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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB Meeting Summary 10212020 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, October 21, 2020 Virtual Meeting Summary MEMBERS PRESENT: Amanda Schwoerke (Chair), Bryan Stuart (Vice Chair), Casey Ferrell (Secretary), Lee Pickett, Lucia Welborne, Edmund Tiryakian, Sunita Driehuys, Dawn Roberts, Meggie Romick, Lori Gershon, Allan Polak ABSENT: Susan Spinks, Sue Millager STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director), Andi Morgan (AS Assistant Director), Call to order: 6:32 p.m. Welcoming new ASAB members: Dawn Roberts, Meggie Romick, Allan Polak, Susan Spinks, Lori Gershon Virtual meeting voting guidelines: Bryan Stuart, ASAB Vice-Chair Review and adoption of the agenda: Motion to add documentation regarding animal ordinance and adopt agenda Vote (Motion/2nd) Amanda Schwoerke Yes (M) Bryan Stuart Yes (2nd) ue er Lee Pickett Yes Ed Tiryakian Yes Lucia Welborne Yes Sunita Driehuys Yes Casey Ferrell Yes Meggie Romick Yes Allan Polak Yes _Pffan Spink Lori Gershon Yes Dawn Roberts Yes Summary of July 2019 meeting: approved with typo corrections Vote (Motion/2nl) Amanda Schwoerke Yes (M) Bryan Stuart Yes (2nd) ue Millage Lee Pickett Yes Ed Tiryakian Yes Lucia Welborne Yes Sunita Driehuys Yes Casey Ferrell Yes Meggie Romick abstained Allan Polak Yes usan Lori Gershon abstained Dawn Roberts abstained Review of public participation guidelines: Bryan Stuart, ASAB Vice-Chair General public comments on items not on agenda: • N/A Monthly Meeting Attendance Record (confirm completion): confirmed Animal Services Advisory Board updates: Bob Marotto, Director of Animal Services • Launched the Veterinary Assistance Program o $10k+ in funding secured from GoFundMe campaign o First applications being reviewed • Pet Food Assistance Program o continues with high demand o Going out to county distribution locations every other week o Receiving individual requests and responding to those 0 • Been selected as one of 13 organizations to participate in the Cat Pawsitive Pro Program o Will be applying Cat Pawsitive operant conditioning to help more difficult, less well-adjusted cats to help them achieve a better lived experience in the shelter and improve their adoptability • Two grant applications in play to: o ASPCA for support the Veterinary Assistance Program ($25k) o PetCo Foundation to support the foster program for kittens • Morale remains challenging, but scope/pace of change is not as acute as earlier in the pandemic o Volunteerism is also challenging given limitations o "Renewal, not return" is the guiding principle Old Business: • Shelter Requirements for Livestock Guardian Dogs o Dir. Marotto researched Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) since last ASAB meeting, reaching out to experts in the field to learn more o Divided opinion on whether shelter will or will not create problems between LGDs and their ward/flock, some asserting there is no evidence/it is unlikely and others asserting that it is possible it can create aggression or otherwise interfere with their effectiveness as LGDs o None said it's critically important to have shelter; most said it's critically important they stay with their ward/flock nearly at all times o No science to definitively answer the question empirically o Dir. Marotto to distribute the results of his research in advance of next ASAB meeting and include it as an agenda item for a board discussion • Ordinance Amendments for Aggressive Animals o Joseph Williams proposed that ASAB allow for more latitude in applying a Dangerous Dog/Potentially Dangerous Dog designation, including giving ACOs more discretion in situationally interpreting the ordinance, more restrictive enforcement measures, etc. o ASAB recommends taking no action on this issue. The ASAB's proposed position is described in detail in the documentation attached to present amended agenda; primary reasons include: ■ Existing provisions within the Unified Animal Control Ordinance allow for appropriate mechanisms to address and/or rectify Mr. Williams' objections ■ Concerns with due process implications ■ Existing ordinance is already considered to be stricter than is typical o Vote tabled until next meeting • Systemic Racism and Animal Services/Welfare Task Force update o Task Force (Schwoerke/Pickett/Driehuys) o Focusing on the following topics for further exploration ■ Pet-friendly rental housing ■ Low-cost pet-friendly rental housing ■ Access to care (especially low-cost spaying/neutering) ■ Education (especially about safe interactions between pets and people) ■ ASAB diversity, equity, and inclusion Animal Services Advisory Board • Vacancies o None remaining • County's legislative agenda o Items discussed included: ■ Veterinary care access ■ Dangerous dog declaration waiver o ASAB expressed interest in knowing how to be more involved in participating in setting the OCAS legislative agenda; Dir. Marotto to learn more about the process and timing of it and share with ASAB prior to next meeting Informational Items • September 2020 Monthly Statistics for Sheltering Operations • September 2020 Monthly Statistics for Field Services Informal Discussion • N/A Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.