HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpay Neuter Resolution and Agenda Abstract BOCC 2019 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 19, 2019
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Resolution Acknowledging February 26, 2019, as Spay Neuter Day in Orange
County, North Carolina
DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Spay Neuter Day Resolution
2018 Community Spay/Neuter Program
Report
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services,
919.932.4963
Cooper Hatch, Program Coordinator,
Animal Services, 919.932.4965
Maureane Hoffman, Chair, Animal
Services Advisory Board, 919.493.2999
PURPOSE: To request that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) officially resolve that
February 26, 2019, is “Spay Neuter Day” in Orange County and provide an update about the county’s
spay and neuter program to the BOCC.
BACKGROUND: Animal Services staff and the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) are
recommending that the BOCC adopt a resolution making February 26, 2019, “Spay Neuter Day” in
Orange County. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has nationally designated the last
Tuesday of each February as “International Spay Day.”
In Orange County, the issue of pet overpopulation is a priority. Working together, Animal Services
staff and the ASAB prepared a five-year strategic plan on the basis of best practices in the field of
animal welfare and public policy: Managing Pet Overpopulation: A Strategic Plan for Orange
County, North Carolina. Fundamental to this plan is targeting spays and neuters in our county to
decrease the rate of reproduction of dogs and cats , thereby containing the number of animals that
must be sheltered and the costs of caring for those animals .
The final stage of this plan is to address free roaming cats in Orange County. Accordingly, staff and
the ASAB prepared a plan called Managing Free-Roaming Cats in Orange County, North
Carolina. A central component of this plan is to more effectively sterilize these (and other) cats in
order to reduce their numbers over time.
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Significant developments for calendar year 2018 include:
Spaying and neutering a total of 602 cats and dogs on the basis of our partnership with
AnimalKind and Spay Neuter Assistance Program—North Carolina.
Spaying and neutering 251 dogs and cats belonging to clients of the Department of Social
Service (DSS) on a “no pay” basis; and
Tripling the number of spays and neuters (from 50 to 149) performed for pets belonging to
residents with household incomes from 200 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level on the
basis of a grant from the Margaret T. Petrie Spaying and Neutering Foundation.
Helping to control the number of animals needing to be sheltered by Orange County Animal
Services, which for the fourth consecutive year was less than 3000.
Orange County’s subsidized spay and neuter for cats and dogs is now available to more residents
than ever before. Orange County Animal Services received another grant from the Margaret T. Petrie
Spaying and Neutering Foundation in the amount of $25,000 to continue to cover the cost of spay
and neuter for animals belonging to residents whose household income is between 200 and 400
percent of the federal poverty level. Previously, 200 percent was the ceiling for income-based
qualification.
Orange County also continues its effort to sterilize cats from farms and stables in more rural parts of
Orange County. Animal Services has created a Working (Barn) Cat Program that not only sterilizes
but vaccinates, microchips, and licenses participating felines for free. The funding for this effort has
shifted from a grant to donatio ns received through Orange County’s Community Giving Fund. As a
result of outreach including Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Preservation Board , among
others, Animal Services was able to sterilize 136 working cats in 2018.
.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The resolution has no financial impact. Events and outreach done in
conjunction with this year’s Spay Neuter Day involve funds already in the County’s Community Spay
and Neuter Fund. The FY1819 operating budget for the Community Spay and Neuter Fund is
$68,350 and there is a fund balance of approximately $42,616. These funds primarily come from the
$20 differential license fee for reproductive cats and dogs, combined with reimbursement from the
North Carolina Spay Neuter Reimbursement Program, significant donations from the public and
grants awarded to Animal Services.
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends the Board receive the written program report,
adopt the proposed resolution, and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution.
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Orange County Board of County Commissioners
SPAY NEUTER DAY USA RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, cats and dogs provide companionship to and share the homes of thousands of
individuals in Orange County; and
WHEREAS, the problem of pet overpopulation costs the taxpayers of Orange County hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually through animal control and sheltering programs aimed at coping with
unwanted and homeless cats and dogs; and
WHEREAS, humane societies and shelters throughout the country have to euthanize approximately
four million cats and dogs each year, although many of them are healthy and adoptable, due to the
lack of critical resources such as money, space, and good adoptive homes; and
WHEREAS, the Animal Services Advisory Board and the Animal Services Department have made
correcting pet overpopulation a priority, taken a positive approach to improving quality of life for
community cat populations, and prepared Managing Pet Overpopulation: A Strategic Plan for
Orange County and Managing Free-Roaming Cats in Orange County North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, spaying and neutering cats and dogs, among other animal companions, has been
shown to drastically reduce overpopulation; and
WHEREAS, Animal Services has partnered with community partners including the Department of
Social Services, AnimalKind, and Spay Neuter Assistant Program -North Carolina to offer “low cost”
and “no cost” spay and neuter to households who are economically disadvantaged or who receive
public assistance; and
WHEREAS, veterinarians, animal care and control organizations, natio nal and local animal welfare
organizations, and private citizens have joined together again this year to advocate and support the
spaying and neutering of companion animals on “Spay Day USA 2019.”
Now, therefore be it RESOLVED by Orange County that February 26, 2019, is declared “Spay Neuter
Day USA.” The Board of County Commissioners calls upon the people of the County to observe the
day by having their own cats or dogs spayed or neutered or by sponsoring the spaying or neutering
of another person’s cat or dog.
THIS THE 19th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2019.
_________________________________________
Penny Rich - CHAIR
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS