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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-17-2015 - 4bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 17, 2015 Action Agenda Item No. 4 -b SUBJECT: Resolution Acknowledging February 24, 2015 as Spay Neuter Day in Orange County, North Carolina DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: No ATTACHMENT(S): Spay Neuter Day Resolution February 2015 Annual Community Spay Neuter Report INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services 968 -2287 Sarah Fallin, Program Director, Animal Services, 942 -7387, ext. 224 Michelle Walker, Chair, Animal Services Advisory Board, 919 - 448 -8029 PURPOSE: To officially resolve that February 24, 2015 is "Spay Neuter Day" in Orange County. BACKGROUND: Animal Services staff and the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) have recommended that the BOCC adopt a resolution designating February 24, 2015 as "Spay Neuter Day" in Orange County. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has nationally designated the last Tuesday of each February as "International Spay Day ". Spay Day USA was originally created in 1995 by the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL), and in 2006, HSUS assumed responsibility for Spay Day USA. Since its creation, participants have spayed or neutered more than a million animals, preventing millions and millions of potential births. As a result, millions of taxpayer dollars have been saved that may have otherwise been needed to provide animal control and sheltering for the offspring of these animals. In Orange County, the issue of pet overpopulation is a priority. Working together, Animal Services staff and the ASAB prepared a five -year strategic plan on the basis of best practices in the field of animal welfare and public policy: Managing Pet Overpopulation: A Strategic Plan of Orange County, North Carolina (see http:// www. orangecountync .gov /animalservices /spayneuter.asp). Fundamental to this plan is targeting spay and neuter in the County to decrease the rate of reproduction of dogs and cats and thereby contain the number of animals that must be sheltered and the costs of caring for those animals. Since the creation of the County's Community Spay and Neuter Fund, Animal Services staff has worked with the ASAB to establish a proactive and cost - effective spay and neuter program. Significant developments in this area in calendar year 2014 included: • Spaying and neutering a total of 473 cats and dogs on the basis of the partnership between Animal Services and AnimalKind (which offers The $20 Fix); • Spaying and neutering 289 dogs and cats belonging to clients of the Department of Social Service (DSS) on a "no pay" basis, due to DSS involvement in this program. • Helping to reducing the number of animals admitted to Orange County's Animal Services Center from an annual average of 4,315 for 2005 through 2009, and an annual average of 3,419 for 2010 through 2013, and down to 2,939 in 2014, which is a record low for Orange County Animal Services. As part of this year's effort, Animal Services is working with Spay Neuter Assistance Program -North Carolina to spay and neuter up to 35 cats and dogs from families who receive services from DSS on "Spay Neuter Day ". In addition, Animal Services will continue ongoing outreach efforts. Outreach will consist of themed advertisements to promote the benefits of spaying and neutering pets and the availability of no cost or low cost spaying and neutering for pets belonging to qualifying Orange County households. These will be paired with media releases to further inform the public of the problem of pet overpopulation and help offer effective and low -cost solutions to County residents who may not otherwise have the means to spay and neuter their pets. A primary goal is to sterilize these animals before they have the opportunity to procreate and add to the number of "surplus" pets that enter the County's Animal Services Center during the summer months when the animal shelter population peaks. In 2015, Animal Services will continue to use the "Beat the Heat" theme from January through March to try to get ahead of "kitten" season and prevent unwanted litters. Staff has secured a rental billboard facing US Highway 70 West in Hillsborough, NC for 9 weeks starting January 5, 2015 and running through March 12, 2015. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The resolution has no financial impact. Events and outreach occurring in conjunction with this year's Spay Neuter Day involve appropriated funds in the County's Community Spay and Neuter Fund. The FY 2014 -2015 operating budget for the Community Spay and Neuter Fund is $66,350 and there is a fund balance of approximately $79,140. These funds primarily come from the $20 differential cost for licenses for a reproductive cat or dog versus a spayed or neutered cat or dog, combined with reimbursement from the North Carolina Spay Neuter Reimbursement Program, and significant donations from the public. Available funds will continue to be used to support and promote targeted spays and neuter that help contain the costs for County animal services and reduce shelter admissions and the number of animals euthanized as a means of population control. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board adopt the proposed resolution and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. RES- 2015 -009 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SPAY NEUTER DAY RESOLUTION 3 WHEREAS, cats and dogs provide companionship to and share the homes of thousands of individuals in Orange County; and WHEREAS, the problem of pet overpopulation costs the taxpayers of Orange County hundreds of thousands of dollars annually through animal control and sheltering programs aimed at coping with unwanted and homeless cats and dogs; and WHEREAS, humane societies and shelters throughout the country have to euthanize approximately four million cats and dogs each year, although many of them are healthy and adoptable, due to the lack of critical resources such as money, space, and good adoptive homes; and WHEREAS, the Animal Services Advisory Board and the Animal Services Department have made correcting pet overpopulation a priority, and prepared Managing Pet Overpopulation: A Strategic Plan for Orange County and Managing Free - Roaming Cats in Orange County, North Carolina; and WHEREAS, spaying and neutering cats and dogs, among other animal companions, has been shown to drastically reduce overpopulation; and WHEREAS, Animal Services has partnered with AnimalKind and the Department of Social Services to offer "low cost" and "no cost" spay and neuter to households who are economically disadvantaged or who receive public assistance; and WHEREAS, veterinarians, animal care and control organizations, national and local animal welfare organizations, and private citizens have joined together again this year to advocate and support the spaying and neutering of companion animals on "Spay Day USA 2015"; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of Commissioners that February 24, 2015 is declared "Spay Neuter Day" and the Board calls upon the people of the County to observe the day by having their own cats or dogs spayed or neutered or by sponsoring the spaying or neutering of another person's cat or dog. THIS THE 17th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2015. Earl McKee, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners Animal Services Spay Neuter Program Making sense & saving cents in Orange County! Animal Services February 2015 M Targeted Spay &Neuter: The Theory Targeted Spay / Neuter: [Spay /Neuter that would otherwise not be done] 4 Opp t. r -t Fewer litters; fewer Lowered animal admissions "surplus pets" Less euthanasia Controlling costs of animal services 6 Animals Admitted 2005- 2014 Animals Admitted: 2005 -2014 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 - Total Intakes Total Animals In Litters 2005 -2009 Average ■ 2010 -2014 Average 2014 7 Animal Outcomes 2005 -2014 Animal Outcomes: 2005-2014 2500 z000 2162 2154 1500 1000 500 Live Release Euthanized 2005 -2009 Average ■ 2010- 2014 Average 2014 "Live Release" animals include animals that were recovered by their owner, adopted, or transferred to a placement partner organization (rescue group) Animal Services Spay Neuter What. It Is &How It Works Animal Services Targeted Spay /Neuter: Identifying a segment of the community with a critical need for spay /neuter service Department of Social Services Animal Licensing Differential Sterilized Pets - $10 Unsterilized Pets - $30 Difference = $20 u Offering low -cost spay /neuter options to those identified populations that would otherwise not spay and neuter t eir pets 1 Community Spay /Neuter Fund (NC Reimbursement Program) AnimalKind & The $20 Fix 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 9 Targeted Spays and Neuters 2008 -2014 Total Spays & Neuters ■ 2008 -2009 Average 2010 -2014 Av 350 289 2014 HIGHLIGHTS 4W 40 Y Initiatives & Successes • Increased the number of Spay /Neuter day special events • Distribution of applications at DSS's Toy Campaign • Two billboards advertised our "Beat the Heat" Campaign for 7 weeks Opportunities & Challenges • Increasing the number of sterilized dogs and cats to 500 -plus • Growing the number of residents who participate on the basis of income public assistance • Reduction in amount received from North Carolina Spay /Neuter Reimbursement Program • Updated methods of communication for DSS clients have limited the amount of Spay /Neuter information able to be sent to targeted population Benefits &Observations • Improves Animal Services Operations — Control costs — Make staffing numbers work • Brings People Together — Partnerships — Common ground — Community Effort! • Models Public Policy — Self - funded program — Demonstrable results — NCACC 2010 Program Award • Promotes Responsible Pet Ownership 11 Zil