HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 051519Orange County Animal Services 1601 Eubanks
Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 919-942-PETS
(7387) ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD
(ASAB) 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 15,
2019 Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: Molly Mullin (Vice-Chair), Diane Obeid,Evelyn Daniel, Susan
Elmore, Casey Ferrell, Beth Grooms, , Bryan Stuart, Lee Pickett, Lucia Welborne
MEMBERS ABSENT: Maureane Hoffman (Chair), Amanda Schwoerke (Secretary),
Edmund Tiryakian, Lisa Wells STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services
Director), Andi Morgan (Animal Services Asst. Director), Rachel Plast (Administrative
Assistant)
Call to order: 6:30
p.m.
Review and adoption of the Agenda: approved, after moving a later item up in the
sequence (sat down as this happened so not sure what that was)
Summary of April 17, 2019, meeting:
approved
Review of public participation guidelines: Not
reviewed
General Public Comments on items not on
agenda: None
Membership
Updates:
● AS staff and board chair and co-chair conducted orientation for
new board members Casey and Lucia
● Reappointment: Beth (required a bit of maneuvering given term
implications, will recommend a one-year reappointment), Lee
and Ed
● Board moved to and passed a recommendation that it pursue the
AS Director’s suggestion that Lee and Ed are reinstated per se
and Beth put forward for a one-year term extension (STAFF:
please vet for accuracy)
Animal Services Advisory Board Updates: Old Business
Fairview Family Fun Fest
Spay/Neuter Event
● Encouraging turnout/conversion of registrants to attendees
Working Barn Cat Program Update
● Recommending a fee schedule change for next year to reduce
burden
● On a waiting list given demand; thinking about resourcing for
sterilization; considering pursuit of various grants to continue
support
House Bill Update
● Through the N.C. House (passed 100-1!); now in committee in
the N.C. Senate
● Gives more latitude to AS depts and shelters to allow for re -
homing dogs not directly involved in fighting activities or dogs
with evidence of fighting activities pending an evaluation
Sheltering Operations Update
● 1,110+ activities in Q1 (comparable YOY)
● 635 intakes in Q1 (slightly up YOY)
● 70 euthanizations (comparable YOY)
○ Effective live release rate 90+%
○ None for space reasons (Lee moved to recognize the work of the OCAS
for not having to euthanize for space reasons as that is a very common
reason in other jurisdictions)
OCAS Open House (Saturday, June 1 from noon to 4 pm)
● Seeking donations from the board to help fund the cost of the event
Wild and Dangerous Animal Policy Task Force Update
● Evelyn and Beth joined the task force
● Formal report is not yet ready
● Next meeting is first week of June
● Last meeting (May 9): drafted compromise next steps
○ Clarifying definition to include epidemiological threats posed by certain
species
○ Refocus list of W&D species on species that pose realistic, imminent
threats (rather than exhaustive listing any and all dangerous species)
■ Considering an “environmental survey” to assess current realities
○ Since list cannot ever be perfect, focus on the procedural mechanisms of
adding/removing species (as opposed to an exemption/exception
approach) to maintain flexibility in the face of changing norms and realities
New
Business
Family Fun Fest!
Bob Marotto introduced a new Animal Services event, the Family Fun Fest!,
which will take place on May 18, 2019, in Fairview Park in Hillsborough.
Animal Services wants to ask the BOCC for permission to use money from
its community-giving fund on a mobile veterinary clinic for this event. Bob
Marotto asked for the ASAB’s support when Animal Services approaches the
BOCC for approval. ASAB members asked questions about the event, the
costs of hiring a mobile clinic, and the community-giving fund
On motion, the ASAB approved lending its support to Animal Services’ request
Adjournment and next
meeting:
• The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. The next meeting is June 19, 2019, at 6:30
p.m., Orange County Animal Services Center.