During the December 12, 2011 San Saba City Council meeting, Scott Meador, Animal Control Officer for the city, presented a slide program documenting the increase in confirmed rabies cases within central Texas and specifically within the San Saba city limits. Mr. Meador cited statistics provided through the Region 7 Texas Department of State Health Services “World Rabies Day Conference” held September 28 in Temple. He established that Texas, and Region 7 covering central Texas in particular, was leading the nation in confirmed rabid animal cases. He further noted that given this years trend, confirmed rabies cases are expected to increase by more than 170% from 2010 to 2011.Mr. Meador notes “These alarming facts have established significant concern regarding how to contain or eliminate the threat of rabies spreading through our city. It has prompted the need to form a Citizens Rabies Task Force (CRTF). This group will meet to develop recommendations that will be presented at the January 10th City Council meeting."Mr. Meador continues, “The single most significant animal group providing the greatest potential threat to the safety and well being of our citizens and domestic pets is our feral cat population. This growing rabies threat requires we address the non registered, non vaccinated cat population prevalent in San Saba. The Texas Department of State Health Services has indicated that de-population is a primary form of containment and elimination of this potential threat and provides a method to humanely control the high risk animals that are most capable of spreading the rabies virus.”“Current San Saba city ordinances require all domestic pet owners within the city limits to have their pets registered with the city (annual $10.00 fee), and vaccinated against rabies.($13.00 locally). The ordinances also provide for protection from stray, at-large or nuisance animals, including cats. Even with these ordinances, our city continues to have areas with large nonmanaged cat populations. Individuals who currently feed or care for feral cats are at significant risk of rabies exposure in addition to facing possible fines for non compliance with the local ordinances.”"Forming the CRTF will give the city council members ‘citizen directed input and suggestions’. The CRTF will be a seven (7) member panel comprised of Mr. Meador, Chief of Police Ray Riggs, and five members of the local community. Several have already volunteered to be a part of the group but there remains room for additional interested volunteers to complete the panel. Our local Veterinarians Dr. Key and Dr. Mapel will be involved as consultants providing support as needed. If you or someone you know is interested in serving on the CRTF, please contact Mr. Meador by calling 325-372-DOGS (3647), or emailing him at acosansaba@gmail.com. The whole process will require no more than two meetings to be held between now and the date of the next city council meeting January 10th”.The first CRTF meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 28th at 10:00 AM and the second CRTF meeting will be held January 5th also at 10:00AM. Both will be conducted at the police department headquarters located behind and adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce offices on Wallace. As you can see there is a very short time line on this due to urgency regarding the concern. Mr. Meador is asking for your response this week from anyone interested in being a part of the task force.He finished by saying “Pet ownership is an active, involved and in some cases costly process. Decisions have already been made to de-populate the feral cats in our city, now is the time for interested pet owners to help formulate a humane plan to do so. I realize this is a busy time through the Christmas Holiday, but it is imperative a plan be put together as quickly as possible to assure the safety and well being of our community. Please contact me as soon as possible to confirm there are still vacancies on the task force, the positions are being filled quickly.”