The Jefferson County Animal Forum hosted the first Jefferson County Animal Summit Saturday, April 20 in Festus. County Executive Chuck Banks proclaimed the event a great success.

     “Thanks to the Jefferson County Animal Forum, the stake holders of animal welfare identified the most important goals and actions needed to improve the state of domestic animal ownership in Jefferson County.” Said County Executive Chuck Banks “now we have a plan and a call to action.”

     The inspiration of local attorney Jane Geiler, The Jefferson County Animal Forum was established in May, 2009.  The Forum’s mission was to provide a place where all animal care, control, and welfare stakeholders could come together to identify critical issues, establish goals and craft solutions regarding the welfare of animals in the Jefferson County. Through responses from hundreds of surveys sent out to stakeholders in the county and at the state legislative level, the Forum identified the top six highest priority concerns. These concerns became the focus of the summit and various stakeholders were invited to the event to provide input and offer solutions.

     More than 40 participants, representing state and county governments, state and county animal control and animal welfare organizations, numerous humane and animal rescue organizations, animal breeders, law enforcement agencies and fire departments attended the summit.

     Amy Maher, an Assistant State’s Attorney in Madison County, Illinois, is the chief prosecutor for the Animal Cruelty Division. Maher, one of two keynote speakers for the event, spoke to the summit attendees on effective animal advocacy. Suzanne Gassner, the director of education for the Humane Society of Missouri, also addressed the summit as the afternoon’s keynote speaker. Gassner spoke on effective humane education programs.

     There were three workgroup breakout sessions during the summit in which the six survey concerns were discussed. Each workgroup discussed each of the six topics, which included Humane Education, Animal Over-Population, Animal Neglect and Abuse, Local and State Laws and Legislation, Animal Care and Control Facilities, and Animal Adoptions and Rescue. The workgroups identified specific solutions that might be executed to alleviate the concerns and the stakeholders required to implement the solutions.

     The Forum met Wednesday, March 31 in Hillsboro to review the summit findings and determine a future course of action to address the issues.

     Among the highest areas of concern identified as being priority concerns were developing a new county animal control facility, public education of responsible animal ownership, improving communications between the various enforcement agencies in the county, developing and promoting low-cost spay and neuter programs to address animal over-population, increased prosecution of county animal control order violations and state animal welfare law violations and improving the relationship between Jefferson County Animal Control and the various dog and cat rescue organizations in the area. More than 70 possible solutions were offered during the summit and Forum members will be now prepare a report that outlines the summit solutions. When completed, the report will be available to the public on request.

     An unexpected result of the summit has changed to mission of the Jefferson County Animal Forum. Summit attendees requested the forum continue in its origin mission, but also take on the oversight task of establishing committees that will work on the identified concerns and recommended solutions. During the Wednesday night meeting, forum members agreed to taking on this tasking. Election of new forum officers will be held during the next meeting. Committees will be formed as the need is determined by the summit report.

     The Jefferson County Animal Forum meets monthly at the county Administration Building in Hillsboro. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Chuck Banks 797-5405 or by e-mail at cbanks@jeffcomo.org.