[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6244541,"mediaKeyId","3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa","parentId",3229636,"title","Commission to review animal‑control policies after commissioners raise concerns about euthanasia access, volunteer limits and force guidance","audioSeconds",480,"startMs",5680000,"endMs",6160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa&start=5680&end=6160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa/thumbnail_5680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244541/Alaska/Commission-to-review-animalcontrol-policies-after-commissioners-raise-concerns-about-euthanasia-access-volunteer-limits-and-force-guidance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244541-a93718d6ccd2e871b24f4671b09c2549/orig.mp4?Expires=1770918550&Signature=kyXiNvFxyNnQ5zWN3Tk71ehEA9dTwGb4ehqK-m7~eSK-YABMgeKsOmk4z9-jvqNYqWquTOUb2o8fsUXJIf33Sh9C2Re~fhwqEdJQpmd6SYp1aIZsv8CctA2oJRC8V1pwBMSBSpvCv-XuN02oTKPdOpKBStWdDAeuEyJbRGTQRb8IANZW6NJIv1LoHyQF9VMxlVhlN4OCBOkG60xUXPdJVlgui7Oc0Vo-rwseQqhOCOhTvBF70XgkdlYS~2tFk2OSEbojsd9uZqEC6hHeiPP5LLKa7GeDt4JK3iVgfQxckRUL31lzs3jcv~yMFAgRWjvOMv6xU0IowIns~vKzuAGEUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fairbanks North Star Borough","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Animal Control Commission on May 5 reviewed the department’s ACO policy package and identified topics for further review, including the department’s use‑of‑force wording, limits on volunteers in the shelter, and a policy that currently prevents owners from being present during euthanasia.

Commissioner Swan asked that the department reconsider language in the “use of force continuum” and wanted policy wording to mirror the stated purpose language that officers should “exert only the minimum amount necessary to escape the situation safely.” Swan said the current wording could put officers in a difficult position and asked staff to address the apparent inconsistency.

Commissioners also questioned a shelter practice—described by staff as a change made for staffing and space reasons—that limits owners’ ability to be present during euthanasia. Kimberly and Sandra Hill explained the policy’s operational background: limited private space now used for surgeries, and past staffing configurations that made a private end‑of‑life appointment difficult to provide safely and consistently. Hill said euthanasia service was once a meaningful service offered but is constrained now by staffing levels and the multifunction use of the space used for procedures.

Hill said euthanasia had been offered in the past but staff and management found the appointments often exceeded the scheduled time and required more staffing and private space than the shelter currently has. “From the managerial side at the time, I believe it was a voluntary decision as in more staffing was needed to continue the service,” Hill said.

Commissioners urged the department to consider options, including protected private space or a policy that allows owners to choose to be present when feasible. Commissioner Rosenberg cited external shelter veterinary guidelines (industry best practices) and noted those guidelines generally recommend allowing owners to be present when appropriate. Commissioner Sherman asked staff to explore practical workarounds such as locked rooms, scheduling on days when the surgery suite is not otherwise in use, or partial refunds when trial adoptions are used instead of a supervised meet. Staff noted the surgery room is often in use three days a week by the shelter veterinarian and that using the room for multiple purposes complicates scheduling.

The commission did not change policy at the meeting. The clerk and staff agreed to provide the remaining shelter policies to commissioners by June 15; commissioners will review and submit questions in advance and the commission plans to address outstanding ACO policies and shelter operations at the next regular meeting in August, with the option to request a special meeting if necessary.

Why it matters: euthanasia access, volunteer capacity and use‑of‑force policy affect public trust, volunteer engagement and staff safety. Commissioners asked staff to present workable options that balance compassion for owners and animals with staff safety and current operational constraints.

Next steps: staff to address Commissioner Swan’s use‑of‑force wording concerns and to provide additional shelter policies to the commission by June 15 for review; the commission will consider the items at its August meeting and may schedule a special meeting if timely action is requested.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Control Commission Meeting - May 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners and staff discussed the Animal Control policies package, raised concerns about use‑of‑force language and the policy that currently prevents owners from being present during euthanasia. The commission asked for remaining shelter policies to be provided by mid‑June and scheduled further review at the next meeting.","taxTitle","Fairbanks North Star (Borough), Alaska","taxId",5063,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6244546,"Animal control reports higher intake and foster numbers; new volunteer lead, scanners and parvo treatment discussed",375,999000,1374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa&start=999&end=1374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa/thumbnail_999000.jpg","/articles/6244546/Alaska/Animal-control-reports-higher-intake-and-foster-numbers-new-volunteer-lead-scanners-and-parvo-treatment-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244546-18f5d4a5fd2cdc8bc368e3a6f4a48734/orig.mp4?Expires=1770918550&Signature=YCtAadkyufLqrnn1FTO9EwBCAvRFIFieaKpNpeNcsc87pj54krWscEiQxnx-vu4SYnJg7lflwWjbmdVEZMg3F1jpB2kizlIRRiheFShyDlUD6IZfOnnPnFZkbaFWhOI7LTwfTpu8p2RUzP7sVgMp3uvSq5305mHCXnekkPQnDgBwvo0xj~r~JQtBWQ72B8S0SXyxrww1VXFzbI3pYolkZIrBtMky-GVmSZ0xtZE-W45tGLpjmup0D6hu0sZJv~yVg8rhl9SpMXxg30fBlgO8BRs~IYA5ombmI2O4iTdMndqUXl2lOS9RCkRv7aYHl29LNPvGNYFc7S3rEk1641WZsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Animal control staff reported increases in owner surrenders, stray intakes and foster placements in early 2025 and described staffing changes, new equipment purchases and program updates at the May 5 Animal Control Commission meeting.

Animal Control Manager Sandra Hill said the department named lead animal tender Brittley Calkins employee of the month for March and appointed a second lead — Becky McMahone — to oversee weekend shifts and the volunteer program. “That is Becky McMahone,” Hill said when commissioners asked about the new lead’s name.

Staff provided monthly program metrics. Kimberly, an animal control staff member who summarized volunteer and foster hours, said the department logged 90 volunteer hours and 10 foster animals in February, 89 volunteer hours and 24 foster animals in March, and 31.5 volunteer hours and 25 foster animals in April. Hill gave intake figures: February stray ACO intake 42, owner surrenders 111 and drop‑off cage intake 26; March stray intake 54 and owner surrenders 108; April stray intake 56 and owner surrenders 105. Hill said bite cases and bite quarantines were reported in those months and that enforcement activities remain substantial.

On equipment and outreach, Hill told commissioners the department bought 10 universal microchip scanners at $200 apiece and that the borough paid the purchase cost. “We got 10 scanners. They were $200 a piece,” Hill said. Commissioners asked whether a Rotary Club donation offer from earlier discussions had been used; Hill said the borough paid for the scanners and she did not believe a Rotary donation was applied to that purchase.

Hill said the shelter’s enforcement team recently attended the Alaska Animal Control Association annual conference in Anchorage, and staff are building a tiered volunteer training program using GivePulse software to post volunteer jobs. Commissioners asked whether volunteer training would also be required for foster households; staff said they currently try to keep low barriers for fosters but plan to make training materials and introductory guidance available as the volunteer program develops.

Hill also discussed a new parvo treatment the shelter fund is offering to pay for; Hill said the drug “is very expensive, but it stops the replication of parvo” and would reduce viral shedding, potentially improving outcomes for outpatient care and decreasing contagion.

Finance and donations: Commissioner Rosenberg, reporting on the Fairbanks Animal Shelter Fund, said the fund received a 100% rating from Charity Navigator, noted that recent vet bills topped $21,000 for the month, and said donations include out‑of‑area gifts after the fund received an inheritance in 2023. Rosenberg said typical fundraising events such as an August garage sale are planned and that donated storage or warehouse space would be welcomed.

No formal action was taken; commissioners asked for continued updates and asked staff to provide more detail if grant or donation funds are used for program changes.","Animal control staff reported rising owner surrenders and foster placements in early 2025, the appointment of a new volunteer lead, purchase of scanners for microchip reading and consideration of a new parvo treatment funded by the shelter fund.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6244551,"Animal control details disaster pet‑sheltering plan and sites; fairgrounds MOU in draft",775,3701000,4476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa&start=3701&end=4476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa/thumbnail_3701000.jpg","/articles/6244551/Alaska/Animal-control-details-disaster-petsheltering-plan-and-sites-fairgrounds-MOU-in-draft","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244551-956582c2821e06168738b502f66c55a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770918550&Signature=IuJncppcGrZ5fUejgi~imFczbljXObSXE0mnrbuNtKgHoZeOfyGPvqwEV2PgyUZ0JM1Xk-icG7gdVj~xQE2jwC~PFhGGrhREr28Zj4hZiMJ4DpT4~ATt~FhV~RIOLU1mf9hnYoMslz1yaDe1FniuTjzWADbzZJRHrp85X8e6WJBt5TViQQCxIJ1i7pG2BKRsxoXJnoTYCinKwKdl-QdwJgPtxXFVaUt-DlSqZPGCWK9wNkESLWfjB0u45wpTrSir8eUe8A-A51-u3jAV6PKRxkpvz0aagAZXRoBkhGdS0Fy1TlG-buBaYbrsiqF7JnqHAkHJIOqKbMjWUs8FaIykww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough’s animal control staff presented an overview of the department’s emergency pet‑sheltering plan on May 5, describing temporary and co‑located shelter models, recommended site features and steps the department takes to stage and demobilize a response during wildfires, floods or other disasters.

Animal Control Manager Sandra Hill said staff use a flexible model that can be adapted to seasons, weather and the scale of the event. She told commissioners the department prefers centrally located sites with water, power, restrooms, waste removal, airflow and secure animal‑holding space, and that site selection must account for concurrent events such as fairs.

Hill reviewed examples from past incidents and exercises, including uses of the Largent Barn and other temporary sites. She said the fairgrounds remains the borough’s preferred large site; staff reported they recently received a proposed SOP/MOU from fairgrounds management and plan to incorporate it into a borough agreement after internal review. “We just got a response in a fairly decently put together SOP,” Hill said, noting the document will need to go through borough processes and could become an MOA or MOU.

Hill noted the transit building (the Transportation facility) and other unoccupied buildings as additional options that staff have identified; she said the department keeps kennels and supplies ready to deploy. Hill also described use of a local Facebook group (FNSB Wildfires Neighbors Helping Neighbors) to match needs with community offers during incidents and said the borough is applying for federal grant funds to buy additional livestock fencing with covers.

Commissioners asked for a written list of pre‑identified alternate sites and details about logistical readiness, including power, drainage and heating. Hill said staff can compile and share a list of buildings they have evaluated and will supply additional information as requested.

On volunteer coordination, Hill told commissioners GivePulse software will let staff post discrete volunteer tasks to manage on‑site needs, and that the department plans coordinated training with the CERT team; Hill said a CERT training session is expected between late May and early June and volunteers interested in emergency response will be invited to train.

The commission did not take formal action but asked staff to provide the list of candidate sites and to continue work on an MOU with the fairgrounds. Commissioners also discussed the possibility of drafting a formal evacuation/contingency plan specifically for a catastrophic shelter failure and suggested the commission consider discussing that plan at a future meeting.

Why it matters: animal control is the borough’s operational lead for pet needs during disasters; pre‑identified sites, MOUs and trained volunteers affect how quickly displaced animals and their owners can be reunited and care provided during major incidents.

Next steps: staff will supply the commission with a site list and the fairgrounds MOU draft for review; CERT training and volunteer outreach will be scheduled and communicated to commissioners and the public.","Commissioners reviewed the borough’s emergency pet‑sheltering plan, including temporary and co‑located shelter models, site considerations, an MOA/MOU draft from the fairgrounds and plans for volunteer and CERT training.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6244556,"Fairbanks animal shelter 95% design received; funding remains in ‘beyond years,’ commission told",543,1924000,2467000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa&start=1924&end=2467","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229636-c779af21cc3131b8e9240244869761fa/thumbnail_1924000.jpg","/articles/6244556/Alaska/Fairbanks-animal-shelter-95-design-received-funding-remains-in-beyond-years-commission-told","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244556-38c6fcd2dcaea566a7fe669491d47406/orig.mp4?Expires=1770918550&Signature=FlokFIMjHD118mLhhtO98Ghmn~XMKxRthfR0cxuC1XClPffxtiLIbi0B59xd1PHIJg1b6HL~G6yQuLidkuQiysK6jNK~wO1r~LSsMH4XBcGdYWlEtPC6iyZtrcx-yuVYADAtff3JAPO8WEq84hv2T5WOQKf~mn7A0ircxzIxXT8oJCEI--I~N0fsO16ub5dxPKq2eylYlrKBrZAojQUwZDpAaFfYsEFaE9paMLSRCW8JBQ2T4921q6C~77kXmG6Yjmtij7-E-dcmLeHGERUEWGykKEEzFu~TWNvVh8m99ik~Og7hgEatYGVYBO-aj~6XUaOcYvDGklycYcT6w0trwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough received a 95% design for the proposed animal shelter replacement late last week, but borough and commission officials said on May 5 that there is no construction funding scheduled in the near term and the project is listed in the capital improvement program’s “beyond years.”

Commissioners said the delay and a lack of posted responses to earlier public questions has left them uncertain about design details such as cat-kennel sizing, ventilation and humidification; commissioners asked administration staff to provide answers and suggested the commission consider taking a formal position supporting the project.

At the Animal Control Commission meeting, Sandra Hill, the borough’s animal control manager, said the consultant team (Bettisworth North and Indigo Hammond) presented the 65% design at a March joint meeting with the Assembly and later delivered the 95% design. “We just received it,” Hill said, and borough staff will meet with Public Works after the budget process to review the 95% plans.

Commissioners pressed for clarity. Commissioner Sherman said members and members of the public were told questions from the March 20 joint meeting and an April 21 open house would be answered publicly; she said she has not seen those answers posted and asked administration to follow up. “They assured us they would get back to us in a month or less and it's been a little longer,” Sherman said.

Clerk staff explained where the project sits in the borough’s capital plan. The clerk told commissioners that the animal shelter replacement project is currently in the KIP (capital improvement program) “beyond years,” and that “there is no funding scheduled for this in the near future, in the next year or two.” The clerk said the borough projects capital needs several years out and that “beyond years” covers projects not projected in the next 5–10 years or longer.

Commissioners asked who holds authority to release the 95% design and to post answers to public questions; Hill said administration would be the party to release designs and that project scheduling and funding decisions rest with the Assembly. Commissioner Bethune and others urged staff to press the administration for the promised Q&A postings.

The commission discussed whether to signal support for the shelter and how to proceed if construction funding remains distant. Hill said the borough has reported turnover in the project manager role and that the borough project manager has changed; commissioners asked for the new project manager’s contact information and for the borough to provide the 95% documents to the commission once the administration releases them.

No formal action to fund construction or approve the design occurred at the meeting. Commissioners did request the clerk provide the commission with the KIP resolution and related spreadsheet for reference. The commission also agreed to consider placing a statement of support or other recommendations on a future agenda and discussed the option of requesting a special meeting if members wanted to act sooner than the commission’s regular quarterly schedule.

Why it matters: a new shelter design is a multi‑million dollar capital project that will affect how the borough houses and cares for animals and how the shelter operates for years; the absence of scheduled funding means the replacement may not be built in the near term while current shelter staff continue operations in a facility many commissioners described as in poor condition.

What happens next: borough administration will review the 95% design after the budget process; the clerk will distribute the KIP resolution and spreadsheet to the commission; commissioners may place a statement of support or related item on a future agenda for deliberation.","The Fairbanks North Star Borough received a 95% design for the planned animal shelter replacement, but borough staff and commissioners said no construction funding is scheduled in the near term and the project is listed in the capital program’s \"beyond years.\" Commissioners pressed for answers about design details and public Q&A responses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission to review animal‑control policies after commissioners raise concerns about euthanasia access, volunteer limits and force guidance

Animal control reports higher intake and foster numbers; new volunteer lead, scanners and parvo treatment discussed

Animal control details disaster pet‑sheltering plan and sites; fairgrounds MOU in draft

Fairbanks animal shelter 95% design received; funding remains in ‘beyond years,’ commission told