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a. Approval of Contracts with Veterinarians to Provide SpaylNeuter Surgery <br />Services to the Orange County Animal Shelter <br />The Board considered approving contracts with two area veterinarians to perform <br />spay/neuter surgeries for animals adopted from the Orange County Animal Shelter, effective <br />July 1, 2004. <br />John Link said that on May 20t" the Board authorized staff to proceed with the actions <br />necessary for a smooth transition for Orange County to assume responsibility for operating the <br />animal shelter effective July 1St. One of the last pieces is to secure contracts with area <br />veterinarians to assure a good spay/neuter program. There are two veterinarians <br />recommended; two separate contracts, which will cover the necessary services for next year. <br />Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that there was a team that was involved in <br />coming up with solicitation letters for area veterinarians. The recommendation involves two <br />veterinarians, Dr. Marat Dubrovsky and Dr. Soren David Windram. This will be for aone-year <br />trial period. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the rates on page two and asked why they <br />were different. Gwen Harvey said that these are quotes, and they believe that this is the best <br />arrangement, despite the price differential, because Dr. Dubrovsky would not be available to do <br />five days because of his obligations associated with the new shelter for APS and the low-cost <br />spay/neuter program. He is interested in diversifying his practice beyond APS and Orange <br />County. Dr. Windrum is only available for two or three days a week. The costs will be <br />monitored as they occur. <br />Chair Jacobs verified that this is an estimated top cost that was less than what another <br />entity quoted. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Elliot Cramer said that his estimate of spay/neuter is an average of $76 per animal. He <br />is very pleased with the proposal from Soren Windram. He is very highly regarded and has <br />strong animal welfare interests. With regard to Dr. Dubrovsky, evidently APS has backed off <br />from the demand of $264,000 a year that Ann Peterson presented to the BOCC. At the April <br />20tH meeting of the BOCC, Ann Peterson (speaking for APS) demanded this in order for APS to <br />provide veterinarian services to the County beginning July 1St. This demand was rejected by the <br />County. Both Pat Sanford and he told Ann Peterson that her figures were grossly incorrect. <br />Ann Peterson insisted that she had obtained these figures from Suzy Cooke and that they were <br />correct. He said that this proposal could not have come to the County without the approval of <br />APS since Dr. Dubrovsky has an employment contract with APS at a salary (as of July 18, <br />2002) of $52,000 per year. He leases his building for $1 per year, conditional on his <br />maintaining that contract. The lease terminates upon the termination of his employment <br />contract. He said that obviously Dr. Dubrovsky cannot enter into a contract with the County <br />without the approval of APS. <br />He said that the HSUS evaluation of APS veterinarian services were hardly glowing, and <br />he believes the County needs the strong oversight that John Link is proposing. He hopes that <br />by this time next year, the County will have its own mobile spaytneuter facility, since it will be <br />much mare cost effective for the County to hire its own veterinarian on an hourly basis. He <br />mentioned a few comments from the HSUS report. He trusts that the practices are changing <br />under Joe Pulcinella. He urged the Board to accept the Manager's recommendation. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the Board got an email today from Pat Sanford that there are two <br />different forms of spaying and they should be sure to approve the right one. John Link said that <br />he received the same email, and he will make sure staff knows about this. <br />A motion was made Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to <br />accept the Manager's recommendation, which is: <br />