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funds for it. She thinks the County should diversify the resources and separate wildlife from the animal shelter. Susie Schopler is a veterinarian and has done volunteer work far APS and the wildlife sanctuary. She thinks that the two groups work quite well together overall, but there is a conflict of interest for domestic animals and wildlife. She supports the Piedmont Wildlife Center. Bonnie Norwood said that she is putting herself on the line for Dr. Bobby Schopler. She made reference to his comment that there was 1,500 wildlife brought in and said that there is nothing in place now far wildlife until a center is opened. She asked for the County to work together with these people to save wildlife. Pamela Bay, an APS board member and Chairperson of the APS Wildlife Committee, spoke on behalf of the APS Wildlife Committee members. She said that the primary focus of APS has traditionally been its dedication to the wildlife and care of domestic animals. In October, the APS Wildlife Committee presented the APS Board of Directors the findings that the APS is not in a position to operate a wildlife care facility. This is a specialized field with particular criteria that is not easily met. The committee fully supports any independent organization that has the expertise, dedication, and commitment required for the rehabilitation of wildlife. On a personal note, she would hope that the people that care so much about animals would join together and find the best possible solution and stop attacking each other. Tani Constant said that she has worked closely with APS and she is a wildlife rehabilitation specialist. She said that APS is a good organization. She said that the wildlife sanctuary was always an offshoot and then it grew and grew. You need a wildlife vet for wildlife. The APS has wonderful programs for domestic animals. She hopes that the APS and the Piedmont Wildlife Center can collaborate. She distributed a handout. Victoria Shields, a resident of Carrboro, said that a wildlife center under the leadership of Dr. Bobby Schopler is a no-brainer. Darra Das, Associate Director of APS, said that one of her main jobs is to do the budget. She hopes that the spending that was done at the APS and the reckless spending does not happen at the new Piedmont Wildlife Center. Linda Schmoldt, a former APS employee and a participant in the Emergency Animal Rescue Program, said that very few veterinarians have wildlife expertise. She thinks that the money is less of an issue than the expertise. She hopes that the APS does reopen the sanctuary, but she does not feel confident that it can happen because it is so hard to find the expertise. Pat Sanford said that she shares Dr. Bobby Schopler's vision that we need an educational building. The County needs this and it would be a great loss to the County without this facility. Beverly Rockhill works in the field of prevention in public health. She said that she heard that this area is the third worst in sprawl in the nation. She spoke about prevention of wildlife injuries through roads and loss of habitat. Chair Jacobs said that the Board of County Commissioners is committed to preserving wildlife habitat. Jess Casey said that she was currently helping out at the shelter and they are running a spaytneuter clinic with an aviary and a raptor hold. There are plans to build another building. She does not understand why the two groups cannot work together on this program. Chair Jacobs said that the County could address wildlife centers and haw we fund outside agencies, which starts the first of the year. The Piedmont Wildlife Center could work through this process to get funded. This can be discussed later on.