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<br /> <br />Animal Services News <br />August 20, 2014 <br /> <br />Spotlighting <br />• Onslow County staff toured the Animal Services Center in late July (they were excited about <br />their take-ways!). <br />• We received a $13,000 donation through the OC Community Giving Fund to construct the dog <br />play/exercise area originally envisioned as part of the Animal Services Center. <br />• A donated car sold for $1,200 which is being dedicated to the Community Spay & Neuter Fund. <br /> <br />Rabies <br />• YTD we’ve had 18 laboratory confirmed rabies cases—12 raccoons, 4 foxes, 2 bats and 1 <br />skunk. <br />• YTD we’ve conducted more than 100 rabies exposure investigations. Tests are only done when <br />there is a human exposure and/or when there is an exposure to an unvaccinated animal. <br />• A total of 251 animals (105 cats and 146 dogs) were vaccinated at the 3 rabies vaccination <br />clinics held in July and August (and 8 animals received microchips at the last clinic). <br />• Staff is considering a regularly scheduled session on livestock and rabies with Carol Woodlief, <br />DVM, Regional Veterinarian, NC Ag Department, given that the one in late July was so good. <br />• World Rabies Day is September 28, 2014 and we are hoping to coordinate with the Health <br />Department in a broad outreach effort. <br /> <br />Animal Control & Protection Cases <br />• We gained control of 24 dogs (including 11 newborns and 8 puppies) that were seized due to <br />neglect through a recent court action. Criminal charges are pending. <br />• Another case involves civil actions to obtain control of 1 of 5 dogs seized as a result of neglect <br />(as the other 4 dogs were surrendered). Criminal charges are pending for two defendants. <br />• Other court actions concern care, custody and/or control of large numbers of animals (30 plus <br />in one case, and 75 plus in another), a challenging as well as demanding area of action for <br />several reasons <br />• We also have numerous pending criminal cases (most of which concern public health and <br />safety and/or animal cruelty and neglect). <br /> <br />Assorted Updates <br />• AnimalKind has a new Executive Director, Martin Banning, with whom Sarah Fallin, our <br />Program Coordinator, and I recently met. We will continue to communicate with Mr. Banning <br />about our needs and partnerships and shared opportunities. <br />• Three positions have been filled (2 Animal Care Technicians and 1 Health Care Technician) but <br />there are still 3 vacancies (2 Animal Control Officers and 1 Animal Care Technician) <br />• Staff attended the recent Cat Symposium (sponsored by HSUS) and Rabies and Other Zoonotic <br />Diseases: Their Control and Prevention (sponsored by the Environmental Health State of <br />Practice Committee). <br />• There is still no commercial dog breeding legislation and the governor’s proposal to move <br />Animal Welfare from Ag to DPS did not survive the budget process. <br /> <br /> <br />Prepared by Bob Marotto, Animal Services Director