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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 19, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. SUBJECT: Resolution Acknowledging February 26, 2008 as "Spay Day USA" <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Resolution Ross Oglesbee, J.D., Chair, Animal <br />Services Advisory Board, 966-0599 <br />Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services <br />968-2287 <br />PURPOSE: To approve a resolution declaring February 26, 2008 as "Spay Day USA" in <br />Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: The Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) recommended at its January <br />meeting that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopt a resolution declare February <br />26, 2008 "Spay Day USA" in Orange County. The Humane Society of the United States has <br />nationally designated the last Tuesday of each February as "Spay Day USA." <br />Spay Day was originally established in 1995 by the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) and <br />outreach was taken over by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in 2006, when <br />DDAL combined operations with HSUS. Since its creation, participants have spayed or <br />neutered more than 1,386,000 animals, preventing millions of potential births and thus saving <br />taxpayers millions of dollars that may have otherwise been used to provide animal control, care <br />and sheltering for these animals. <br />The issue of pet overpopulation in Orange County is a priority for the ASAB and Animal <br />Services Department. The ASAB has created a subcommittee charged with developing a <br />strategic plan to address the issue of pet overpopulation in the County. This committee has <br />been meeting since fall, collecting information and researching other jurisdictions. <br />Among its tasks is to work with staff to formulate program plans that would best utilize the funds <br />for the Community Spay/Neuter Fund, collected from an increase in the license differential of <br />intact and sterilized dogs and cats. As of January 1, 2008, there was more than $10,000 in that <br />fund, and Animal Services staff is working to formulate targeted programs for pet owners that <br />may be in need of these services.