HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-25-2025; 8-b - Proclamation Declaring February 25, 2025, as Spay Neuter Day in Orange County 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 20, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-b
SUBJECT: Proclamation Declaring February 25, 2025, as Spay Neuter Day in Orange
County
DEPARTMENT: Animal Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Spay Neuter Day Proclamation Tiani Stamey, Interim Director, 919-932-
4961
Melissa Ramirez-Grimaldi, Program
Coordinator, 919-932-4966
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation officially proclaiming February 25, 2025, as " Spay Neuter
Day" in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: Animal Services staff and the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) are
recommending that the BOCC adopt a proclamation designating February 25, 2025, as "Spay
Neuter Day" in Orange County. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has nationally
designated the last Tuesday of each February as " International Spay Day."
In Orange County, the issue of pet overpopulation is a priority. In 2010, Animal Services staff and
the ASAB prepared a five-year strategic plan on the basis of best practices in the field of animal
welfare and public policy: Managing Pet Overpopulation: A Strategic Plan for Orange County,
North Carolina. Fundamental to this plan was targeting spays and neuters in the County to
decrease the rate of reproduction of dogs and cats, thereby containing the number of animals that
must be sheltered and the costs of caring for those animals.
Over the years, Animal Services has remained committed to increasing community access to free
spay and neuter services. Through program expansions, the County has broadened eligibility to
include pet owners in a wider range of household incomes and introduced a community cat spay
and neuter initiative, ensuring more pets receive essential services. Pet sterilization not only helps
reduce overpopulation but also promotes the health and well-being of pets, allowing them to
remain with their owners and strengthening the human-animal bond.
Significant developments for calendar year 2024 included:
• The total number of dogs and cats sterilized was 813.
• 586 of those sterilizations were of community cats via a partnership with Independent
Animal Rescue and in-house sterilizations.
• Due to rising costs, AnimalKind ended its partnership with Orange County, therefore putting
a pause on the number of community pets spayed and neutered while other partners were
sought.
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• Orange County's subsidized spay and neuter services for cats and dogs has continued
with its expansion to more residents than ever before. Orange County Animal Services
received another grant from the Margaret T. Petrie Spaying and Neutering Foundation in
the amount of $15,000 to continue to cover the cost of spay and neuter for animals
belonging to residents whose household income is between 200 and 400 percent of the
federal poverty level. Previously, 200 percent was the ceiling for income- based
qualification.
• As discussed above, Orange County also continues its effort to sterilize cats from farms
and stables in more rural parts of Orange County. Animal Services is continuing the
community cat program that not only sterilizes, but also vaccinates and microchips cats for
free. The funding for this effort has shifted from only grant funded to both grant and
donations received through Orange County's Community Giving Fund. As a result of
outreach and a partnership with Independent Animal Rescue, Animal Services was able to
sterilize 586 cats, 250 of those being sterilized by Independent Animal Rescue.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this proclamation.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life
of the community.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the attached proclamation declaring February 25, 2025, as "Spay Neuter Day" in
Orange County.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPAY NEUTER DAY PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, cats and dogs provide companionship to and share the homes of thousands of individuals
in Orange County; and
WHEREAS, the problem of pet overpopulation costs the taxpayers of Orange County hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually through animal control and sheltering programs aimed at coping with
unwanted and homeless cats and dogs; and
WHEREAS, humane societies and shelters throughout the country euthanize millions of cats and dogs
each year, although many of them are healthy and adoptable, due to the lack of critical resources such
as money, space, and good adoptive homes; and
WHEREAS, the Animal Services Advisory Board and the Animal Services Department have made
correcting pet overpopulation a priority, and have taken a positive, proactive approach to improving
quality of life for community cat populations; and
WHEREAS, Animal Services is collaborating with Independent Animal Rescue and other community
partners to proactively and humanely manage community cats on the basis of their sterilization; and
WHEREAS, spaying and neutering cats and dogs, among other animal companions, has been shown
to drastically reduce overpopulation; and
WHEREAS, Animal Services has partnered with community partners including the Department of
Social Services and veterinary professionals to offer "no cost" spay and neuter to households who are
financially vulnerable or who receive public assistance; and
WHEREAS, veterinarians, animal care and control organizations, national and local animal welfare
organizations, and private individuals have joined together again this year to advocate and support the
spaying and neutering of companion animals on "World Spay Day 2025;"
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, proclaim February 25, 2025,
as "Spay Neuter Day," and call upon the people of the County to observe the day by having their own
cats or dogs spayed or neutered or by sponsoring the spaying or neutering of another person's cat or
dog.
THIS THE 20t" DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025.
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners