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Home My WebLink AboutASAB Meeting Summary 05.20.26 Meeting Minutes Approved Orange County North Carolina Animal Services Advisory Board Meeting Meeting Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Meeting Time: 6:30 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. Location: Orange County Animal Services, Community Room, 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC Minutes Recorded By: Mary Lucas Attendance Board Members: Dr. Lee Pickett- present Dr.Ashley Robertson-present Debby Hill- present Mary Lucas-present Annie Goldberg- present Rhonda Patterson - present Dawn Roberts- present Michael Dempsey- present Judy Miller-present Cathy Munnier-present Dr.Ann Brady- present Allan Polak-absent Ellen Pearsall-absent Animal Services Staff attending: Elizabeth Overcash Christina Allen Members of the public or others attending: None Quorum &Call to Order Quorum established: Yes — Members present: 13 (7 required for quorum) Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Debby Hill Review and Adoption of Meeting Agenda Motion to approve: Debby Hill Second: Cathy Munnier Vote: Unanimous Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes Minutes from the April 2026 meeting were approved. Motion to approve: Debby Hill Second: Michael Dempsey Vote: Unanimous Public Comment(Non-Agenda Items) No public comments were received. New Business • Board openings • Ellen officially joined the board. • Dr. Brady's term effective July 1. • Cathy Munnier was reappointed on May 20. • Open positions discussed: retail position currently open; non-municipal position opens July 1. • Three applicants have applied and will be invited to an upcoming meeting. Animal Services Advisory Board Vacancies Board vacancies and appointments were reviewed. Members discussed inviting interested applicants to attend a future meeting. Old Business • 2026 Goals: • Dog training programs continue to be successful. Members expressed interest in cat training and support opportunities. • Dr. Pickett shared information about a shelter that trained cats to perform tricks to increase adoption success. Cathy Munnier shared that cats can be trained and suggested this could be a valuable opportunity. Ohio State University's Indoor Cat Initiative materials will be shared. • Michael Dempsey asked about coordinating meetings with boards from neighboring counties, including Person County. Mary shared that Chatham County does not have a board because they report to the Sheriff. Dr. Pickett asked whether Orange County could host a gathering, and Elizabeth confirmed it could host onsite. • Delegate Proposal: • Debby Hill asked about the best process for establishing a delegate position, noting it has been done previously. Elizabeth Overcash shared that two other county departments currently have delegates and stated she would consult county staff about next steps. Cathy Munnier asked about high school volunteers and suggested inviting students to an upcoming meeting. Dr. Pickett noted that volunteer experience is important for college applications. • Staff Appreciation: • Allan Polak scheduled an ice cream truck appreciation event for July. Elizabeth Overcash shared that staff appreciate recognition efforts beyond regular staff initiatives. Animal Services currently has 32 staff members. • Orange County Survey Follow-Up: • Judy Miller proposed drafting a letter regarding the county survey. Debby Hill noted there were no immediate action items because the survey had already been distributed. Dr. Pickett recommended revisiting the topic next year before the survey is released. Cathy Munnier emphasized that future feedback should be framed as suggestions rather than requests. The board agreed to revisit the topic at the beginning of next year. Information Items Elizabeth Overcash provided shelter updates: • 29 dogs and 42 cats currently in shelter care. • 22 dogs and approximately 100 cats currently in foster care. • Foster placements include both foster-to-adopt and standard foster arrangements. • Additional foster recruitment efforts are ongoing, particularly for ringworm cases. • Intake numbers are tracking higher than last year. • Orange County continues to assist shelters in Rocky Mount, Caswell, Chatham, and Nash counties. • Dr. Jared is pursuing board certification in shelter medicine. • The shelter auction raised approximately $10,000. • Staff and volunteer mentors are forming a development committee focused on donor management, donor appreciation, and planning next year's annual event. • Debby Hill asked whether online donations could be simplified. Elizabeth Overcash shared that updates would require coordination with county finance, legal, and IT departments. Clinic Update: • Christina Allen reported clinic revenue of$74,000 year-to-date. • Donations were budgeted at $35,000 but have already exceeded projections at approximately $37,000. • Approximately six weeks remain in the fiscal year. Rabies and Wildlife Update: • Staff discussed recent fox attacks involving two bites and two additional attacks during daytime hours. • The fox was not captured and is presumed deceased if rabid. • Animal Services issued public communication to notify residents to keep children and pets indoors. • Five rabies-positive cases have been identified this year. • Board members commended staff for timely public relations and communication efforts. Informal Discussion No additional informal discussion items were recorded. Ajournment Motion to adjourn: Debby Hill Second: Michael Dempsey Vote: Unanimous