HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 02-17-2026; 8-d - Proposed Additions to Animal Services Fee Schedule for Community Animal Clinic & Purchasable Collars & Leashes 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 17, 2026
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-d
SUBJECT: Proposed Additions to the Animal Services Fee Schedule for Community Animal
Clinic & Purchasable Collars & Leashes
DEPARTMENT: Animal Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proposed Fee Schedule Elizabeth Overcash, Animal Services
Director, 919-942-7387
PURPOSE: To approve fees associated with the launch of the Orange County Community Animal
Clinic and to approve modest charges for the sale of collars and leashes to support Animal
Services programs. These fees support cost recovery for supplies and services, promote
responsible pet ownership, and ensure the continued sustainability of community programs.
BACKGROUND: In March 2025, Animal Services received a veterinary facility permit from the
North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board to operate the Orange County Community Animal Clinic
(Clinic). Under this license, Animal Services may now practice veterinary medicine on privately
owned pets in the community, rather than being restricted to practicing medicine on animals that
come into the custody of the shelter. This milestone represents a significant step forward in the
shelter's ongoing efforts to address the barriers preventing access to affordable veterinary care
by increasing Animal Services' ability to serve the more vulnerable human and animal populations
in the community.
The Clinic officially began seeing patients in July 2025 and provided service to a total of 122 pets
in 2025. Many of the pet owners served by the Clinic fall just outside eligibility for the Animal
Services' free spay and neuter voucher program, yet still struggle to afford private veterinary care.
Through the Clinic, Animal Services is able to offer affordable wellness exams, vaccinations,
minor treatments, and spay and neuter surgeries, thereby meeting a vital need for families who
might otherwise have no ability to access veterinary care.
The Clinic is currently funded through donations and the Animal Services Department's medical
account, which has allowed Animal Services to pilot these services and assess community
demand. As the program continues to grow, Animal Services is dedicated to achieving a self-
sustaining model that ensures long-term viability without relying solely on donated funds.
Implementing reasonable service fees for residents who can pay will help offset supply and
medication costs while maintaining affordability for the public and allowing for reduced or waived
fees for financially insecure residents.
Offering these services directly through Animal Services not only improves animal welfare, but
also strengthens the community's capacity to keep pets in loving homes. Veterinary costs have
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increased by over 60 percent over the past decade. As a result, 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. Providing accessible veterinary care gives pet owners options that they may not
have had otherwise, helping to prevent unnecessary surrenders and reducing the number of
animals entering the shelter system.
Animal Services has also identified a growing need for basic pet supplies at the time of adoption.
A large number of adopters arrive without leashes or collars, which are essential for safely taking
pets home. Historically, Animal Services has provided donated leashes and collars to meet this
need. However, donations have not kept pace with demand. Introducing a modest fee for the
purchase of these items will ensure that adopters have immediate access to necessary supplies
while generating a small amount of additional revenue to support shelter operations and
programs. Donated supplies will still remain available for adopters who choose not to purchase a
collar and/or leash.
As community need increases, Animal Services' goal is to continue expanding services within the
financial and staffing means. In the future, staff hopes to offer additional lifesaving treatments and
preventive care options that further support pet retention, promote the health and safety of
animals, and improve the quality of life of Orange County residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: At the beginning stages of the Community Animal Clinic, it is difficult to
accurately estimate a financial impact. In the first several months of operation, clients paid
approximately $4,500 for Clinic services. During this time, the Clinic engaged clients slowly in
order to work through operations, and many clients were those most in need and unable to provide
payment. Since then, Animal Services has begun engaging more clients and more financially-
secure clients. Animal Services is also partnering with local nonprofits to provide spay and neuter
services for animals through the Clinic. A modest estimate would be that the Clinic will bring in
approximately $6,000 in service fees from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. This revenue
will help offset supply, medication, and staffing costs associated with Clinic operations and will
contribute to the program's goal of becoming self-sustaining. Additional modest revenue is
anticipated from the sale of collars and leashes, which will also support shelter operations and
community programming. Donations and grant funding will further offset costs. The Clinic has
thus far received over $20,000 in donations and $79,552 in grant funding to support operations.
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 the proposed fees
for the Community Animal Clinic and the sale of goods for collars and leashes for addition to the
approved fee schedule for Animal Services, allowing Animal Services to retain the authority to
waive fees in situations where doing so would benefit the health and/or welfare of community
members and their pets.
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FY 2025-26 Annual Operating Budget
Proposed Fee Change-Animal Services
Department Animal Service
1.Review FY24-25 Commissioner Approved Fee Schedule linked here
2.List any proposed new fees m fee changes below
Reasonfor Change
(Desoibe,In retell,why the increase Is needed and what 3035-38 Date of Last
DIWcion jl�'R1.#' Action Requested Impact the Increasewll have.) 2§{�,iZB;� Proposed Rate Ardieipa[etl Revenue from Fee Change RaWelgn.
To.—the cost of shipping printed materials to
residents who request Information.Recent postage
se has caused a funding gap of$1,000 since
Example-Finance Example-Shipping Fees Increase Aso uested Novembar2021. $ 1.00 $ 1.10 $ 4,00000 2024
Do not—..ugh onatresm
keep pip fh demand.Gies ar.pteroption to purchaseAnimal Services will review operations In the
Animal$haller Lsshes Increase Requested $ 5.00 future to determine financial impacts.
Do nst racerw enough donated collars and leashes to
keep up with tlari Gives atlopter option to Wrchase Animal S cas will review operations in the
Animal Shelter Collars Increase Requsled $ 5.00 I—to determine financial impacts.
Do
of rete ough orate col als antla ce to
keep up with demand.Glues Adopt.,option m purchase Animal Services will review operations In the
Animal Shelter LsashlCollar Combo Increase Requested $ 8.00 fuWre to determine Flnanclalimpacis.
Am nity Clinic ow caste nary An, Services will review operatipnsln
Animal Shelter Clinic-Evan Fee, Inc se Requested m;provides access to affordable veterinary care $ 45.00 future I.ctermine Finan,r-pads.
New Community Clinic low-costfeefor a dog neuter, o- 1 Animal a will review operations In the
Animal Shelter Clinic-Dog Neuler Inc se Requested provitles ac ss to affordable veterinary ri heed m weight future to tletermine financial impacts.
unity Clinic low-cost e a dog spay; 0- mal a wi I review operations In the
Animal Shelter Clinic-Dog Spay Increase Requested pro'des ac' o affordable veternary care yeight future to determine financial impacts.
unity link low-cost a cat neuter; Arl, will review operations n the
Animal SM1elter Clinic-Cat Neuter Inc se Requested protides scress to affortlable veternary re $ 70.00 future to tletermine financial impacts.
CommunityNewc.rnmlint low-cost a cat spay; Animal Services will review operations in the
Animal SM1elter Clinic-Cat Spay Inc se Requested pro'des oaffortlablc veternary ca $ 85.00 futu todeterminefinancialimpacts.
un tyt link low-cost e e d neuter; Animal will review operations in t e
Animal SM1elter Clinic-Rabbit Neuter Inc se Requested protides ss to affortlable veterinary ca $ 120.00 future to determine financialimpacis.
umly Clinic law-cost fee e t spay; Animal Services will review operations in the
Animal Shelter Clinic-Rabbit Spay Increase Requested protides aces W affortlable veterinary care $ 150.00 futuretodeterminefinancial impacts.
Naw Commundy Clinic lowest fee fir an open umNlical
Clinic-Open Unit hernia(on tap of spay fee);povids access to affordable Animal Services will review oparations In the
Animal Sheller Hernia Inereese Requested veterinaryca $ 25.00 fuNre to determine financial impal
New only Clinic low-cos[for,I.,.male that is
cryptorchltl cr mat In.a testicle outside of the scrotum
that needs r oval Ion top of neuter fee);p.,do. AnService wi
imal ll reWew operations In the.
Animal shelter Clinic-Cryptorchid Increase Requested ccass to affortlable veterinary care $ 50.00 future to determine Onanclal Imp".
New Community Clinic low-cost fas to spay or neuter a
'Tial-facad"breed Ion lop of spaylneuter fee),taking Into
account additional steps needed to keep these dogs safe; Animal Services will review operations In the
Animal Shatter Clinic-Brachycephalic Inose Requaeted provitles access to offerdaole veterinary care $ 25.00 future to determine financial impacts.
N—Communi y vamn eco operabpns in
Animal Sheller Clinic-Rabies Vaccine Increase Requested protides ac ass to affodaole veternary care es $ 10.00 f�t�rem tlet const¢financial impacts.
unin c -cast ee vaccin awoperahons n
Animal Sheffer Distsrpeop—Vaccine Increase Requested provides cars to offotlaNe yeternary care $ 15.00 fulu a tc,define financial impacts.
o Y cast ee eco opera Ions m t e
Animal Sheller DistamperlParvo Vacoine) Incrsaes Requested ne;provides access to affodaols veternary care $ 15.00 future to determine financial impacts.
Neyy Community review aper o in
Animal Shatter Clinic-Bardetolla Viii I—ese Requested ns;protides awes.to affmtlaole veterinary care $ 15.00 fuWre to detercm a financial impatiens
Conine ortn un y costs rm est; eco operation,int e
Animal Shelter rest c Inereece Requested pro'des...ses to affocode veterinary care $ 20.00 fuNre to determinecoefinancial impacts.
unity link ow- e
Clinic-FWine LoukemlalFlV IeukcnialFlV test;provides sccesst affordable Animal Services will review operations In the
Animal Shelter Test Increase Requested veterinary ca $ 40.00 future m determine financial impacts.
New unity Brit ow cos[e co Ip; Animal Services will review operations in the
Animal Shelter Clinic-Microchip Increase Requested pmMr.s ac ss to affordable veternary¢aver $ 35.00 future to determine financial impacts.
unity Clinic low-cost a or mattick mal Services will review operations in the
Animal Shelter Clinic-FleaMck Prevention Increase Requested pm,artmmprovides access to affortlable veternary care $ 10.00 future to determine finan,o1,,mpacts.
unity linin low-cost ee or dewormer; Animal Services will review operations in the
Animal Shelter Clinic-Pyrantel Dew c se InRequested promrsac toaffwdable veternary ca $ 10.00 future to determine financialimpam,
unilylimit low-cost a or heartworm Animal Services will review operations in Ihs
Animal SM1elter Clinic-Heartworm Prevsmlon Increase Requested pri—bon:protides access W affordable veternary care $ 1500 Ifutuawde[ermisfinancialimpecls.
New Community Clinic low-cost fee for various
medications;provitles access m offodaole veterinary Animal Services will review oparatipns In the
Animal shelter Clinic-Medications Increase Requester) $0430 future to determine financial impacts.
only -cost s surgts
Clinic-Other Surgical procedures omer Iran spay and neuter;provide aoxsa Animal Service will review operations in the
Animal Shaker Procedures Increase Requested to affordable veterinary care $04500 futuretodeterminefinancialimpact.
New Community Clinic fee waiver for various procures,
treatments,etc.,which will bs covered by grant and dmdr Animal SerWcss will review operations in the
Animal Sheller Clinic-Fere Waived Morsae Requested funding;provides access to affordable veterinary care $ future to detamins financial impacts.
olio"ora arsW get chert a ted cat e I
last.Nm a standard practice in shalledng to tet for
either but can be a barrier to people adopting,so giving Animal Sem will re eco aperallons In the
Animal Sheffer Adl-on FeLV1FIV TestIncrease Requested adapters the option to pay for it $ 40.00 future W determine flnenciel Impacts.
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