ASAB Annual Report Work Plan 2015 2016 Working Document

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consideration of stakeholder concerns, before bringing an item to the Board of County Commissioners. The ASAB would stress that it is fundamentally concerned not only about animal welfare but about the human aspects of animal issues and services. Indeed, one board member is the Health Board veterinarian for Orange County. In addition, the ASAB values and seeks to support the “human- animal bond” and the role of animal companions in enriching the quality of life for individuals, communities and cultures. Of special concern are the services needed by disadvantaged and often underserved households. 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. A more recent initiative is support for efforts to create partnerships with the Family Success Alliance and also the Roger’s Road Neighborhood Association and Rogers Eubank Neighborhood Association (RENA). 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. The board was integral to developing a plan to address free- roaming cats as a critical component of pet overpopulation in Orange County. The ASAB continued to conduct appeal hearings for potentially dangerous dog declarations made under North Carolina’s general statutes. The opportunity for an appeal is mandated and also an important check and balance for county Animal Services. So far in 2015 XY potentially dangerous dog declarations have been appealed and several of these are currently under further appeal in Superior Court. The ASAB considered whether Animal Services should participate in research oriented toward helping shelter animals. They did so at the request of staff which, absent known and accepted guidelines and protocols, has declined to participate in such research. (Most recently staff regrettably declined a request made by a faculty member at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine seeking to reduce morbidity and mortality arising from diarrhea in young cats.) The ASAB also collaborated with staff in reviewing applications as part of the county’s process for funding outside agencies. The board sought to identify agencies that augment the “animal services” provided by the County as well as to seek support for efforts furthering or enhancing the human-animal bond.