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Animal Services News
June 15, 2016
TETHERING ORDINANCE & FENCE BUILDING
Leaders for the Orange County Chapter of the Coalition to Unchain Dogs are planning
to move away from the area in the coming year
Discussions with the founder and executive director for “the Coalition “ have indicated
a commitment to continue to build fences for residents who are in violation of county
tethering ordinance according to Animal Services
Discussions are continuing about
o Number of ordinance violations and Animal Service referrals
o Renewal of human resources for the Orange County Chapter of “the Coalition”
Recall that residents who are in violation of the county tethering ordinance have 30
days to get on the Coalition’s fence build list, and doing so suspends enforcement
o Not having this alternative would mean more undesirable outcomes
COMMUNITY SPAY & NEUTER
We are continuing to work with various community partners to issue spay and neuter
vouchers for qualifying individuals and households
o Residents receiving public assistance qualify
o Residents whose household income is less than 300 percent of the federal
poverty level quality
o Our AnimalKind agreement has been amended so residents in either group
receive a “no cost” voucher for their pet(s)
There is an opportunity to partner more directly with the Coalition to Unchain Dogs in
providing spay and neuter services to residents who are having a fence built
o Staff is in favor of doing so given that reimbursement is less of an issue than
ever before and because of the value of the partnership
o Recall that fences are only built for dogs that are spayed and neutered
AnimalKind appears to be revisiting its strategic vision in combination with some
personnel changes
Animal Services staff will be exploring options for continued low-cost spay and neuter
services that ensure that the county program is sustainable
ODDS & ENDS
Open House went very well and it was very well attended!
Fourteen microchips were implanted and 109 vaccinations were administered at our
June 11 Microchip and Rabies Vaccination Clinic
Animal Services will host a seminar in the latter part of July with Amanda Arrington
and Lori Hensely on Pets for Life and the Coalition to Unchain Dogs
o We want to continue to refashion our own culture of animal welfare and
services
o Provide an opportunity for residents to become involved in fence building in
Orange County
Animal Services News
June 15, 2016
Page 2
o Learn about some of the most innovative and exciting programs in the field
Our conversion of stainless steel cat “cages” so that adjacent enclosures are connected
by a pass-through with a door will be done later in the year
o The contractor was not available to do the work during the spring and our
feline holding areas are now at capacity
o Everything is ready to go later this year when the contractor is available
Kitty foster home recruitment is underway for neonates and young kitten to ensure
that they thrive and receive the socialization they need
o Applications are attached and guidelines are being finalized
o There will be an orientation in the near future.
STAFFING & STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Vacancies
o Ashley Ray was promoted to our Animal Care Supervisor. She was a veterinary
health care technician and previously she was herself an Animal Care
Technician.
o We in the process of filling two permanent Animal Care Technician positions
and also hiring a temporary Animal Care Technician for the summer season
o We are in the process of filling a vacant Animal Control Officer position
Training and Development
o In June, two Animal Control Officers will be attending an Animal Cruelty &
Fighting Investigations offered by The Humane Society of the United States and
sponsored by Warren County Animal Control
o In July, our Animal Control Manager, Training & Lead Animal Control Officer
and another officer will be attending Humane Animal Handling 101 offered by
the North Carolina Animal Federation
o Staff are engaged in a series of team building training sessions offered by
Human Resources for staff and mangers and program personnel
CURRENT & COMING EVENTS
Participating in Grand Opening for Cedar Grove Community Center, 10 a.m. to noon,
Saturday, June 18, 2016
June is Adopt a Cat Month and $50 is the fee for all feline adoptions (with an
additional $25 for a registered microchip)
Our next low-cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held from 3 to 5 pm, Thursday, July
21st at the Animal Services Center
Prepared by Bob Marotto,
Animal Services Director