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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 02-21-2017 - 6-c - Resolution Acknowledging February 28, 2017 as Spay Neuter Day USA in Orange County, North Carolina 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 21, 2017 Action Agenda Item No. 6-c SUBJECT: Resolution Acknowledging February 28, 2017 as Spay Neuter Day USA in Orange County, North Carolina DEPARTMENT: Animal Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Spay Neuter Day Resolution Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services, 2016 Annual Community Spay/Neuter Report 919.968.2287 Sarah Fallin, Program Coordinator, Animal Services, 919.942.7387, ext. 224 Maureane Hoffman, Chair, Animal Services Advisory Board, 919.286.6925 PURPOSE: To officially resolve that February 28, 2017 is "Spay Neuter Day USA" in Orange County. BACKGROUND: Animal Services staff and the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) recommend that the BOCC adopt a resolution designating February 28, 2017 as "Spay Neuter Day USA" in Orange County. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has nationally designated the last Tuesday of each February as "International Spay Day". In Orange County, the issue of pet overpopulation is a priority. 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 for Orange County, North Carolina. Fundamental to this plan is targeting spays and neuters in our county to decrease the rate of reproduction of dogs and cats, thereby containing the number of animals that must be sheltered and the costs of caring for those animals. The final stage of this plan addresses the presence of and concerns raised by free-roaming cats in Orange County. Accordingly, staff and the ASAB recently prepared a plan called Managing Free- Roaming Cats in Orange County, North Carolina. A spay neuter campaign for sterilizing free- roaming cats will be kicked off in the coming years. Significant developments for calendar year 2016 include: • Spaying and neutering a total of 327 cats and dogs on the basis of the partnership between Animal Services and AnimalKind; • Spaying and neutering 304 dogs and cats belonging to clients of Orange County's Department of Social Services (DSS) on a "no pay" basis; 2 • Helping to reduce the number of animals admitted to Orange County's Animal Services Center to fewer than 3000 in 2016 as well as 2015. Animal Services is again also working with Spay Neuter Assistance Program of North Carolina to offer four or more Spay Neuter Days each year. Up to 30 cats and dogs from County households receiving public assistance can be spayed or neutered at each of these events. The first of these events is being held on February 28 in conjunction with Spay Neuter Day USA. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The resolution has no financial impact. Events and outreach done in conjunction with the February 28 Spay Neuter Day involve appropriated funds in the County's Community Spay and Neuter Fund. The FY2017-18 operating budget for the Community Spay and Neuter Fund is $64,600 and there is a fund balance of approximately $25,943.76. 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. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated with this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board adopt the proposed resolution and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. RES-2017-010 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SPAY NEUTER DAY USA 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, North Carolina 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, the Department of Social Services, and Spay Neuter Assistance Program of North Carolina to offer "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 2017"; Now, therefore be it RESOLVED by Orange County that February 28, 2017, is declared "Spay Neuter Day USA", and the Board of County Commissioners 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 21th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2017. Mark Dorosin, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 4 Animal Services Spay Neuter Program Making sense & saving cents in Orange County! Animal Services 7 '� m IAO February 2017 5 Targeted S The Theory Targeted Spay / Neuter: [Spay/Neuter that would otherwise not be done] Fewer litters; fewer "surplus pets" Lowered animal admissions Less euthanasia Controlling costs of animal services 6 Animals Admitted 2005- 2016 Animals Admitted: 2005-2016 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 Ir 0 - ■2005-2009 Average ■2010-2014 Average ❑2015-2016 Average 02016 Animal Outcomes 2005-2016 Animal Outcomes: 2005-2016 2500 2100 1700 1300 900 1 500 100 Live Release Euthanized ■2005-2009 Average ■2010-2014 Average 2015-2016 Average ■2016 "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 8 What It Is & How It Works Animal Services Offering low-cost Targeted Spay/Neuter: Animal in a segment spay/neuter options to Identifying g g Licensing those identified of the community Differential that would with a critical need for populations a /neuter service Sterilized Pets - $10 otherwise not spay spay /neuter Pets - $30 and neuter t eir pets Difference = $20 ,nd & Department of An I�iimal p Social Services The Fix Community Spay/Neuter Fund (NC Reimbursement Program 9 Targeted Spays and Neuters 2008-2016 500 450 400 350 300 358 343 304 250 327 200 150 198 100 102 50 0 - Total Spays & Neuters DSS Spays & Neuters 2008-2009 Average ■2010-2014 Average 2015-2016 Average 2016 2016 HIGHLIGHTS 0 Initiatives & Successes r i • Four Spay/Neuter Day events held in partnership with SNAP-NC r` • Incentive program started to encourage participation. • Waived the pet licensing fee for sterilized pets owned by Orange County DSS clients and encouraged the towns within the county to do the same. • Continued the reduction of animals admitted to Orange County Animal Services • Under 3,000 admitted for the past 3 years - „ • 2016 showed the lowest intake yet at 2,877 Opportunities & Challenges • Increasing the number of sterilized dogs and cats to 450 • Continuing to find new ways to reach our targeted population to increase the number of participants in our program. • Overcoming challenges presented by changes in the eligibility criteria of the NC Spay Neuter Reimbursement Program • Our program kept a lower income requirement and waived copays 11 Benefits & Observations • Improves Animal Services Operations — Control costs — Make staffing numbers work • Brings People Together Partnerships ` — Common ground — Community Effort! ap • Models Public Policy y — Self-funded program ,y _ — Demonstrable results r_ — NCACC 2010 Program Award • Promotes Responsible Pet Ownership