Agenda - 09-19-2006-7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 19, 20Q6 Action Agenda Item No. -]7-b SUBJECT: Animal Sheltering -Operating Practices and Philosophies DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): (Under Separate Cover) Outline of Accompanying Materials Accompanying Materials Biography of Expert Consultant (Kate Pullen) INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Marotto, Director, 968-2287 PURPOSE: To provide information to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and members of the Animal Services Advisory Board in attendance on sheltering philosophies and practices in relation to the design of the County's animal services facility, BACKGROUND: As the County proceeds with the design and construction of a new facility for animal sheltering and control services, the importance of considering various sheltering philosophies and practices with respect to the building programming and design has become apparent. In addition, there has been and continues to be community concern not only with the temporary sheltering of animals but with their final disposition, that is, whether ultimately they are released alive -through adoption, transfer or reclamation - or they are euthanized. This concern has given rise to the question of whether it is possible for the County's Animal Shelter to become what is sometimes referred to as called a no-kill shelter - if not a shelter that does not euthanize at all, then perhaps one that does not euthanize behaviorally sound and healthy animals. Moreover, the question of what would be entailed to design, build and operate the County's new animal services facility in accordance with the principle of extended care has come up. While the term itself no doubt requires more precise definition, it is safe to assume such care exceeds the minimum mandated time for holding a stray animal for recovery while being less than the long-term commitment that is required to ensure that no adoptable animal is euthanized. In addition to the accompanying documents, Ms. Kate Pullen of the American Society for the Prevention of Cnaelty to Animals will make a presentation to establish an overview of contemporary sheltering practices; identify key considerations regarding shelter design in relation to operations and programs; and suggest some key strategies for along-term plan far curbing the use of euthanasia as a means of population control for adoptable or potentially adoptable animals,