HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB Meeting Summary 01152020Orange 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 an d 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 11th 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 lbs 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.