HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB Meeting Summary 01152020 Orange 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, January 15, 2020
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: Amanda Schwoerke (Chair), Bryan Stuart (Vice Chair), Casey Ferrell
(Secretary), Diane Obeid, Lee Pickett, Lucia Welborne, Molly Mullin, Maureane Hoffman
ABSENT: Beth Grooms, Lisa Wells, Edmund Tiryakian
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director), Andi Morgan (Animal Services
Assistant Director), Rachel Plast (AA)
Call to order: 6:35 p.m.
Review and adoption of the agenda: approved, with removal of New Business Item "Stats and
Review," and addition of 2020 Spay Day
Summary of November 2019 meeting: approved, with amendments proposed by Lee Pickett to
Evelyn Daniel spelling and updates to the CERT summary
Review of public participation guidelines: not reviewed
General public comments on items not on agenda: none
Animal Services Advisory Board updates:
Pat Sanford Award—Kimberly Steiner, Trestle Leaf Web Design
• Board and staff presented Kimberly Steiner with the Pat Sanford Award
Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool
• Motion to nominate Edmund Tiryakian for a second term approved (unanimous)
• Outstanding Recommendation for the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool
o Motion to nominate Casey Ferrell approved (unanimous)
Board Vacancies
• Two current vacancies: 1) veterinarian, 2) Town of Carrboro
• Three vacancies opening in July: 1) Animal trainer and 2) Animal welfare advocate (2)
o Sue Millager (Carrboro)
o Sunita Driehuys (vet)
o Allan Polak (trainer)
o Jen Stout(welfare advocate)
o Brenda Scott (welfare advocate)
• Motion to approve Sue Millager for the Town of Carrboro board vacancy approved (unanimous)
• Motion to approve Sunita for the community veterinarian board vacancy pending her submission
of a formal application approved (unanimous)
• Diversity Goal: a brief discussion of the goal of achieving greater board diversity; primarily around
continued outreach by staff and board members to people of different backgrounds
Old Business
• Evelyn Daniel Adoption Sponsorship Fund
o Bryan Stuart stated the need to settle on a single consistent name for the fund. Bob
Marotto indicated that there was also a need for guidelines on the explicit purpose and
allocation of the fund.
o A couple of examples of possible applications were discussed, including using the money
for life-saving but sometimes cost-prohibitive surgeries and procedures.
o Casey Ferrell suggested the board consider naming it the Evelyn Daniel 111h Hour Fund and
have the money go toward animals in dire need of life-saving treatments.
■ Staff agreed to draft a formal name, mission statement and application criteria
and bring to the board for approval at the February meeting.
• Wild and Dangerous Task Force
o Bryan Stuart said that between the holidays and other board responsibilities that had
taken temporary priority,the task force's work is still ongoing. He is planning to bring a
status update to the February board meeting.
• Tick Borne Illnesses and Rabies
o Edmund Tiryakian not present to discuss
o Topic retired from Old Business unless otherwise suggested
New Business
• Spay Day
o Motion to approve Spay& Neuter Day approved (unanimous)
Animal Services Updates
• OCAS selected for Cat Positive (program for training shelter personnel to interact with cats in
new and different ways using operant conditioning to improve quality of life)
• Two catios are now onsite
• Upcoming veterinary healthcare assessment
o Anticipating completion in time to include financial implications into 2021 budget
request
• Budget prep underway
o Continuation budget could place more emphasis on revenue generation efforts
• Updates related to October animal seizure
o Gift of 7,500 Ibs of dog food from Southern States (holiday donations)
o Cat Banjo made a donation
o GoFundMe campaign (prompted by MicroMass Communication in Raleigh): $10k in
four days
o Original 57 animals turned into 76 thanks to several litters
o All dogs are now property of OCAS
o Out of pocket costs to OCAS so far: —$30-35k
■ Because of donations and campaigns ($10k GoFUndMe, $11k individual
pledge, $6k donated by Cat Banjo, etc.), OCAS will approach breakeven on
cost
o Lucia volunteered to draft a letter of recognition from the OCASAB to the BOCC for
efforts by OCAS, BOCC, County Manager, Sheriff, DA, etc.
■ Will share a draft of the letter at the February meeting
o On the verge of making the dogs available for adoption
■ Media release to come
■ Special website dedicated to information and support for adopters specifying
special needs (medical,financial, legal, etc.)
■ Will release in batches
■ Secondary interview and other additional precautionary elements of adoption
process and package to be in place
• Discussion topic introduced by Bob Marotto: Great Pyrenees being kept as protection
animals/livestock guarding for small-scale farming operations; suspicion many are not kept in
adequate housing; argument made by one farmer that housing creates problems (livestock go
to shelter, Pyrenees guard the shelter, aggressive to livestock); in northern climates and native
regions, Pyrenees live outside and thrive in cold weather
o Should there be an exception to the ordinance for certain working livestock guard
dogs like Pyrenees
o Motion to take it up as an agenda item approved (unanimously)
Adjournment and next meeting: Meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. The next meeting is February
19, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. at the Orange County Animal Services Center.