUST NOT PROVIDE PROVIDE THE NAME THEY'LL JUST WALK AWAY. OH YEAH.
SO WE WE. CAN'T DETAIN UM YOU KNOW, HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETAIN ANYONE SO. THE PEOPLE. DO WALK AWAY. >> BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY. AROUND FIGHT. INVESTIGATIONS. >> UM, WE RARELY ENCOUNTER
SITUATIONS WHERE. UM, THE. PARTIES ARE NOT FORTHCOMING. UM WE DO WE UM WE DO GET SUPPORT FROM, UH. THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. OKAY.
UM, BECAUSE. OF THE RABIES QUARANTINE, UH, SO. IT DOES HAPPEN, BUT IT'S LESS IT'S. PRETTY UM, SELDOM. OKAY. >> AND WHAT IS THE. WHAT IS OUR FINAL QUESTION AND
THEN I'LL GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COUNCIL MURPHY TO. UM, HAVE A CLOSING STATEMENT. WHAT IS. >> OUR MESSAGE AS. >> A CITY TO. DOG OWNERS THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR. DOG UNLEASHED AT.
>> CITY PARKS? YEAH. >> SO OUR. WE FEEL THAT PEOPLE SHOULD. BE ABLE. >> TO USE THE PARKS. IN THE MANNER THAT'S CONSISTENT. >> WITH THEIR. EXPECTED PARK USAGE. SO WE SHOULD HEAR ANIMALS SO. THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARKS. IT'S JUST PART OF BEING A GOOD
NEIGHBOR. UM AND THEN AND WHEN WE AND WHEN WE DO ENCOUNTER THESE PEOPLE WE WILL, YOU KNOW, ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE. THE LEASH LAW. >> YOU WILL ISSUE CITATIONS. UM, ACCORDINGLY. SO OUR MESSAGE IS LEASH.
YOUR DOGS UNLESS THEY'RE IN THE DESIGNATED DOG PARK. AND AND BE. PATIENT WHILE THE CITY PASSES THE. PARK RECREATION. SPACES FOR. DOGS BUT IT IS IT IS NEEDED. >> I WILL NOW HAVE A LARGE BREED DOG. >> SO I GET IT.
YOU NEED YOUR DOG TO BE ABLE TO RUN AROUND LIKE ONE OF THE UM UH, MEMBERS I ALLUDED TO ONE. OF THE UM THAT'S THE ONE. ALLUDED TO. >> YOU DO WANT. TO HAVE PLACES FOR YOUR DOG TO. RUN BUT ALLOW THEM TO RUN
AROUND WHERE THE KIDS ARE PLAYING ON THE FIELD OR OR ARE NOT USING THE OFF LEASH DEDICATED OFF. LEASH DOG SPACE IS REALLY ISN'T. HELPING YOU KNOW WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT WE SHOULD FIX
MORE AND YOU SEE THAT I'M STREET RIGHT WITH THE DOG PARK ACROSS BUT YET. WE STILL HAVE MANY UM DOG OWNERS ALLOWING THEIR DOGS TO. >> RUN OFF LEASH. >> ON THE FIELD. >> THAT'S RIGHT. UM WELL THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MURPHY, WOULD.
>> YOU LIKE TO GIVE A CLOSING STATEMENT PLEASE? YES. >> JUST ONE ONE MORE THING. THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THE STAFFING NUMBERS AND THE POWER OF THAT IS LIMITED, BUT THE WAY THE LEASH
LAW IS WRITTEN AND I KNOW IT WOULD MAYBE BE EXTREME, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING. IS YOU KNOW THAT OUR CITY WORKERS THEY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE THE LEASH LAW OR.
THEY CAN'T RETAIN IF NEEDED. >> BUT IS IT WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT FOR EVERY PERSON WITH A DOG OFF A LEASH YOU COULD HAND THEM A WRITTEN CITATION? YES. >> BUT HOW DO YOU GIVE A
CITATION TO SOMEBODY IN A PARK IF LIKE COUNCILOR FLYNN ALLUDED TO, IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE. HEY. >> WE CAN'T WAIT. SO AND I KNOW THIS ISN'T ON YOU AND SO WHAT IS WHERE IS THE
TEETH IN THIS LAW IF PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN JUST KIND OF LAUGH AND WALK AWAY AND BE LIKE YEAH, GOOD LUCK FIGURING OUT WHO I AM. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHO I AM. I KNOW IF YOUR DOG IS LIKE IN YOUR OWN YARD, YOU COULD ISSUE
A TICKET TO THE ADDRESS OF THE HOME WHERE I KNOW THERE'S TIMES WHEN YOU MAIL TICKETS. OH BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT SITUATION? SO THE CITATION. DATA THAT YOU RECEIVED UM, SO
WE DON'T WRITE TICKETS. EXCEPT FOR. SHELTER ANIMALS IF WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE PARTY IS. SO WE DO RELY ON THE CORPORATION OF. PUBLIC TO PROVIDE US THAT
INFORMATION. BUT THE FIRST OFFENSE OF MANY OF THESE CITATIONS. >> ARE WARNINGS. . >> AND SO THAT'S A GREAT. WAY TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE INFORMATION. HEY, YOU KNOW WE'RE GIVING YOU A WARNING AND THIS IS WHY SO YOU'RE NOT THESE.
ARE NOT. >> PHANTOM I MEAN I GUESS IT'S MOSTLY I. MEAN THEY COULD BE LYING RIGHT? UM BUT. WE DO HAVE WELL. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WALKING AWAY. WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE COOPERATIVE. >> DO YOU COLLECT THE DATA ON. THE PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T
COOPERATE? UH. >> NOT IN A WAY THAT'S EASILY. UM, SEGREGATED. UM. SO YES. >> IN OUR REPORTS, UM, THE OFFICERS DO NOTE ON THEIR LOG. SHEETS THEY DO NOTE THAT THERE
ARE THREE POLICE DOGS AND ALL PARTIES WALK AWAY AND THEN WE DO REPORT THOSE NUMBERS BACK TO 311. SO THEY DO LIVE THERE WHERE SOMEONE LIKE IT'S JUST NOT EASY TO SEPARATE.
AND IS THAT DATA CONNECTED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD A PARK. SO YOU. KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING LIKE SO WE COULD KIND OF SEE LIKE WHICH
PARKS HAVE MORE PEOPLE NOT COOPERATING JUST TO MAYBE PUT MORE RESOURCES THERE OR MORE SIGNAGE. RIGHT. IT COMES BACK TO THE EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION OF IT ALL. YEAH NO IT'S JUST.
>> A NOTE IN THEIR REPORT. UM YOU KNOW SO WE'RE NOT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE WRITING AN ACTUAL TICKET WITH NO ONE ATTACHED TO IT WHERE WE CAN PULL THAT DATA. OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL. WELL AND.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE. PANEL FOR OUTSTANDING TESTIMONY. FOR BEING HERE FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IMPACTING EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE CITY PETS UH, PART OF OUR FAMILY. WE WANT TO PROVIDE SAFE AND
HEALTHY OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PETS TO EXERCISE AND BE WITH THEIR WITH THEIR OWNER. BUT WE. >> NEED. TO DO IT IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. AND WE CAME HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING IN THE CITY AS. >> IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT. >> WE ALSO KNOW THAT PETS ARE PART OF THE FAMILY. AND WE. >> HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. TO UM.
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CARE AND LOVE FOR OUR PETS BUT ALSO BALANCING THAT. WITH THE. >> SAFETY AND THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS OF THE. CITY AND PUBLIC PARKS ESPECIALLY. IT'S ABOUT.
RESPECTING EACH OTHER. IT'S ABOUT KNOWING THE LAW. IT'S ABOUT. >> SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, BEING UNDERSTANDING AT TIMES COMPROMISING IN PUBLIC. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
CAMPAIGNS AS WELL. BUT I AM CONFIDENT IN CITY. OFFICIALS THAT. >> THEY ARE DOING A. VERY GOOD JOB. PARTNERING WITH. EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. SUCH AS. THE MASSACHUSETTS. SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION
OF CRUELTY TO ANIMAL ANIMALS AND I DO BELIEVE RESIDENTS WANT US TO WORK. TOGETHER TO CONTINUE TO MAKE. PROGRESS AND TO. SUPPORT OUR PETS.
PETS ARE PART OF THE FAMILY. THIS DOCKET. 0811 BEFORE I ADJOURN IT, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. >> TO MY. CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
COLLEAGUES FOR BEING HERE AND FOR DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AS. WELL AND GREATLY APPRECIATED. THIS HEARING. DOCKET 0811. IS ADJOURNED.
>>