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~ ~°I <br />O~~p <br />If £ <br />'~`~b(G~~o~`d <br />ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD <br />Task Force on "Keeping of Wild Animals" Ordinance Final Report <br />August 29th, 2007 <br />The Task Force on "Keeping of Wild Animals" Ordinance was appointed by the Orange County <br />Animal Services Advisory Board in response to a proposal by Ms. Kindra Mammone of Creative <br />Learning About Wildlife Species (CLAWS), an Orange County resident, to change the current <br />ordinance. <br />Ms. Mammone wished to amend the Orange County Ordinance so that CLAWS would be able to <br />rehabilitate Bobcats, a native species of North Carolina. In addition, Ms. Mammone was <br />interested in acquiring a Bobcat that could not be released back into the wild for the purpose of <br />animal-related education. <br />Ms. Mammone had numerous individuals, including veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators, <br />among others, who were very familiar with CLAWS and supported Ms. Mammone's efforts and <br />work with wildlife. In addition, Ms. Mammone provided the Task Force with applicable laws, <br />regulations, permits, licenses, etc. and invited members of the Task Force to visit her home, <br />which is also her wildlife facility. <br />The Task Force met four times and reviewed the following: the history of the current Orange <br />County Ordinance, Ms. Mammone's proposal and supporting information; information about <br />Zoonotic diseases; N.C. laws, rules, regulations; pertinent Federal laws; other relevant <br />information concerning native North Carolina wildlife (included and incorporated herein by <br />reference in the attached binders), as well as information from NC veterinarians and wildlife <br />rehabilitators. In May of 2007, Ms. Mammone requested that her proposal to amend the Orange <br />County ordinance be withdrawn. <br />Although Ms. Mammone withdrew her proposal to amend the Orange County Ordinance on the <br />Keeping of Wild and Dangerous Animals, the Task Force had completed a great deal of work on <br />the substance and rationale for this ordinance and determined that a report to the Animal <br />Services Advisory Board documenting that work should be completed. <br />In light of the health and safety issues for both wild animals and humans, as well as the expertise <br />and resources necessary to appropriately rehabilitate only native NC wildlife, after careful <br />consideration, the Task Force respectfully makes the following recommendations: <br />l . The Orange County Ordinance on The Keeping of Wild Animals should not be amended. <br />2. Orange County should provide support for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and education <br />only to those organizations that have the space, on-site expertise, budget and other <br />resources to humanely and appropriately rehabilitate, and educate the public about, native <br />North Carolina wildlife. This could be in the form of amulti-county wildlife cooperative. <br />Respectfully Submittted, <br />M. Ross Oglesbee, Chair <br />