HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-16-2008 - Info 1
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Orange County .Animal Services
501 W. Franklin St, Suite 106, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (919) 968-2287
To: Barry Jacobs, Chair, Board of County Commissioners
Valerie Foushee, Vice-Chair, Board of County Commissioners
Moses Cary, Board of County Commissioners
Alice Gordon, Board of County Commissioners
Mike Nelson, Board of County Commissioners
From: Bob Marotto, Director of Animal Services
Frank Montes de Oca, Director of Emergency Services
Date: September 5th, 2008
Re: Shelter Co-location of Pets in Emergencies
We are writing to provide an update an pet co-location given discussions earlier in the
year and ongoing efforts for implementation.
As indicated in the abstract and presentation made to the Board of County
Commissioners in February of 2008, the County's Emergency Services and Animal
Services Department have researched and recommend the process of co-location of
pets and animals during a disaster in at least one of the two designated Red Cross
locations that may be opened in Orange County.
At that time, staff estimated the process of implementing co-location to be anywhere
from 12 to 18 months. Given the progress made to date, it is expected and hoped that
the process will come to completion at the 18-month mark, just before the next winter
storm season in the winter of 2009.
Background
On February 19, 2008, Emergency Services and Animal Services made a presentation
to the Board of County Commissioners regarding co-location of animals and people
during a disaster. In addition to describing co-location, the presentation communicated
the positive contact County staff had had with Chapel Hill and Carrboro School System,
the Orange County School System, and the Red Cross.
On the basis of that meeting and a subsequent manager's memo regarding the issue,
staff has proceeded to pursue co-location as an alternative to more historical methods
of sheltering of pets during a disaster.
Shelter Co-location of Pets
September 5f~', 2008
Page 2
Progress
Since the February BOCC meeting, Emergency Services staff has done a considerable
amount of research about co-location and the purchase of a Companion Animal Mobile
Equipment Trailer (GAMEY). These units are already in use in other parts of North
Carolina and Emergency Services has studied the deployment of those and the manner
in which Orange County could obtain a CAMET of its own.
Staff has also compiled standard operating procedures and policies/procedures from
other North Carolina jurisdictions that are using co-location in order to assess best
practices and decide what operations will work best for Orange County.
As a part of our review of pet co-location, staff has decided it is best for Orange County
to obtain a CAMET of its own rather than rely on those that may be available from the
North Carolina State Animal Rescue Team. This will ensure the availability of supplies
needed to shelter and care for those animals brought to a rescue location. The
projected cost of a fully equipped standard CAMET is around $18,000.
Action Steps
Given the work done to date, County staff has identified a number of action steps that
are critical to the implementation of co-location at one Red Cross location in the County.
These are as follows:
® State Public Health site inspection of two Orange County locations presently
used by Red Cross for people during a disaster
• Development of our own standard operating procedures on basis of best
practices
• Mobilization of human resources needed to operate a pet co-located shelter,
which will include community volunteers as well as select County staff.
• Incorporation of co-location as an addendum to the general Red Cross
memorandum for sheltering in a disaster situation.
• Training of County Staff and volunteers in the set up and operation of a co-
located pet shelter.
Staff does think it best to begin with one CAMET atone Red Cross Shelter in the
County until we can assess that Human Resources and staff are fully proficient and
completely operational in a co-located facility. As we move toward implementing the
first co-located shelter, staff will recommend that efforts be gathered to raise funds for a
second CAMET for use at the other Red Cross disaster location. It is the sense of staff
that this effort will be successful provided that our elected officials are involved in
mobilizing community support.
Shelter Co-location of Pets
September 5t", 2008
Page 3
Staff from both Emergency Services and Animal Services continues to actively work on
the process of implementation for a co-located pet shelter. As stated, the projected
winter season of 2009 remains the goal for such implementation.
Cc: Laura Blackman, County Manager
Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager