HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-19-2008-7aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 19, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. -7ck
SUBJECT: Animal Co-Location at Emergency Human Shelters
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Animal Services
ATTACHMENT(S):
Pet Friendly Shelters Presentation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bob Marotto, Animal Services
968-2287
Clint Osborn, Emergency Services
968-2050
PURPOSE: To update the Board on initial discussions surrounding the possibility of building the
capability to open and manage pet co-location points at emergency shelters in Orange County
and seek feedback and direction from the Board.
BACKGROUND: Pet co-located shelters are emergency shelters that allow humans to stay in
one portion of an emergency shelter and for companion animals to stay in a completely
separate location at the same facility. Animals are not allowed in the human areas (with the
exception of some service animals), but pet owners are able to and usually responsible for
caring for their dogs and cats and other allowed small animals. As a result of the proximity of
pet and pet owner, less staff time is required for animal care although staff remain critical to
establishing and coordinating co-located animal care.
Pet co-location represents a departure from past practice in Orange County and elsewhere.
Under the current practice, animals are separated from their. owners and taken into the care of
the Animal Services staff upon arrival at the emergency shelter. Animals are then safely
boarded and cared for throughout the emergency at the Animal Services Shelter. While many
areas still employ this method, there is growing evidence that a co-location model is preferable.
Co-location benefits are believed to be numerous on the basis of recent national experiences
with such a sheltering configuration. They include increased shelter use by pet owners,
improved shelter experience for evacuees, and improved outcomes for pets that might
otherwise be abandoned during an emergency. Generally, pet co-located shelters are open to
dogs and cats with rabies and other critical vaccinations and small caged mammals and birds;
however, for reasons of human health and safety, they are not open to reptiles or to exotic or
large animals.
At the request of the County Manager, staff from Orange County Animal Services and
Emergency Services initiated discussion of animal co-location at their facilities as part of
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emergency sheltering with representatives of both the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the
Orange County Schools. Mr. Steve Scroggs and Dr. George McFarley each indicated that their
organizations understood the desire to co-locate pets and that they were open to the possibility
of pet co-located shelters. Indeed, each indicated that they would support ongoing investigation
into the process and procedures of opening, managing and demobilizing these operations
during sheltering activities.
Related discussion with representatives of the Red Cross indicate that they are receptive to/
interested in supporting the ongoing investigation into models and standards of pet co-location.
However, further investigation of the shelters will be necessary for the Red Cross, especially
surrounding issues regarding separate HVAC systems for the different shelter areas.
Staff review of pet co-located shelters has determined that the standard delivery model in North
Carolina is the Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailer (CAMET). CAMETS are pre-filled
trailers that include all of the non-perishable items required to open and operate a co-located
facility, e.g., forms and documentation, crates, leashes, and mats and plastics used to protect a
facility.
Currently, the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) and the North
Carolina Division of Agriculture and Consumer Safety (NCDA-CS) are promoting the CAMET
model of pet co-location throughout the state. These agencies are providing technical expertise
in relation to co-location sites and their operation and they have made information available
about the acquisition and cost of CAMET units and their contents. Currently, there are 9
deployed CAMETS with 14 more coming online in 2008 and 12 more scheduled for 2009.
On the basis of the review of evolving practices and discussion with representatives of the
County's school systems, staff believes there are four requirements for pursuing pet co-location
in the coming year. These are:
• Memorandums of Understanding for Red Cross Sheltering will need to be revised to
include a co-location component.
• One or more CAMETS should be acquired by the County to ensure that co-location is an
option in any area disaster and funding possibilities need to be defined and explored.
• Standards of Operation will need to be developed as part of Orange County Emergency
Operations Plan.
• Training including on-site training and practice will be required to ensure effective co-
location in the event of a disaster.
Completing these requirements will require substantial staff time and a reasonable timetable
that could run anywhere from twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months. Each is feasible given the
cooperation of shelter partners provided that pet co-location is supported as an option in
disaster events that affect Orange County and its residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: While no financial commitments need to be made at this time, it should
be apparent that pet co-location entails costs for one or more CAMETs and its content and there
is no guarantee that there will be external funds for the purchase of an outfitted unit of this kind.
Initial discussions suggest that the County's purchase of at least one CAMET is required given
the immediate need for such equipment and supplies, the requirement that a facility be
protected during co-location, and the likelihood that NCEM CAMETS may not be available.
Each CAMET will cost approximately $17,000 and could be funded by general funds and
possibly grant funds as they become available. Staff has not yet identified any grants for the
project, but expects that a fifty-percent (50%) local match be expected for any state or federal
grant applications.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the BOCC provide feedback and
direct staff to pursue pet co-location as an option for emergency sheltering in Orange County.
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