Annual Report Work Plan 2014_15 working document

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The ASAB will continue to serve as a sounding board for stakeholder groups, reviewing animal-related policy issues raised by residents or identified by the BOCC. Animal Services and other county staff will continue to direct residents to the ASAB as a critical step in any consideration of stakeholder concerns, before bringing an item to the Board of County Commissioners. The ASAB would stress that it remains fundamentally concerned about the human aspects of animal issues and services as well as animal welfare, and recall that one of its members is the veterinarian who serves on Orange County’s Health Board. In addition, the ASAB values the “human- animal bond” and the role of animal companions in enriching the quality of life for individuals, communities and cultures. A good illustration is the ASAB’s support for Animal Services partnership with the Department of Social Service to provide affordable pet sterilization to households of lesser means. What are your Board/Commission’s most important accomplishments? The ASAB continued to work with staff and stakeholders to support and promote a strategic plan for managing pet overpopulation in Orange County. A major component of this work was the creation of a free- roaming cat task force that met more than ten times, held stakeholder listening sessions, and developed a plan to address free-roaming cats as a constituent part of pet overpopulation in Orange County. The ASAB worked closely and collaboratively with staff on the proposed unified animal control ordinance. Significantly, this encompassed collaboration with the UNC-CH School of Government faculty to address and resolve several controversial issues, e.g., trespass and watchdog. The ASAB also worked closely with staff to review funding applications from outside agencies. Through this process, the board sought to identify agencies that augment the “animal services” provided by the County where there is a clear resident need for such services. Finally, the ASAB has sought to coordinate effectively with the BOCC to fill vacancies on the board. This ongoing effort includes interviewing ASAB candidates and making a recommendation to the BOCC for vacant positions. It also includes an orientation for new members, which provides an overview of County “animal services” and introduction to the advisory board in relation to County governance.