HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-313-E Criminal Justice - Eyes, Ears, Nose and Paws, Inc facility dog
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INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN AND AMONG ORANGE COUNTY, EYES,
EARS, NOSE AND PAWS, INC, AND REGINA MILLER REGARDING THE
OWNERSHIP, SERVICE, AND CARE OF A FACILITY SERVICE DOG
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this _24th__ day of ___May_____, 2019
between and among Orange County, a political subdivision of the State of North
Carolina (hereinafter referred to as the “County”), Eyes, Ears, Nose and Paws, Inc.,
(“EENP”), a North Carolina not for profit corporation, and Regina Miller, referred to
collectively as the “Parties”.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, County and State staff have determined a facility service dog would benefit
individuals who may be victims, witnesses, children, and other vulnerable individuals
involved in the justice system in Orange County; and
WHEREAS,the Parties desire to establish the terms and conditions surrounding the
ownership, service, housing, and care of a facility service dog (“Adele“); and
WHEREAS, the Judicial District 18 Bar (“Bar”) desires to purchase and donate Adele to
the County and the County desires to accept ownership of Adele; and
WHEREAS, Adele will be used to provide services in and around the Orange County
Courthouse.
NOW, THERFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and based on mutual promises
and obligations set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. TERM AND TERMINATION
a. This Agreement shall commence upon execution by all Parties and shall
continue until Adele is determined by EENP and the County to have reached
the end of her ability to provide the designated facility dog services.
b. This Agreement may be terminated by the Parties for cause. Cause includes
but is not limited to a determination by EENP and the County that Adele is
not capable of providing the services described herein.
c. Upon a termination for cause due to inappropriate care, EENP would have
the option of reclaiming ownership of Adele. Upon termination for other
cause, Adele’s ownership shall transfer to her lead handler, Regina Miller in
accordance with the procedure set out in 6.b. below, unless it is within the 12
month warranty period and EENP is providing a replacement dog. In such an
instance, Adele’s ownership would transfer to EENP.
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2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNTY
a. The Bar shall pay EENP five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) to place Adele as
a Facility Dog and shall donate her to the County. The Parties acknowledge
the Bar shall have no further cost or responsibility for Adele once ownership
and control of Adele transfer to the County. The Parties further agree to
release the Bar from any liability related to Adele’s use by the County as a
facility service dog.
b. The donation shall be at no cost to the County and shall be effective and
ownership and control shall transfer immediately upon the physical transfer of
Adele to the custody of lead handler Regina Miller.
c. The County will ensure that the primary handlers will participate in training
and annual assessments with EENP and that Adele’s training is maintained.
d. The County shall provide insurance coverage typical of similar County
property.
e. At no time shall the County be responsible for Adele’s care, shelter, or
veterinary care and costs.
f. Under no circumstances will the County abandon Adele, sell her to a third
party, or surrender her to a shelter or rescue organization. If the County
transfers ownership to another party, the County will ensure that the new
owner agrees that Adele will no longer serve as a facility service dog and can
only be a companion dog.
g. The County will notify EENP of any plans to change Adele’s handlers and will
ensure that new handlers receive approval, training, and assessment by
EENP before the changes take place.
h. The County will ensure that no handler represents that Adele is an assistance
dog as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or takes her to areas
where permission has not been granted.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF REGINA MILLER (Lead Handler)
a. Regina Miller shall assume all expenses related to Adele and provide
adequate indoor shelter, food, water and veterinary care for Adele. Regina
Miller will take Adele to her veterinarian within 14 days of the date of sale and
will inform her veterinarian that Adele is a facility dog owned by Orange
County and that the County and EENP may have unrestricted access to her
health records.
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b. Regina Miller will follow EENP health and training guidelines and will notify
EENP and the County of the loss or death of the facility dog.
c. Should Regina Miller determine she is no longer be able to care for or house
Adele, she will notify EENP and the County immediately so that a new lead
handler can be identified, assessed, and trained by EENP.
d. Regina Miller will ensure that Adele is brought to the Orange County
Courthouse daily during working hours and will supervise and authorize all
her work as a facility dog.
e. Regina Miller shall utilize Adele to provide services as follows:
i. Adele will work as a facility dog to benefit Orange County Courthouse
stakeholders and court system consumers. This work will include, but
is not limited to, offering emotional support to victims, witnesses,
children, and other vulnerable individuals involved in the justice
system.
ii. Regina Miller will ensure that Adele is available to employees at the
District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal
Justice Resource Department, District Court Judge’s Office, and other
entities where Adele’s service is needed. Regina Miller, in consultation
with EENP, has final discretion on whether to authorize the work of
Adele. However, authorization will not be unreasonably withheld.
iii. Adele will be used to provide stress-reduction for courthouse
stakeholders by her presence.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF EENP
a. In the unlikely event of a genetic defect or medical condition rendering her
unfit during the 12 month warranty period, EENP will work diligently, and in
good faith, to provide the County with another similarly-trained dog at no cost.
b. EENP will provide initial placement training for the lead primary handler, a
backup primary handler, and up to two limited handlers identified by the
County.
c. EENP will provide follow up aftercare training, annual aftercare assessments,
and will offer ongoing training support as needed.
d. EENP shall ensure Adele is appropriately trained to be capable of performing
the services described herein.
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e. EENP shall also ensure Adele is in good health, fully vaccinated, and free of
any known disease or defects. Further, EENP shall provide a one year (12
month) warranty from the date of sale against any genetic defects or medical
issues, unrelated to the lead handler’s care of the dog, which may render her
unfit as a facility dog.
f. EENP will not require the Parties to participate in fund raising or public
relations activities.
g. To the extent authorized by North Carolina law and only up to the applicable
insurance policy limits, EENP, its officers, employees, agents and directors,
are released from any liability for injury, damage, harm or expense that might
incur from the Facility Dog.
h. At the request of the current owner, EENP will assume ownership and care of
Adele at any time after placement if the County, the lead handler, or any
future owner is unable or unwilling to care for her for any reason.
5. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create, grant, or convey rights in or to any
third party. Nothing herein is enforceable by any third party and the rights of the
parties hereto to terminate or amend this Agreement are not subject to the consent
of any third party.
6. RETIREMENT
a. It is expected Adele shall be capable of providing the services described
herein for a period of between four and eight years.
b. At the conclusion of the services provided herein and upon a determination by
EENP and the County that Adele is no longer capable of providing the services
described herein due to age or sickness, the County Manager may make a
determination that Adele is no longer in governmental use and has no financial
value. Upon any such determination ownership, custody, and control shall be
granted to Regina Miller.
7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement of the Parties hereto and is
effective the date first above recorded.
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In witness whereof, the Parties, by and through their authorized agents, have hereunder
set their hands and seals as of the day and year first above written.
This instrument has been pre-audited in the
manner required by the Local Government
Budget and Fiscal Control Act.
______________________ ________________________________
Manager, Orange County Chief Financial Officer, Orange County
______________________
Regina Miller, Lead Handler
______________________
EENP, Executive Director
DocuSign Envelope ID: CED5F1EE-80DF-4BDA-AEB0-B7154A1F06F7