HomeMy WebLinkAboutUnapproved Summary from JanuaryANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (ASAB)
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: Michelle Walker (Chair), Warren Porter (Vice Chair), Aviva Scully
(Secretary), Susan Elmore, Suzanne Roy, Dewana Anderson, Arthur Sprinczeles
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director), Sarah Fallin, Rachel Williamson
UNC Kenan-Flagler Fellows in Attendance: Eleanor Nave and Maria Grimshaw
Agenda
1. Review and adoption of meeting agenda
Adopted unanimously with addition of an item for update on status and plans for
ordinance changes related to animal recovery fees and requirements.
2. Review and approval of November 20, 2013, ASAB meeting summary
Approved with removal of sentence under new business #1.
3. Review of public participation guidelines, Michele Walker
No public in attendance. Michelle went over public participation guidelines for benefit
of new member (Arthur Sprinczeles)
4. General public comments on items not on the agenda (3 minute limit)
None.
5. Monthly Meeting Attendance Record (confirm completion)
Confirmed
6. Election of 2014 ASAB Officers
ASAB unanimously approved the following officers for 2014:
- Chair – Michelle Walker
- Vice Chair – Warren Porter
- Secretary – Aviva Scully
7. Programs (Sarah Fallin, Program Coordinator, Animal Services)
a. Introduction of Rachel Williamson, recent hire as Assistant Program Coordinator
Rachel has Bachelors degree in animal science and 4 years experience in Prince George,
VA in all aspects of shelter operations.
b. Past and Future Program Highlights
2013:
- Volunteer program:
Over 1,700 volunteers logged 12,000 hours in 2013. This is equivalent of
six full-time employees per month. Community service volunteers
logged an additional 1,000 hours.
- Outreach
o Shelter animals taken out into the community 50 times throughout
the year – almost once a week.
o 17 special events – Dog swim was the biggest yet (108 dogs
participated).
o Open House – well attended.
- Rabies Clinics:
Vaccinated 1,132 animals. This did not quite meet the goal of 100 per
clinic but it was very close with an average of 94 per clinic.
- Community spay neuter
o 472 spay/neuters done in 2013; 373 were DSS clients. Down from 512
last year, possibly due to fact that DSS is no longer mailing out
information on $20 Fix to clients.
o Every door direct mail campaign launched to publicize availability of
$20 fix. Mail targeted to low income areas in Hillsborough, Chapel Hill
and Carrboro. Cost is about 30 cents per flyer.
o Last quarter saw increase in spay/neuters after mailings
o Aviva suggests making flyers in Spanish for distribution to Spanish-
speaking populations in county.
- Disaster Management
o Did not have to set up pet co-location but provided sheltering for pets
as a result of the flood. Sheltering was done at Century Center in
Carrboro, which is not approved for animals, so animals came directly
to the Animal Services Center for sheltering.
o Did one mock disaster exercise using shelter dogs
o New Emergency Services for county so must re-establish working
relationship.
Future:
- Increase job opportunities for volunteers.
Tiered responsibilities. Experienced volunteers would take on more
responsibilitie. Increased use of volunteers for adoption counseling.
- Spay Neuter Day (Feb. 2014) – 34 animals on list so far.
- Every door direct mail outreach
Continue.
- Spay/Neuter billboards
To run on Highway 70E/W through March. Suggestions made for:
o Billboards in Spanish (Aviva)
o Banners in 3 spots (rotating – 1 week each location) in Carrboro –
reserve through town (Dewana)
o Banner in front of Ford dealership on South Churton St.,
Hillsborough.
- Spay Day Resolution for the BOCC.
Passed unanimously by board to be presented at Feb. 18 Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC) meeting.
8. ASAB Affairs
a. Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearings
Suzanne Roy reported on the one hearing that occurred since the last ASAB meeting.
The Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeals Subcommittee upheld the potentially dangerous
designation for a husky-mix dog who was running at large and seen running out of
woods with a mortally injured cat in her mouth. The cat died at the veterinarian’s office.
The subcommittee concluded that the preponderance of evidence indicated that the
dog was responsible for the death of the cat and that the designation of potentially
dangerous was supported under the state statute.
b. ASAB Appointment Recommendations
The board reviewed applications and voted unanimously to recommend the following
applicants for the three open positions on the ASAB:
- Certified Animal Handler/Trainer
Beth Grooms (Primary recommendation)
Suzy Armstrong (Back up recommendation – if she is certified dog trainer)
- Animal advocate
Marshall Gray (Primary recommendation)
Maureen Hoffman (Back up recommendation)
- At Large
Caroline Green (Primary recommendation)
Maureen Brown (Back up recommendation)
Note: The board suggested back up recommendations in the even that the primary
recommendation declined the position.
9. Business
a. Animal Services Updates—Bob Marotto
Mr. Marotto presented numerous Animal Services updates detailed in a handout
provided to ASAB members. Highlights included:
- Community Giving Fund
o For the first 12 months of fund, Animal Services received $10,672. Top
category for donations was medical care for shelter animals.
o ASAB members are encouraged to spread the word about this fund to
support Animal Services.
- Partner Placement
o Mr. Marotto stressed the importance of partner organizations to the
shelter’s adoption program, and requested that the ASAB continue
Partner Profiles at its meetings.
- Budget
o Staff has been asked to prepare a continuation budget – no increase in
expenditures
o Will be working with county staff to apply funds saved due to staff
openings to support shelter operations.
- Ordinance Changes
o Seeking ordinance change regarding recovered animals to: 1) require
microchipping of all recovered animals; and 2) implement a differential
recovery fee for intact vs. sterilized animals and a revised recovery fee
schedule that increases with number of times animal is recovered.
o ASAB voted unanimously to endorse the proposal that staff move ahead
with presenting the recommendation to the ASAB instead of waiting for
the Unified Animal Ordinance to be passed by the BOCC.
b. Unified Animal Ordinance Update
Michelle Walker gave an update. Mr. Marotto, the 2013 officers - chair (Susan Elmore)
and Vice Chair (Michelle Walker) - met with Aimee Wall, professor at the UNC School of
Government, who focuses on animal control issues and laws, to discuss outstanding
issues of public concern with the Unified Animal Ordinance. Issues discussed:
- Potentially dangerous/vicious dog designation appeals. Prof. Walls:
o Cautioned against expanding scope of appeals to include any
administrative action by Orange County Animal Services (OCAS).
Frequency of hearings could increase dramatically – overburden
committee.
Could open county up to more potential liability if volunteers are
making such decisions.
Not done in other areas of county government.
o Recommended that the vicious designation under county ordinance
should be appealable, along with potentially dangerous dog designation
under state law, and that it would be appropriate for the ASAB
subcommittee to hear both sets of appeals.
o Recommended that ASAB subcommittee continue to hear appeals, with
consideration given to proper training of subcommittee members, sworn
testimony at appeals hearings, and board members run appeals hearings
as opposed to staff.
o Will follow up to clarify what other appeal options are available for other
types of administrative decision appeals.
- Watch dog/trespass issue. Prof. Walls:
o Recommended removing “watchdog” exemption from current vicious
dog provision of ordinance for bites or attacks that occur on property of
dog owner. “Watch dog” category has no foundation, lacks real meaning
and is subject to misuse.
o Recommended adding “implied or express consent” to willful trespass
provision.
o Created a flow chart to assist Animal Control with determining whether a
trespass was willful and without consent. Flow chart based on scenarios
provided by ASAB in October 2013 meeting.
o Will clarify if and how trespass standard would apply to children
differently?
- - Livestock at large/ nuisance issue
The Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board has proposed new
language for this section of the ordinance: “Except in the case of
domestic livestock, any animal at large off the premises of the owner or
keeper. At large domestic livestock will be considered a public nuisance
when it, in the judgment of the Animal Services Director, or designee,
presents an immediate public danger, is destroying or damaging
property, is violating property rights, or has been habitually at large.”
ASAB voted unanimously to recommend that staff move forward with changes that
resulted from discussion with Amy Wall.
- Striking watchdog
- Adding consent as an element of trespass
- Making the change the Ag Board has requested with regard to stray
livestock.
c. Free-Roaming Cat Task Force Progress Report
Warren Porter reported on the FRC subcommittee progress.
November 20, 2013 meeting:
- Set framework for future meetings
- Defined goals – what are the questions that need to be answered, areas
for additional research, topics to address.
- Discussed different TNR programs that exist, what’s been tried, what’s
worked, what’s documented, what data is available, what results have
been achieved.
- Discussed different elements of the cat population and which to target.
- Set timeline: minimum of 6 months to cover this complex topic.
- Assigned research to fellows – explore model programs in NC and
nationwide, model ordinances, data available on results.
January 8, 2014 meeting:
- Heard research updates from UNC fellows
- Heard Orange County cat statistics from Bob Marotto
- Discussed terminology and definitions.
- Set goal of bringing subcommittee charge to ASAB for February meeting.
- Draft charge is being circulated and worked on via email
- Next meeting February 5, 2014
-
10. Ongoing and Upcoming Events
- Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic, 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, January
25, Animal Services Center
- Low Cost Rabies Vaccination & Microchip Clinic, 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday,
February 13 at shelter.
- Beat the Heat Campaign—January to March 2014
- Billboards on 70 East and 70 West in Hillsborough up February 10-March
31
- Beat the Heat advertising and outreach
- Spay/Neuter Day, January 31 and February 27, 2014
- Spay Neuter Resolution
- Valentine Adoption Special – February 1-28.
11. Information Items
- December 11, 2013, Communication About Vacant ASAB Positions
- ASAB 2014 Goal Setting Document for BOCC
- Monthly Sheltering Statistical Reports: November and December 2013
- Monthly Field Service Statistical Reports: November and December
2013
12. Informal discussion
none.
13. Adjourn – 8:35 p.m.
Accompanying Documents:
1. Summary for November 20, 2013, ASAB meeting
2. Spay/Day Resolution (forthcoming)
3. Animal Services Advisory Board Applicants
4. Willful Trespass “Decision Tree”
5. December 11, 2013, Communication About Vacant ASAB Positions
6. ASAB 2014 Goal Setting Document
Animal Services Advisory Board
January 22, 2014
Page 2
7. November and December, 2013, Monthly Sheltering Statistical Summaries
(http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/monthlyreports2013.asp)
(forthcoming)
8. October 2013, Field Services Statistical Summaries
(http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/fieldstatistics2013.asp)
(forthcoming)