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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 4-a - Resolution Acknowledging February 27, 2018, as Spay Neuter Day in Orange CountyORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 6, 2018 Action Agenda Item No. 4 -a SUBJECT: Resolution Acknowledging February 27, 2018 as Spay Neuter Day in Orange Countv DEPARTMENT: Animal Services ATTACHMENT(S): Spay Neuter Day Resolution 2017 Annual Community Spay /Neuter Report 1 INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services, 968 -2287 Sarah Fallin, Program Coordinator, Animal Services, 919 - 932 -4966 Maureane Hoffman, Chair, Animal Services Advisory Board, 919 - 493 -2999 PURPOSE: To officially resolve that February 27, 2018 is "Spay Neuter Day" in Orange County and briefly review two new initiatives in the County's Community Spay and Neuter Program. BACKGROUND: Animal Services staff and the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) recommended that the BOCC adopt a resolution designating February 27, 2018 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 ". 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 for Orange County, North Carolina. Fundamental to this plan is targeting spays and neuters in the 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 is to address free roaming cats in Orange County. Accordingly, staff and the ASAB prepared a plan called Managing Free - Roaming Cats in Orange County, North Carolina. A central component of this plan is to more effectively sterilize these (and other) cats in order to reduce their numbers over time. Significant developments for calendar year 2017 include: • Spaying and neutering a total of 418 cats and dogs on the basis of the County's partnership with AnimalKind and Spay Neuter Assistance Program - North Carolina; • Spaying and neutering 303 dogs and cats belonging to clients of the Department of Social Service (DSS) on a "no pay" basis; and PIA • Helping to control the number of animals admitted by Orange County's Animal Services Center which was only 2,740 in 2017, an all -time low. Two new efforts beginning in 2017 and expected to grow in 2018 deserve special mention. One is Orange County's ability to make subsidized spay and neuter for cats and dogs available to more residents than ever before. Orange County Animal Services received a grant in the amount of $16,500 from the new Margaret T. Petrie Spaying and Neutering Foundation to cover the cost of spay and neuter for animals belonging to residents whose household income is between 200 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Previously, 200 percent was the ceiling for income -based qualification. The other new effort is sterilization of cats from farms and stables in more rural parts of Orange County. With a $5,000 grant from the Triad Foundation in Ithaca, New York, Animal Services has created a Working (Barn) Cat Program that not only sterilizes but vaccinates, microchips and licenses participating felines for free. As a result of outreach involving Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Preservation Board, among others, Animal Services was able to sterilize 39 cats from 3 farms during the last quarter of 2017 and hopes to see similar or greater impact in the coming months. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The resolution has no financial impact. Events and outreach efforts in conjunction with this year's Spay Neuter Day involve funds already in the County's Community Spay and Neuter Fund. The FY2017 -18 operating budget for the Community Spay and Neuter Fund is $60,850 and there is a fund balance of approximately $62,771. These funds primarily come from the $20 differential license fee for reproductive cats and dogs, combined with reimbursement from the North Carolina Spay Neuter Reimbursement Program, significant donations from the public and grants awarded to Animal Services. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated with this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board receive a brief update of new initiatives and adopt the proposed resolution and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. RES -2018 -005 K 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 community partners including AnimalKind, the Department of Social Services and Spay Neuter Assistant Program - North Carolina 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 2018 "; Now, therefore be it RESOLVED by Orange County that February 27, 2018 is declared "Spay Neuter Day ", 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 6t" DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2018. Mark Dorosin, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners Animal Services Spay Neuter Program Making sense & saving cents in Orange County! Animal Services February 2018 C! 5 Targeted Spay &Neuter: The Theory Targeted Spay / Neuter: [Spay /Neuter that may not otherwise not be done] �, Fewer litters; fewer "surplus pets" Lowered animal admissions Less euthanasia Controlling costs of animal services Animal Services Spay Neuter What It Is &How It Works Targeted Spay /Neuter: Identifying a segment of the community with a critical need for spay /neuter services Animal Services R Animal Offering low -cost services Licensing to residents that may not g Differential otherwise be able to spay Sterilized Pets - $10 Unsterilized Pets - $30 DSS and other Difference = $20 community partners 1 Community Spay /Neuter Fund and neuter their pets Funding provided by pet licensing differential, state reimbursements, donations and grants. Spay /Neuter Program [currently utilizing SNAP - \ NC and Animal Kind] 7 New Developments • Growing spay and neuter in the County: Thanks to a grant of $16,500 from the Margo T. Petrie Foundation, we have been able to make free spay and neuter services available to more county residents than ever before. They are now available to residents with a household income of up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty level rather than only 200 percent as well as residents who receive public assistance. • Working (Barn) Cat Program: With a $5,000 grant from the Triad Foundation made via Friends of Orange County Animal Services, we launched the Working (Barn) Cat program as part of a broader effort to more humanely manage free - roaming cats. This program helps county residents have working cats spayed or neutered, vaccinated, licensed and microchippped at no charge. a . Orange Don't delay! Spay or Neuter TODAY! r^i[Infu Now he /p;h ' 9 MORE prate e .0 o to S 9 Couht re Pay & Neuter sideNts Pets! i For more information) please contact Sarah Fallin at 919 -932 -4966, or I. sfaNin @orangecountync.gov FFill out our inquiry form IIM M.ORANGICOUNTYNG. GOY/ DIPARTMENTSIANIMALSERVICESISPAY NIUTIR.PHP According to US Census data, there are 51,880 households in Orange County We found that approximately 22,599 of those households had incomes at or below 200% of the poverty guideline. These are covered by our regular S/N program. An additional 12,937 households have incomes between 200% and 400% of the poverty guideline. These households are the target for the new grant- funded program. Using figures from the American Veterinary Medical Association and this census data, we estimate there to be 32,023 cats and dogs living in Orange County in our target demographic of 200 -400 %. OBFMF WORKING BARN CAT PROGRAM • Mother cats with unweaned kittens under f weeks old should not be spayed. • Cat's ear will be clipped for identification of spay or neuter Call 919-932-4966 or email sfa llin ora►ngecoun ncgov ,4Wp V for Froof s 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 Animals Admitted 2005- 2017 2017 10 Total Intakes Total Animals In Litters ■ 2005 -2009 Average ■ 2010 -2014 Average ■ 2015 -2017 Average 2400 1900 1400 900 400 Animal Outcomes 2005-2017 ,in 17 11 Live Release Euthanized ■ 2005 -2009 Average ■ 2010- 2014 Average 2015 -2017 Average "Live Release" animals include animals that were recovered by their owner, adopted, or transferred to a placement partner organization (rescue group) 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 `m Targeted Spays and Neuters 2008 -2016 Total Spays & Neuters DSS Spays & Neuters ■ 2008 -2009 Average ■ 2010 -2014 Average 2015 -2017 Average 2017 fOINA, 2016 2015 Sterilized Spay /Neuter Program 150 154 221 13 50 100 150 200 250 Opportunities & Challenges • Increasing the number of sterilized dogs and cats to 500+ via enhanced communication and new initiatives. • Outreach to virtually all sectors of the community about the availability of free spay and neuter services. • Growing the Working (Barn) Cat Program and expanding the program to include other cats that are loosely affiliated with residents. r • Encouraging community involvement and support in managing free roaming cats in new ways using spay and neuter services. Sustaining financial support from multiple sources to ensure that Community Spay and Neuter is an ongoing and growing part of Animal Services X-i A A-40