421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
Animal Services Committee  
Final Summary  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Tuesday, March 21, 2023  
7:30 AM  
Room 3500A  
1.  
CALL TO ORDER  
7:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Brian Krajewski at 7:30 AM.  
2.  
ROLL CALL  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill, Grant Eckhoff, Paula Garcia, Krajewski and  
PRESENT:  
Sheila Rutledge  
District 5 Dawn DeSart  
LATE:  
3.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No public comments were offered.  
Member Chang Evans introduced and Chair Krajewski welcomed four students from Hinsdale  
Central AP U.S. Government class along with their teacher who were in attendance.  
4.  
5.  
CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS - CHAIR KRAJEWSKI  
No remarks were offered.  
MINUTES APPROVAL  
5.A.  
23-1145  
Animal Services Committee - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, February 21, 2023  
Minutes_Animal_Services_Committee_23-02-21  
Attachments:  
APPROVED  
Sheila Rutledge  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
6.  
PROCUREMENT REQUISITIONS  
6.A.  
AS-P-0048-23  
Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Nicor Gas, to provide  
natural gas distribution services, as needed for Animal Services, for the four-year period  
of April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2027, for a contract total not to exceed $100,000.  
(Public Utility)  
Nicor - Procurement Review Comprehensive Checklist (PRCC)  
Attachments:  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Sheila Rutledge  
SECONDER:  
7.  
GRANTS  
7.A.  
FI-R-0094-23  
Acceptance and Appropriation of Interest Earned on Investment for the DuPage Animal  
Friends Foundation Coordinator FY22 Grant, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 1310,  
$1,000. (Animal Services)  
Chair Krajewski inquired as to the status of the Foundation Coordinator position. Laura  
explained that the position is active and that it is grant funded. Once allocated grant  
funding runs out, the DAF board will be approached to issue a new grant to cover  
position costs.  
5000-1310 DAFFC22 Resolution Attachment I Budget  
Attachments:  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Paula Garcia  
SECONDER:  
7.B.  
FI-R-0095-23  
Acceptance and Appropriation of Interest Earned on Investment for the DuPage Animal  
Friends Phase II Capital Project Grant, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 1310,  
$100,000. (Animal Services)  
5000-1310 DAFCAP Resolution Attachment I Budget Interest  
Earned  
Attachments:  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Paula Garcia  
SECONDER:  
8.  
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE  
Last week Animal Services along with Best Friends Animal Society hosted 37 officers from 21  
different police departments for the first ever all-day Field Services workshop. Topics included:  
ways to increase return-to-owner in the field, ways to handle wildlife calls, resolving community  
conflict with outdoor cats, etc. Representatives from each department left with a field service  
supply kit containing a microchip scanner, slip leads, a top-open pet carrier, treats, etc. Staff  
received very positive feedback and officers indicated they would like to see more similar  
training opportunities offered. Strengthening partnerships with other community organizations is  
important to DCAS because we cannot do this work alone. Many times the officers in the field  
are the first ones to receive and respond to animal-related calls and concerns.  
April 20th marks the official kick-off of the 2023 Specialty Veterinary Vehicle season and  
Trap-Neuter-Return surgeries for Feral Fixers cats.  
The calendar is also filling up with community outreach events where the vehicle will be  
featured. Laura requested that if any committee member has a request for Animal Services to  
participate in any community event with or without the vehicle this summer or fall, to please let  
her know as soon as possible as the calendar is filling up fast. Member Rutledge suggested  
Danada Fall Festival. Laura indicated that DCAS participated on both days in 2022 but based on  
feedback would likely only participate for one day this year as all-day events can be hard on  
shelter animals.  
[Member DeSart arrived at 7:40 AM.]  
The Chicagoland Humane Coalition (area shelters/rescues that pool resources and identify areas  
where our shelters can work together to reduce euthanasia rates and help keep pets with owners)  
is re-launching their Chicago Dog Campaign. Last year’s campaign was primarily a  
communications campaign aimed at increasing interest in and dispelling myths surrounding bully  
breed and pitbull-type dogs which are filling Chicagoland shelters and foster homes. DCAS is  
no exception. Laura reminded the committee that DCAS has a program where vouchers for free  
spay/neuter are given to owners of pitbull-type dogs.  
This year, as part of the Chicago Dog Campaign re-launch, a new coordinated return-to-home  
effort will kick off to increase the re-homing of these at-risk and often misunderstood dogs. The  
goal of this effort is to get these animals out of shelters and back into homes faster. Participating  
shelters include: DCAS, Chicago Animal Care & Control, Hinsdale Humane, Anti-Cruelty  
Society, South Suburban Humane Society, Evanston Humane Society, among others. Coalition  
groups represent a wide geographic area. These shelters will be joining forces with 24Pet Health  
to launch their new Pet Connect lost & found platform in the Chicagoland area. As part of this  
initiative, partners will hold a 24-hour microchip event on Saturday, June 24th with each shelter  
choosing a time frame to host the event at their shelter.  
The ability to collaborate with other shelters in the Chicagoland area has been very valuable as  
the coalition continues to come up with innovative ways to save more animal lives and keep  
families together.  
June 6th is the new date for the shelter groundbreaking ceremony. Kristie will send a calendar  
invitation to the committee. A presentation will be made at the April committee meeting to  
provide everyone with an update on building construction.  
The date of the Volunteer Appreciation Reception is now Saturday, April 15th and will be held at  
the West Chicago Park District. All committee members are welcome to attend.  
9.  
OLD BUSINESS  
No old business was discussed.  
10.  
11.  
NEW BUSINESS  
No new business was discussed.  
ADJOURNMENT  
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.