Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 02-17-2026; 8-c - Proclamation Declaring February 24, 2026, as Spay Neuter Day in Orange County 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 17, 2026 Action Agenda Item No. 8-c SUBJECT: Proclamation Declaring February 24, 2026, as Spay Neuter Day in Orange County DEPARTMENT: Animal Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Spay Neuter Day Proclamation Elizabeth Overcash, Animal Services Director, 919-942-7387 PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation officially proclaiming February 24, 2026, 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 24, 2026, as "Spay Neuter Day" in Orange County. Humane World, formerly the Humane Society of the United States, has nationally designated the last Tuesday of each February as " World Spay Day." An increasing number of pet owners cannot access veterinary care due to financial constraints, geographic or transportation barriers, veterinary shortages, systemic inequities, and other barriers. Millions of pet owners in the United States and thousands of pet owners in Orange County face challenges in accessing veterinary care, including spay and neuter services. Orange County Animal Services recognizes the importance of the human-animal bond and the necessity of access to veterinary care, including spay and neuter services. As such, Animal Services is committed to increasing community access to free spay and neuter services. Through program expansions, the County has broadened eligibility for accessible spay and neuter services to include pet owners in a wider range of household incomes. Animal Services also provides accessible spay and neuter and vaccination services for community cats, helping to manage the health and population of community cats. These initiatives ensure more pets receive essential services like spay and neuter. 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 2025 included: • Orange County Animal Services sterilized a total of 2,025 dogs and cats, including 410 community cats. Animal Services continues efforts to manage the health and safety of the community cat population by providing free spay and neuter, vaccination, and microchipping for such cats. Funding for this effort comes from both grants and donations received through Orange County's Community Giving Fund. 2 • Community partners sterilized a total of 613 pets owned by Orange County families with demonstrated financial need. • Animal Services opened the Orange County Community Animal Clinic, allowing Animal Services to provide care to privately owned pets and making affordable veterinary care more accessible to Orange County residents. Animal Services has received a grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for $79,552 to support this initiative. • Orange County has continued to provide subsidized spay and neuter services to resident dogs and cats. Through the North Carolina Spay Neuter Program, Animal Services receives reimbursement for providing spay and neuter vouchers to Orange County residents with annual household incomes below the federal poverty level. Additionally, 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 costs of spay and neuter for animals belonging to residents with household incomes below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Animal Services also received a grant in 2025 from Petco Love in the amount of $25,000 to further assist with affordable spay and neuter services and other veterinary care. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this proclamation. ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: • GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY OBJECTIVE 3. Provide social safety net programming and the resources needed for our most vulnerable community members (e.g., veterans, unhoused people, foster children, older adults, etc.). 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 proclamation. 3 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, an increasing lack of access to veterinary care affects millions of pet owners in the United States and thousands of pet owners 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 managing unwanted and homeless cats and dogs; and WHEREAS, humane societies and shelters throughout the country euthanize hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs each year, many of which are healthy and adoptable, due to the lack of critical resources such as money, space, and adoptive homes; and WHEREAS, Animal Services and the Animal Services Advisory Board have made correcting pet overpopulation and providing access to care a priority; and WHEREAS, spaying and neutering cats and dog has been shown to drastically reduce pet overpopulation; and WHEREAS, Animal Services is working with community partners and veterinary professionals to offer no-cost spay and neuter resources to households who are financially vulnerable or who receive public assistance; and WHEREAS, Animal Services now has a community animal clinic providing low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter services for pets in our community; and WHEREAS, Animal Services is collaborating with Independent Animal Rescue and other community partners to proactively and humanely manage and improve quality of life for community cats through sterilization and vaccination; 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 2026;" NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, proclaim February 24, 2026, 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 17th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026. Jean Hamilton, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners