Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 2, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4- <br />SUBJECT: Renewal of Animal Services Community Spay/ Neuter Agreement with <br />AnimalKind <br />DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />AnimalKind Agreement Bob Marotto, Director, 968-2287 <br />$20 Fix Brochure/ Application Susan Elmore, DVM, Chair of the Animal <br />Services Advisory Board, 541-3474 <br />PURPOSE: To approve an agreement renewal between Orange County and AnimalKind in the <br />amount of $15,000 that would be expended in FY 2009-10 for the spay and neuter of pets <br />belonging to low income Orange County residents, both those who are clients of the Department <br />of Social Services (DSS) and those who are not. <br />BACKGROUND: This agreement is based on an established relationship with AnimalKind as a <br />part of its regional effort to promote private/public partnerships to end the needless euthanasia <br />of animals. The County's Department of Social Services (DSS) has agreed to collaborate with <br />the Animal Services Department as it partners with AnimalKind, and the agreement is based <br />upon distinguishing between residents that are clients of DSS and other low-income residents <br />that are not DSS clients. <br />For those residents who are clients of DSS programs such as Food Stamps and Medicaid, DSS <br />will send out a notice and identify those pet owners who wish to have their pets spayed or <br />neutered through AnimalKind. Those residents will apply directly to Animal Services and will <br />receive a "no-pay" voucher which will not require a co-pay at the time of service. This will occur <br />based on a recommendation from DSS, which has determined any co-pay would be a deterrent <br />to participation given the state of the economy. The average County cost of each surgery for <br />the pets of DSS clients will be $95. <br />Other residents of Orange County who are not DSS clients but who still meet the eligibility <br />requirements for AnimalKind can apply directly through AnimalKind for the $20 Fix. Residents <br />in this group will qualify if they are at or below 125 percent of the poverty level for the number of <br />persons living in their household (see attached brochure). These residents will receive a <br />voucher from AnimalKind and be required to make a $20 co-pay to the veterinarian at the time <br />of their pet's surgery. The average County cost for these surgeries will be $75. <br />