HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 091907Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB)
Approved Minutes for September 19, 2007 Meeting
Present ASAB Members: Daniel Textoris, Ross Oglesbee, Pat Sanford, Susan Elmore, Jean Connerat
Austin, James Kramer, Carolina Green, Dewana Anderson Bonnie Norwood and Moses Carey.
Absent ASAB Members: Kristine Bergstrand and Tracy Carroll
Others in Attendance: Animal Services Director Bob Marotto, Animal Control Manager Irene Paul,
Animal Shelter Manager Jessica Allison and Administrative Assistant Paula Ragan.
Public Members Present: Suzanne Roy
Welcome and Opening Comments—ASAB ViceChair, Ross Oglesbee
Motion was made by Susan Elmore and seconded by James Kraemer to approve the Agenda dated
September 19, 2007. VOTE: Unanimous
Motion was made by Bonnie Norwood and seconded by Susan Elmore to approve the Minutes dated
August 15, 2007. VOTE: Unanimous
General Public Comment—None
Unfinished Business
Final Report: ASAB Keeping of Wild Animal Ordinance Amendment Task Force –Ross Oglesbee
presented the “Final Report”, dated August 29, 200. She reported that the Task Force had met for a total
of four times and determined that it would only consider changes in relation to North Carolina native
species and rehabilitation. However, after the meetings the Task Force concluded that there should be no
change in the current ordinance. The committee does want to go on record for saying that they believe
that Orange County should provide support for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and education only to those
organizations that have the space, onsite expertise, budget and other resources to humanely and
appropriately rehabilitate, and educate the public about, native North Carolina wildlife. This could be
done in a form of a multicounty wildlife cooperative. Motion was made by James Kramer and seconded
by Bonnie Norwood to pass the Final Report dated August 29, 2007, to the BOCC. VOTE: Unanimous
Report and Proposal for Orange County’s Tethering Committee Ordinance Amendment—Bob Marotto
and Irene Paul provided the ASAB members with a Required Kennel Space Recommendation Memo dated
September 10 th , 2007, that proposed a tier system for such requirements based upon their review of such
restrictions in other jurisdictions. Staff prepared this memo in response to a request at the last ASAB
meeting that more information be made available about minimum kennel sizes in relation to any proposal
to limit tethering. Motion was made by Pat Sanford and seconded by Susan Elmore to accept the
Tethering Committee Ordinance Amendment Recommendation with the attached Memo and forward it to
the County Manager for recommendation to the BOCC.VOTE: Unanimous
Pet Overpopulation Subcommittee—Caroline Green reported that the committee met in August to
discuss its purpose and develop its charge. A summary describing that information was provided to the
Approved ASAB Minutes—
September 19th, 2007
Page 2
Members for review. Caroline asks that if anyone has any suggestions or comments to please send those
to her or Pat Sanford.
Animal Placement and Fostering Updates—Jessica Allison gave a brief summary of accompanying
documents on the foster program and sheltering activities for the months of July and August.She was
excited to report that these are the highest adoption numbers reported so far this calendar year.
Adoption/Placement Committee Progress Report—Jessica Allison reported that the committee met on
August 10 th , 2007 and made a few revisions to the Partner/Placement document. The committee discussed
and decided that it would be prudent to gather input from the rescue groups with whom we currently
work. The documents have been sent to six selected groups and to the county attorney for additional
feedback. Information gathered via this process will be review at the committee’s next meeting scheduled
for September 28, 2007.
Bob Marotto reported that there were three low cost rabies clinics in conjunction with World Rabies
Days with over 200 vaccinations administered.
Animal Identification: Provisional Proposal— Bob Marotto reported that staff has reviewed current
practices to develop a coherent as well as a practical approach to animal identification and it was
decided that it would be best not to add another tag to the one that the Animal Shelter already provides.
Instead, that the Shelter will continue to issue the rabies tag as our licensing tag, but order them from a
private company instead of the North Carolina Health Department so that we can have our contact
information added to the tags. There are two primary groups that leave the shelter without tags
(approximately 1%) and those are animals that are too young to receive rabies vaccines and reclaimed
animals that have a current rabies vaccination. Strategies for identifying animals in these two groups are
a generic tag for puppies and kittens indicating that have a microchip, and a hardwritten collar for those
animals with a current vaccination. Another option would be onsite personalized identification machine
but due to the cost of the machine and staffing issues it was decided that this option would need to be
explored further. More research will be done and a final product will be brought back to the committee
for review and approval.
New Business
Creation of ASAB Nominations Subcommittee Caroline Green, Daniel Textoris and Tracy Carroll have
agreed to be on this committee and will come back to the October 17 th , 2007, ASAB meeting with a
proposed slate of officers and at a subsequent meeting in November the vote will take place.
Required Annual Review of ASAB Committee StructureBob Marotto gave an overview of the
requirements of our charter and the two committees that we currently have are the Potentially Dangerous
Dog Committee and the Adoption Appeals Committee. Motion was made by Pat Sanford and seconded by
Jean Connerat Austin to maintain the two standing committees. VOTE: Unanimous
Motion was made by Jean Connerat Austin and seconded by Pat Sanford to adjourn the meeting at 7:45
p.m. VOTE: Unanimous.
Next ASAB Meeting: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the Southern Human Services Center
Conference Room, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill.