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Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) Free Roaming Cat (FRC) Task Force <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />Free-roaming cats are the most significant source of cat overpopulation in Orange <br />County, NC. These may be feral or stray cats or they may be outside cats loosely <br />affiliated with a single domicile or affiliated with a number of homes in a particular <br />area. If not spayed and neutered, these cats can not only multiply quickly but can <br />also exhibit disruptive behavior associated with mating and protection of territory <br />such as yowling, fighting, and spraying. They are also associated with the <br />destruction of small birds and small mammals. Some of these cats are owned and <br />some are not. But when they breed, the number of unwanted cats increases <br />exponentially. In addition to nuisance behavior, there are other issues including the <br />lack of immunizations and spread of infection/disease among cat populations. These <br />issues and the lack of guaranteed food, shelter and protection from predation make <br />life especially hard for these cats. Unvaccinated free roaming cats can also pose a <br />significant public health risk via the transmission of disease such as rabies and <br />toxoplasmosis. <br /> <br />Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) and the ASAB are partnering to look for <br />ways to address the issue of FRC overpopulation. Importantly, the overarching goal <br />is to control cat overpopulation in Orange County, which supports and promotes the <br />ASAB strategic plan for managing pet overpopulation. Integral to this plan are the <br />objectives of reducing animal intakes and euthanasia and controlling the medium <br />and long-term costs of animal services in Orange County. By controlling <br />overpopulation and vaccinating FRCs, there will be the added benefit of increasing <br />the health of FRCs, protection of public health, and less destruction of wildlife. <br /> <br />Charge: (define purpose, primary goals, and objectives) <br /> <br />Purpose: To cooperate with OCAS staff to examine the issue of feline overpopulation <br />as a key component of the county’s strategic plan for managing pet overpopulation <br />and identify one or more initiatives to control free roaming cat overpopulation in a <br />humane and sustainable manner. <br /> <br />Primary goals: TBD by task force and approved by ASAB <br /> <br />Objectives: The FRC Task Force will make recommendations to the ASAB on the <br />issue of free roaming cat overpopulation and the associated protection of public <br />health in Orange County, NC. <br /> <br />Timeline: TBD by task force and approved by ASAB <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />November 20, 2013