The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 28

CORA 6B WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2004 THE HERALD ANIMAL SERVICES Report faults animal shelter county manager or assistant county manager." The team concluded from a public-comment period that the division's reputation "has been damaged due to negative publicity and negative experiences people have directly" with it. Kennel configurations and bad ventilation at the shelter make disease transmission "quite inevitable." Record keeping is "inaccurate and ineffective, and "limited" communication between enforcement and investigations units detract from the division's effectiveness, it said. UNREALISTIC POLICY The report also calls the county's insistence that the operation be financially selfsufficient it relies on fines and fees "unrealistic and currently not achieved by any governmental animal control agency in the United States, to the knowledge of HSUS." It advised Animal Services managers to "immediately begin working with community placement partners" like animal rescue groups to eliminate mutual SAVE UP TO on PAINTS WATERPROOFING COATINGS WHOLESALE SOMAY PAINT FACTORY 3501 NW 41 Street Miami 305-633-6333 www.somay.com mistrust. "The best 'PR' for the agency is ensuring that the community receives the highest level of service when dealing with and the animals receive consistent, high-quality care," the society said. Still, the society praised the county for inviting it to inspect its facilities.

It lauded the division's spay-neuter program to reduce the county's unwanted animal population, and it called euthanasia methods "excellent." POSSIBLE CHANGES The team refused to "lay blame at the feet of staff members," instead calling it "the responsibility of the county, in conjunction with shelter management, to make the suggested changes." Some can be made immediately, while others "may take months or even years." Among the report's observations: "Some of the statistical information. was nothing short of alarming. The high incidence of animals dying at the shelter" 44 in April, 59 in May, "is of great concern." "None of the animals were provided with any comfort items such as toys, soft bedding or hiding spaces. The cats two were not provided litter boxes and were forced to urinate and defecate on newspaper in their small cages, adding to their stress." Leashes used to tether dogs "were short which seemed to contribute to them pulling tight around their necks and choking them." "Many of the animal housing areas were overcrowded Some cages were constantly filled with feces and urine because staff could not keep up with cleaning Feral cats "poled" out of traps and carriers "thrashed around so violently that they could have easily been injured. The cats were then lifted by the control poles around their necks without any body support This was all done with loudly barking dogs in adjacent cages.

The cats appeared terrified." "A dog in Ward sick kennels awaiting euthanasia was in dire need of medical attention. This attention was only rendered upon request of The HSUS team although the animal's problems had been brought to the attention of key staff the day before It is appalling that an animal could be allowed to exist in an animal shelter in this condition with no effort to alleviate her suffering." Team members observed "deficiencies in areas such as customer service etiquette, ability to help clients, long periods of waiting on both the phone and in line and ease of navigating the facility." GRAND OPENING SALE GOOD SEPTEMBER NOW 30 THRU Go-Go Lift Scooter Chair Portable, sturdy Patented quiet and easy-to-use operation scooter. Fits in the Innovative arm trunk of your car! design Starting at just Over-stuffed back $699 $599 Model C-30 The SCOOTER Store. tax Scooters, Power Chairs, Ramps, Wheelchairs, Lifts, Walkers, Recline Lift Chairs Sales Service, Medicare Private Insurance Filing, Cash or Credit 5851 NW 177th St. (Located inside the Wal- Supercenter) 305-558-1746 MIAMI-DADE TRANSIT WANTS TO HELP YOU What kind of information about public transportation in Miami-Dade County would you find useful? In what format would you like to see information about public transportation? Where would you like to see public transportation information distributed? Be part of the public transportation workshop sponsored by the Citizens' Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) that will be held at the Miami-Dade County Commission Chambers Stephen P.

Clark Center, Second Floor 111 N. W. First Street, Downtown Miami Wednesday, September 22 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The workshop will be televised on Miami-Dade TV.

Check with your local cable provider for channel information. During the broadcast, MIAMIDADE share your comments by phone: 305-375-4935, fax: 305-372-6150, or COUNTY email: TRANSIT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY Girl, 16, stabbed to death, police say; motive unclear ANIMALS, FROM 1B BY CHARLES RABIN Miami-Dade police said Tuesday that Dilcia the 16-year-old Miami Beach High sophomore who was found dead in the bedroom of her Northwest Miami-Dade home last week, was stabbed to death. Although the autopsy was incomplete, a worker at the county medical examiner's Office said the death has been ruled a homicide. Police also said they are not focusing on any one subject. "All the detectives are will ing to tell me is that she was suming girl who couldn't stabbed," said Miami-Dade decide if she wanted to be a police spokesman Juan Del- flight attendant or a police' Castillo.

"They're not getting detective. more detail." One theory offered by Last Friday morning, less friends was that Dilcia's death than a week after her 16th was somehow related to ac birthday, Dilcia stepfa- fight she got into in school a ther entered the young girl's few days before her death, in: bedroom at her mobile 1 home which she was suspended. at 9674 NW 10th and But school officials said found her body. cia was a good student who The family, which has stayed out of trouble, and mostly avoided contact with police said they weren't focusthe media, spent the past week ing on the fight. trying to understand why "At this point it doesn't' someone would take the life of appear that would be related the "sensitive," quiet unas- in any way," said NEW TRAINING GROUND FOR POLICE DONNA E.

NATALE STAFF Hialeah SWAT Officer Victor Espinosa rappels down Miami Dade College's School of Justice's new building on Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Police and security officials will train in the building. NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING The Children's Trust has tentatively adopted a budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004-2005. A public hearing to make a FINAL DECISION on the budget AND TAXES will be held on September 27, 2004: 5:01 p.m. at the Miami-Dade Public Schools Administration Building Auditorium 1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Every Life Is Unique.

Every Funeral Should Be Too. Do you want a traditional service or something different? An elaborate ceremony or a simple one? The Simplicity prearrangement program will take care of everything. Call us at (305) 207-6155. We celebrate life. Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Homes, Cemeteries Crematory Combination Funeral Homes and Cemeteries Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Home and Woodlawn Park South Cemetery: Kendall (305) 238-3672 Palms Woodlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery: South Dade (305) 247-4218 Funeral Homes Caballero Rivero Woodlawn: Hialeah (305) 888-6792, Miami (305) 445-9508, Westchester (305) 227-3344 Cemeteries Woodlawn Park North (305) 445-5425 Woodlawn Park West (305) 828-0807 Crematory Woodlawn Park Crematory (305) 445-5425 OSTEI 2004 Budget Summary The Children's Trust Fiscal Year 2004-2005 General Fund Budget REVENUES: Estimated at of ad valorem tax levy of .4442 mills Ad valorem taxes $62,751,246 600,000 Total revenues $63,351,246 Fund balance, October 1, 2004 49,709,297 Total revenues and fund balance $113,060,543 EXPENDITURES: Contracted programs $65,523,056 Operating expenditures: Contracted services administration: benefits $2,032,175 contracted svc.

325,000 Total Contracted services administration 2,357,175 General administration: benefits $1,392,254 contracted svc. 200,000 320,760 225,000 145,000 120,000 Total general I administration exp. 2,403,014 Capital expenditures: Fumiture equipment $150,000 Computer 148,000 Total capital expenditures 298,000 -operating expenditures: CRA $1,200,000 Tax collector fees 400,000 Total non expenditures 1.600,000 Total expenditures $72,181,245 Fund balance, September 30, 2005 40,879.298 Total expenditures and fund balance $113,060,543 The tentative, adopted, final budgets are on file in the office of the above mentioned taxing authority as a public record..