HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 101712 Orange County Animal Services
1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-942-PETS (7387)
ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (ASAB)
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: Kris Bergstrand (Chair), Kate Doom-Patel, Susan Elmore, Judy Miller, Suzanne Roy
(Vice-Chair), Aviva Scully, Michelle Walker, Lynn White
MEMBERS ABSENT: Donna Bravo, Michael Stewart, Jen Merritt
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director)
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Agenda: Motion to approve agenda with additional item under ASAB Updates to discuss Board of
County Commissioners work session passed and agenda unanimously approved
Summary of August 15, 2012 meeting: Reviewed and unanimously approved
General Public Comments on items not on the agenda: None
Partner Profile—Triangle Wildlife Rehabilitation clinic
(A) Presentation by Pamela Bayne, Executive Director
Ms. Bayne described the organization’s services provided under its contract with Orange
County, including taking in and rehabilitating wildlife and addressing safety concerns
(B) Upcoming Partner Profiles: Kim Alboumm from HSUS discussing topics including puppy mils in
NCand commercial dog breeding legislation.
ASAB Updates
(A) November meeting date
November meeting was rescheduled from November 21, 2012 to November 28, 2012 by general
consensus.
(B) At Large (Non-municipal) Vacancy
Lori Lumpkin’s resignation leaves an at large position available on the ASAB. Motion to receive a
list of applicants from staff and invitations for applicants to attend at January ASAB meeting
passed unanimously.
(C) Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeals Committee: No hearings since the last ASAB meeting
(D) Work Session for County Commissioners
Bob Marotto reported that the Work Session involved discussion of permitting kennel
operations in Orange County. Specifically, whether large commercial kennel operations should
be allowed in rural buffer and if so, whether they should have standards for consistency with
surrounding uses. It was suggested that the ASAB be involved in this discussion. There was
further discussion of Orange County ordinance provisions regarding commercial dog breeding
operations, which may also involve input from the ASAB.
Old Business
(A) Meeting with Agricultural Preservation Board Regarding Nuisance Animal Noise Report
At meeting on September 24, 2012, Bob Marotto, ASAB Chair Kris Bergstrand and ASAB
subcommittee members, Judy Miller, Suzanne Roy, and Michael Stewart presented report and
conclusion of the subcommittee not to recommend any change to the ordinance concerning
nuisance animal noise. Ag. Preservation Board Officers and DEAPR staff discussed the possibility
of talking with the County’s new Public Affairs Director about roviding information to potential
home buyersegarding the prevalence of agricultural land use in the county. Attendees also
discussed potential cooperation in the event of emergencies involving large farm animals.
Susan Elmore acknowledged that complaints related to agricultural use may increase as the
rural part of the county becomes more populated. Kate Doom-Patel suggested the possibility of
distributing information to realtors in the county regarding prevalent agricultural land use.
(B) Animal Identification Follow-Up Items
ASAB reviewed Margaret Heath’s communication to BOCC regarding animal identification and
BOCC Chair B. Pelissier’s response to Margaret Heath.
Friends of Orange County Animal Services (FOCAS) offered to provide $100 worth of fillable tags.
Bob Marotto suggested that it is feasible to sell the tags for a fee to fund acquisition of
additional tags, which would need to go through a budget request. He indicated that this option
is preferable to mechanical engravers, which are cost-prohibitive, or additional data entry by
staff. Board members agreed by general consensus that the Department should take this
approach.
(C) Cat Sheltering
No updates since Progress Report III (summer workload)
Community member Margaret Heath presented article entitled “A Gentle Kind of Cat Care:
Reducing anxiety, frustration, and URI in shelter cats”
Community member Deanna Rowan sought any feedback on information presented at the last
meeting regarding cat colony rooms. Ms. Rowan emphasized her concern for giving space in
colony rooms to cats that have been at the shelter longer.
Community member Bette Smith commented favorably on the communal cat housing at
Paws4Ever and suggested visitation of other facilities in evaluating use of cat colony rooms.
Community members Wendy Long, Walt Turner, and Joan Danaher voiced their support for the
views expressed by other community members.
Kris Bergstrand noted that cat colonies likely will not be a priority for the ASAB and shelter staff
in the next couple of years due to other pressing priorities, including a potential ordinance
amendment addressing feral cats. She also described her conversations with UC Davis Vet
School Shelter program vet Kate Hurley who advised that keeping more cats longer is not always
best for the cats, and that colony rooms, when used, should be limited to 4 cats. Lynn White
noted that the shelter currently has colony rooms and acknowledged concerns about spread of
disease. Suzanne Roy acknowledged that as long as animals are euthanized for space reasons,
there is room for improvement. Bob Marotto emphasized the overall importance of population
management in a shelter setting and its impacts on total animal placements.
New Business
(A) Animal Recovery and Sterilization Draft Report and Proposed Recommendations
Lynn White presented task force report, which recommends (1) requiring microchipping of all
reclaimed animals at owner’s expense ($25) and (2) tiered impounding fees based on
reproductive status and number of impoundments.
Judy Miller stated that sterilization of impounded animals is preferable. Susan Elmore noted
that the report proposes increasing the impoundment fee from $10 to $25 and also mentioned
that Buncombe County requires sterilization. Suzanne Roy suggested it would be helpful to
know the effect of practices in Buncombe County on intakes and euthanasia. Members of the
task force noted administrative difficulties of tracking a deposit and noted that a refund of fees
would not sufficiently incentivize sterilization, which costs more than the refund. Bob Marotto
suggested increasing the difference between fees for sterilized and non-sterilized animals to
$100 for third, fourth, and subsequent recoveries.
Motion to postpone vote to November or January passed with Kris Bergstrand opposed.
(B) 2012 ASAB Work Plan
Bob Marotto and members of the Board made suggestions for items to include and developed a
plan for drafting the plan prior to the next meeting.
(C) 2012 Officer Election Process (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary)
Aviva Scully will contact other members to determine interest in Board positions in order to
provide a slate of candidates prior to Nov meeting if possible.
Meeting adjourned at: 9:30 PM
Name of Minute Taker: Michelle Walker