HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-16-2016 - 6-f - Resolution Acknowledging February 23, 2016 as Spay Neuter Day in Orange County, North Carolina 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 16, 2016
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-f
SUBJECT: Resolution Acknowledging February 23, 2016 as Spay Neuter Day in Orange
County, North Carolina
DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services
Spay Neuter Day Resolution 968-2287
Sarah Fallin, Program Coordinator,
Animal Services, 942-7387, ext. 224
Warren Porter, Chair, Animal Services
Advisory Board, 919-612-8992
PURPOSE: To officially resolve that February 23, 2016 is "Spay Neuter Day" in Orange
County.
BACKGROUND: Animal Services staff and the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB)
recommend that the BOCC adopt a resolution designating February 23, 2016 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." 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 and have been following dynamic strategic plan
developed on the basis of best practices in the field of animal welfare and public policy.
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. More recently this plan has been elaborated to
incorporate a concentrated focus on "free roaming cats" as a significant segment of that plan for
the coming years.
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.
(Annual reports including the report for 2015 are available
at http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/animalservices/spayneuter.php). Significant
developments in calendar year 2015 included:
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• Spaying and neutering a total of 390 cats and dogs in total, on the basis of the
partnership between Animal Services and AnimalKind and Spay Neuter Assistance
Patrol—North Carolina. Spaying and neutering 383 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 3323 for the period 2010-2014 (and 4315 for the
period 2005-2009). In 2015, animal intakes numbered 2967, the second consecutive
year they have been under 3000.
As part of this year's effort, Animal Services is working with Spay Neuter Assistance Program—
North Carolina to offer a subsidized spay and neuter services in conjunction with Spay Neuter
Day. This is one of four spay neuter days scheduled for 2016. At each of these events, it is
possible to spay and neuter up to 35 cats and dogs from families who receive services from
DSS. In addition, Animal Services will continue ongoing outreach efforts. Outreach will consist
of themed advertisements to promote the benefits of spaying and neutering pets, the availability
of no cost or low cost spaying and neutering for pets belonging to qualifying Orange County
households, and the need to proactively address the problem of pet overpopulation in this and
other communities.
Staff takes take this opportunity to note that in the last session, the General Assembly made
some significant changes in the NC Spay Neuter Reimbursement Program. Most significant
from the standpoint of Orange County's efforts are fairly drastic changes in eligibility criteria:
namely, excluding public assistance altogether and reducing household income from less than
300 percent to less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Notwithstanding the reductions
in reimbursements that will occur in this and subsequent years, staff and the ASAB remain
committed to working with the BOCC and county residents to sustain a program at the level
needed to continue to make a big difference in Orange County. Doing so means providing fully
subsidized spay and neuter services to county residents that receive public assistance or have
an income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The resolution has no financial impact. Events and outreach in
conjunction with this year's "Spay Neuter Day" involve appropriated funds in the County's
Community Spay and Neuter Fund. The FY2015-16 operating budget for the Community Spay
and Neuter Fund is $64,150 and the fund currently has an unassigned balance of approximately
$66,000. 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 significant
donations from the public, and the reimbursements received in past years from the North
Carolina Spay Neuter Reimbursement Program. 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.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following two Orange County Social Justice Goals are
applicable to this agenda item:
• GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
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The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or
ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic
status.
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board adopt the proposed resolution
and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution.
RES-2016-013 4
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
SPAY NEUTER DAY RESOLUTION
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 2016."
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of Commissioners that
February 23, 2016 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 16th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2016.
Earl McKee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners