Minutes 02-12-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

the task form came up with a strategic plan that was then presented to the Animal Services Advisory Board. The board unanimously adopted it. Dr. White reviewed the executive summary. She said the first part of the plan is a strong recommendation for micro chipping, as micro chipped animals are much more readily returned to their owners. She said micro chipping used to be part of Orange County Animal Services until it was cut from the county budget during a time of fiscal difficulty. She said there is now a charge of$25 to place a micro-chip, and this is voluntary. She said that the new recommendation is, when a stray is brought to the shelter and an owner comes to recover the animal, the owner must pay for micro chipping in order for the animal to be returned. Dr. White said that part two addresses whether animals should be mandatorily spayed and neutered before being returning to their owner. She said that the committee was very interested in moving in that direction at first. However, after reviewing the information, the committee realized that this is not being locally enforced in North Carolina. She said that these mandatory spay and neuter programs are unusual in the US and most national organizations recommend against them. Concerns are that owners will go underground, avoiding vets and licensing, in fear of mandatory spay neuter laws. She said that the shelter cannot spay or neuter animals that don't belong to them. She said that this means if an owner comes to recover a pet, the shelter cannot enforce spaying or neutering in the shelter before returning the animal. Considering the research, it was decided that there were other ways to encourage spaying/neutering animals without legislating. The committee strongly recommended an education process and, as mentioned by Bob Marotto earlier, a very inexpensive or free spay and neuter program. Dr. White said there is need for help from the Board of County Commissioners on deciding whether or not to implement a tiered and differential recovery program. She referred to the tiered pay licensing system, which charges more for reproductive pets than spayed/neutered pets. She said the idea is to take that model and apply it to animals who are recovered. The first time an animal is recovered, it will cost a certain fee to get the animal back and the fee is different depending on whether the animal is spayed/neutered or not. She said that for the second recovery of the same animal, it would cost more for that animal to be recovered and there is again a differential based on the reproductive status. This increase continues with the third recovery, but with an added incentive to spay or neuter. For this third recovery, there will be a $100 deposit that will be returned if the owner returns within 90 days to show proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered. She said that with these fees and a healthy dose of education there is hope that the objective of reducing the number of reproductive animals will be reached. Commissioner Price asked for clarification about the $25 microchip fee and Dr. White said there is an impoundment fee, inoculation fee, possible licensing fee, as well as the micro chipping fee. Commissioner Dorosin asked about the state veterinary rules regarding spaying and neutering an animal that does not belong to the shelter. He asked how long it takes for the animal to become a shelter animal. Bob Marotto said the shelter holds the animal for a minimum of 5 calendar days, 3 of those days the shelter must be open to the public. If it is a legally surrendered animal, the shelter could decide to adopt out the animal immediately. Commissioner Dorosin asked, if five days pass and the dog is reproductive, how quickly would they move forward to spay it. Bob Marotto said that if they think the animal is highly adoptable they may schedule it for sterilization on the 6th day; otherwise, they would have someone to adopt the animal and then schedule the sterilization. This avoids the cost of sterilizing an animal who is then not adopted. Commissioner Dorosin asked, if the animal is not adoptable, then is it not on the spay/neuter list. Bob Marotto said it would not be on a spay and neuter list but on another list.