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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB Proposed Meeting Summary 08192020Orange 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, August 19, 2020 Virtual Meeting Summary MEMBERS PRESENT: Amanda Schwoerke (Chair), Bryan Stuart (Vice Chair), Casey Ferrell (Secretary), Lee Pickett, Lucia Welborne, Edmund Tiryakian, Sue Millager, Sunita Driehuys, ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director), Andi Morgan (Associate Director) Call to order: 6:35 p.m. Review and adoption of the agenda: approved Amanda Schwoerke: Moved, Yes Bryan Stuart: Seconded, Yes Sue Millager: Yes Lee Pickett: Yes Ed Tiryakian: Yes Lucia Welborne: Yes Sunita Driehuys: Yes Casey Ferrell: Yes Summary of July 2019 meeting: approved Amanda Schwoerke: Moved, Yes Bryan Stuart: Yes Sue Millager: Seconded, Yes Lee Pickett: Yes Ed Tiryakian: Yes Lucia Welborne: Yes Sunita Driehuys: Yes Casey Ferrell: Yes Review of public participation guidelines: not reviewed General public comments on items not on agenda: none Monthly Meeting Attendance Record (confirm completion): confirmed Animal Services Advisory Board updates: Animal Services during the pandemic  Overview o Doors remain closed o All service is virtual (e.g., animal adoption meet and greets) o All service is by appointment o Trying to limit animal surrenders  Seizure of 12 dogs for neglect  Bond hearing to transfer custody later in August o Managing intake and shelter population  July 2019: 257 vs. July 2020: 237  August MTD 2019: 149 vs. August MTD 2020: 95  Three-prong intake reduction strategy: defer surrenders, get lost pets home, and manage kitten intake and care  Half of kittens in custody are in foster care o Adoptions had dipped, but rebounding  Tactics: Promotion of individual animals; branching into Instagram; more intensive use of Facebook  July 2019: 172 vs. July 2020: 170  Clear The Shelters moves to a month-long event o Safety Net Efforts  Pet Food Assistance  Active participation in semi-monthly county food distribution events o Around 140 bags of dog food and 80 bags of cat food distributed at those events  ~10 people per week coming to the shelter to pick up food for dogs/cats  Vet Care Assistance  Still under development  Housing  Impending uptick in evictions brought about by the pandemic and its economic fallout o Exploring programs and safeguards to support animal retention through pet-inclusive housing o Continuing work on the Animal Hearing Panel Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Award Selection Committee  Task and timetable  Selection of ASAB members o Lucia Welborne, Sue Millager, & Casey Ferrell volunteered to serve on the selection committee Structural Racism and DEI in Animal Services and Welfare  Lee Pickett led discussion of the inequalities, inequities, and evidence of systemic bias toward people of color in the world of animal services, access to veterinary care, etc. in prior ASAB meeting in July  Lee Pickett shared an email with the ASAB (Aug. 18, 2020) articulating some of the key questions on the topic and solicited input  Casey Ferrell asked Dir. Marotto for input on which questions fall most closely within the ASAB remit and purpose o Access and delivery o Community representation o Board/staff diversity  Motion to form a task force to examine structural racism and DEI as it pertains to animal services and animal welfare, chaired by Lee Pickett o Amanda Schwoerke: Seconded, Yes o Bryan Stuart: Moved, Yes o Sue Millager: Yes o Lee Pickett: Yes o Ed Tiryakian: No o Lucia Welborne: Yes o Sunita Driehuys: Yes o Casey Ferrell: Yes Animal Services Advisory Board Vacancies, Recommendations, and Appointments  Vacancy Recommendations o Pet retail business: Alan Polak (previously motioned and approved) o Animal trainer: Susan Spinks (previously motioned and approved) o Animal advocate: Lori Gershon  Motion to approve Lori Gershon for the ASAB (approved)  Amanda Schwoerke: Yes  Bryan Stuart: Seconded, Yes  Sue Millager: Yes  Lee Pickett: Moved, Yes  Ed Tiryakian: Yes  Lucia Welborne: Yes  Sunita Driehuys: Yes  Casey Ferrell: Yes o Two vacancies remain  At large, non-municipal  At large, municipal  Discussion of ASAB “quotas” and diversity (tying back to the prior agenda item)  Agreement to distribute listing of all ASAB positions along with current occupants, impending occupants, and ongoing vacancies Information Items  N/A Informal Discussion  Dir. Marotto o A citizen called AS after finding dozens of large constrictor snakes in dire condition; kudos to Bryan Stuart, who was able to connect the citizen with the appropriate contact at the N.C. Zoo Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.