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ASAB Approved Minutes— March 15 th , 2006, Meeting Page 2 indicated that ordinarily only one interview with an adopter is now being done and that this approach is more friendly to customers (who previously were reinterviewed) when they picked up their animal) and better management of staff time. Animal Shelter Foster and Rescue Program Review: Animal Shelter Director Joe Pulcinella described the review process that is being conducted for these programs. He indicated that the Foster Program is being reviewed first and that this review will be completed before the Rescue Program review begins. With respect to the Foster Program review, he summarized the work to date of staff and the Review Committee as a whole, noting that program evaluation was one of the components remaining for discussion. ASAB members present were invited to identify any specific concerns they had with regard to the Foster Program (as had been done in March with members who were present for that meeting). New Business Introduction of Irene Paul, Animal Control Manager Animal Services Director Bob Marotto introduced Ms. Paul. ASAB members, in turn, introduced themselves to Ms. Paul. Ordnance Amendment Progress Report Animal Services Director Bob Marotto described ongoing work with the Office of the County Attorney on amending Orange County’s Animal ordinances. More specifically, he indicated that he and Animal Control Manager would be meeting soon with Assistant County Attorney Sean Borhanian to review an initial set of possible amendments. He further indicated that any proposed amendments would come to the ASAB for review and discussion in due time. Mr. Marotto also gave a verbal report on the prospect of a tethering ordinance. He reviewed some information about ordinances of this kind in other jurisdictions in North Carolina and elsewhere in the United States; identified and discussed the rationale for such an ordinance; and reviewed several illustrative regulations. In addition, he reviewed pertinent existing sections of Orange County’s Animal Ordinances, e.g., requirements for shelter and containment areas as well as the length and setup of a tieouts. On this basis Mr. Marotto presented several kinds of approaches to the issues addressed by a tethering ordinance and the possible advantages and disadvantages of these approaches. Basic to this presentation and discussion by ASAB members was the importance of education and the advantages of being positive in approach to the care of dogs. One part of this discussion was the availability of resources for alternative methods of confinement such as fencing for pet owners who may prefer to confine their dogs in a different way. On the basis of this presentation and discussion it was agreed that an appropriate starting point would be a twopronged approach to the concerns associated with regulations restricting the tethering of dogs: namely, a more articulated set of operational guidelines or procedures for existing ordinances and an approach to public education. In the coming months, staff will return to the ASAB with more specific information about each of these steps in a complicated but hopefully progressive process of social change.