HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 052114Orange County Animal Services
1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-942-PETS (7387)
ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (ASAB)
6:30-8:30 P.M.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: DeWana Anderson, Judy Miller, Caroline Green, Beth Grooms, Michael
Stewart, Michelle Walker (Chair), Suzanne Roy, Aviva Scully
MEMBERS ABSENT: Warren Porter (Vice Chair), Arthur Sprinczeles, Susan Elmore
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto, Animal Services Director
Agenda: Motion to approve agenda was passed unanimously with the addition of an item to
adopt a Certificate of Appreciation for Wendy Stewart for her outstanding volunteer service to
Orange County Animal Services. This item was added to the end of Sarah Fallin’s presentation.
Summary of April 16, 2014 meeting: Reviewed and unanimously approved.
General Public Comments on items not on the agenda: None
Partner Profile—CLAWS, Kindra Mammone, Executive Director
• Kindra Mammone explained that her organization rehabilitates injured native wildlife
and, whenever possible, reintroduces the animals into the wild; their natural habitat.
CLAWS is the only rehabilitation group in Central North Carolina. The animals that can’t
be reintroduced into the wild and live with them permanently go out to schools and
other organizations to educate the public about wildlife. Kindra and her husband
Vincent brought their rehabilitated African Raven and a baby beaver that they are
rehabilitating.
• They have a very active Facebook page and announce when they are going to release an
animal, i.e., a raptor. They average between 50 and 100 calls a day from the public.
• All of CLAWS funding comes through donations and through the fees that they charge
for their school programs. They have volunteers that help them, but Kindra and her
husband do most of the work. OCAS has an arrangement with CLAWS. They do trainings
with OCAS staff on how to handle wildlife. OCAS relies on CLAWS as a primary referral
for unusual questions and callers about wildlife.
• Judy Miller asked how we can help CLAWS and Ms. Mammone said that the best way to
help is to get the word out about CLAWS and their work.
Annual Animal Services Open House—Sarah Fallin
Our Annual Open House will be held on Saturday, June 7th from 12 pm to 4 pm at OCAS. All
members of the Animal Services Advisory Board are invited, as well, as the members of the
BOCC. Trader Joe’s is cooking the hot dogs and veggie dogs and volunteers are bringing 20
dozen cupcakes. CLAWS and SNAP will be attending as well as Carrboro Canines, The Jammers,
$20 Fix and Carrboro police dogs. The Open House kicks off the busiest month of adoptions and
June is Adopt a Cat Month. The facility will be open, as usual. The Open House elevates
awareness of the shelter and creates more visibility for animal services in the community.
Wendy Stewart, a long term volunteer and friend of OCAS is retiring from her job with the
Orange County Schools. ASAB unanimously approved a motion to honor Wendy’s service with a
Certificate of Appreciation. For the past eight years she and Jane V. have conducted food drives
for the shelter. She will receive our Certificate at a surprise assembly for her at Hillsborough
Elementary School on Friday, June 6th.
ASAB Affairs
(A) Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearing
The Committee conducted one Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearing in which the dog got off the
owner’s leash and approached a woman in an aggressive manner and nipped her heel and
upheld the designation. The owner applied for a second appeal to present all the information
but they didn’t do another appeal.
(B) The BOCC appointed Virginia Fit to the current Animal Advocate vacancy at their meeting on
May 20, 2014. Bob contacted Virginia and she was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. We
were waiting for her appointment to schedule a new member orientation with Beth Grooms,
Caroline Green, Arthur Sprinczeles and Virginia Fit.
(C) Upcoming ASAB Vacancies – Next month will be Suzanne Roy’s last meeting and the Animal
Advocate position that she has held will be open. The ASAB would like to invite those who have
applied for this position to our August meeting.
Old Business
(A) Free-Roaming Cat Task Force Update
DeWana updated the Board on the Task Force. There have been several listening sessions; one
to which community caregivers were invited, one to which wildlife experts were invited. All the
discussions were informative. Some of the salient points that have emerged are that we need
more emphasis on: public education, the need to vaccinate, a means to identify free roaming
cats, the need to keep our pet cats inside, the need to collaborate with community partners
and the need to emphasize and encourage spay/neuter.
(B) Unified Animal Ordinance Update
No update on the Unified Animal Ordinance. Bob said that we need to push it forward and may
try to meet with the Interim County Manager before he leaves and identify the changes that
need to be made.
(C) Support for Kids4Kindness School Program
The Board discussed how to show our support for The Kids4Kindness Humane Education
program. Kids4Kindness Program would like the support of the BOCC before going before the
Orange County School Board. ASAB unanimously approved the motion to prepare a resolution
to support the Kids4Kindness school program. Michelle Walker will draft a resolution and share
with ASAB to edit. She will tie it together with mission of Animal Services to address pet
overpopulation countywide.
(D) Outside Agency Funding Process – Questions came up about the process. Bob reached out
to Tonya Walton, the Budget Analyst for the County. She will come and give us information
about how the process work.
New Business
(A) Animal Services Updates & Information—Michelle addressed the issue of information items
vs. agenda or action items and our role as an advisory board to the animal shelter. Some ASAB
members wanted more information about how OCAS screens potential adopters and how they
provide education to new adopters. Bob shared the current policy with us and the information
sheets that are given to adopters. Suzanne suggested that a small bulleted handout be created
to give to adopters about cat and dog care. Bob shared that the Shelter does not currently
screen potential adopters and there is support for this policy through the ASPCA and other
humane organizations.
Bob shared the current statistics on rabies in Orange County and his concern about budgetary
decisions in Raleigh that are slated to affect our Spay/Neuter reimbursements from the State.
Ongoing and Upcoming Events
• Animal Services Annual Open House, noon to 4:00 p.m, Saturday, June 7th, 2014
• Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Clinic, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June
14th, 2014, Animal Services Center
• June is Adopt A Cat Month
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Name of Minute Taker: Aviva Scully, Secretary