ASAB minutes 051618 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2 Old Business: (A) ASAB Communication About Animal Services Property Easements: There are no updates. Jeff Thompson, Orange County AMS, will address Duke Power to formalize plans. (B) Guidelines for Surrendered Animals Suffering from Cruelty or Neglect: Michelle Walker shared the last draft with Heather Payne. The proposed edits regarded policy on notification in writing and the specific explanation of the terms of the Notice, including the terms of the appeals procedure. There were questions from ASAB about the adjudication of appeals. The procedures will require the recommendations of the County Attorney’s office and a language amendment to include this in the scope of the Hearing Panel Pool. There was one statement that was requested to be removed, “ASAB welcomes input regarding staff's capabilities for providing such consultations in light of limited resources.” Susan Elmore made a motion to forward the final policy draft to the County Attorney’s office as edited for legal review and possible edits; Michelle Walker seconded. Edmund Tiryakian read a statement during discussion. The motion carried. Edmund Tiryakian voted in dissent. He requested his statement become part of the minutes: “Although I agree these Guidelines are a step in the right direction, they are fatally flawed: they fail to accord to Animal Services the necessary authority to permanently bar an individual who has displayed an egregious inability to treat an animal with due care. Merely placing someone on probation whose gross negligence may have resulted in severe, permanent and inexcusable harm, is wholly inadequate and trivializes the extent of their misdeeds. We should not be substituting our lofty good wishes for rehabilitation for the real world reality of people whose past behavior disqualifies them from adopting anew from Orange County Animal Services. Adoption is a privilege, not a right. I have never argued that every time a surrendered animal shows evidence of gross negligence the owner should inexorably be permanently banned from re-adopting; merely that we authorize Animal Services to make that judgment call after they investigate the matter fully, subject, as always, to the right of appeal by an owner who feels aggrieved. I note that many of my colleagues are worried about ruffling the sensibilities of certain members of the greater community. I believe in the process, we have ignored an equally important stakeholder in this debate, the abused pets, for which we are stewards. Agency is no excuse for responsibility. Finally, I find it regrettable that this protocol provides no guidance whatsoever to Animal Services for the predictably far more numerous instances of a surrendered animal which shows signs of mere negligent mistreatment? Does Animal Services have authority to impose any conditions on re- adoption, such as attending a course on animal hygiene, or disease prevention? The guidelines’ failure to instruct Animal Services on proper procedure leaves an unfortunate void, which they will have to contrive for themselves, without the requested input from the ASAB. For these reasons, Madame Chair, I must vote no.” New Business: (A) Ninth Annual Open House: Andi Morgan reported on the upcoming Open House Saturday, June 2. Monetary donations and pledges of snacks, balloons, face painting, and other activity supplies are being accepted. (B) Animal Services Updates: Bob Marotto reported that there is 100+ cat back log on the barn cat/ free- roaming cat work. There will be a barn cat SNAP spay and neuter day at OCAS. This will occur on May 21st. There will be an event on Saturday, May 19th at the Rogers Road Community Center to provide rabies and microchipping. Dr. Elmore will speak on pet health. There will be ACOs and AC vehicles on site. The Orange County Citizens “College” featured OCAS on May 15th. Regarding the seized dogs from the criminal investigation, Bob Marotto stated State law requires any dog that is harbored for dog-fighting be deemed a dangerous dog. Based on the forensic examination, the seized dogs have been sorted into groups. The dogs having signs that they have been fought will not be available for adoption (18 dogs). The other dogs (12 dogs) will be examined by the behaviorists to determine if they are adoptable. The dogs have now been