Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Of more concern is the proposed subsidization of APS through spay/neuter fees and <br />veterinarian care. Most objectionable is the "animal services charge" of $80,526, more than the <br />cost of a full time veterinarian. HSUS never recommended the current practice of daily visits by <br />a veterinarian; it said "Documentation of all aspects of this care must be made, and should be <br />carefully reviewed on a daily basis by a veterinarian or other person with knowledge of <br />appropriate veterinary care for sheltered animals." HSUS severely criticized the animal care at <br />the shelter based on quality of care, not quantity. <br />Bobby Schopler was paid $65,000 per year including fringe benefits. He spent one <br />day per week at the shelter and was on call at other times to consult with the staff, which he <br />trained. Excellent part-time veterinarians are available at a cost of under $50lhour. A <br />competent veterinarian could be available for an average of 10 hours per week far about <br />$25,000, a savings of $40,000. I urge you to advise John Link to contract with a local <br />veterinarian for these services. <br />• spaylneuter services <br />Page 6 says "APS has stated they will continue to provide citizens with Iowlcost <br />spay/neuter surgery services in addition to whatever arrangement the County chooses to <br />employ". Actually APS does not provide surgery services; according to the APS website it <br />"contracts with the Nicks Road Veterinary Clinic to perform all of the surgeries for the Animal <br />Shelter". Presumably, the County will have to do the same since APS cannot legally operate a <br />veterinary practice nor employ a veterinarian for these services, although the County may <br />choose to do so in the future. Since the clinic opened it doors in 1997, it made <br />sufficient profit to support the now defunct wildlife operation; undoubtedly AP5 is now making a <br />profit on this practice. Certainly the clinic should charge a substantially lower rate to the County <br />for its bulk contract than it does to the public on an individual basis. The proposed charge of <br />$132,000 is $13,000 higher than the fee APS charges for individual public animals. I believe <br />that the County should negotiate only asix-month contract on a more favorable per animal rate <br />and be charged for only the actual number of animals neutered. <br />public spaylneuter fee using average malelfemale cast <br />spaylneuter $75 $80 52 52 <br />number 423 471 464 497 2003 report <br />Total cost $119,377. <br />• Conclusion <br />The details of veterinarian care and a spaylneuter contract are not before you tonight <br />and I urge you to accept the recommendations of John Link with these suggestions. <br />He noted that APS has been making a profit under their spaylneuter program from <br />the public. He said that they actually supported the wildlife program based on this profit. He <br />said that he knows a lot more about the statistics of APS than Ann Peterson does. <br />Elizabeth Heilman said that she is an Orange County taxpayer and a volunteer at the <br />APS for six years. She commented on the two positions -Shelter Operations Manager and <br />Customer Relations/Volunteer Manager. She hopes that the County will use prudence and <br />foresight in selecting the individuals to fill these two key positions. She encouraged the County <br />to undertake a search for competent and experienced candidates that extends beyond the gaol <br />of APS employees. She said that if the County is determined to hire people that are best suited <br />and committed to carrying out the duties of the two positions so that animals are properly cared <br />for, treated humanely without favoritism and with respect, she believes more animals will be <br />saved. <br />Linda Schmoldt said that she is glad that the APS is not going to provide spaylneuter <br />services. She said that this would be a fresh start, which is what the public wants. She thinks <br />