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6 <br /> The ASAB serves as a sounding board for policy issues raised by residents <br /> or identified by the BOCC. Residents are referred to the ASAB as a critical <br /> step in any consideration of stakeholder concerns, before bringing an item <br /> to the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> Integral to this general responsibility is a concern with ensuring that the <br /> practices and outcomes of Orange County Animal Services meet or exceed <br /> prevailing professional standards. A good illustration is the ASAB's <br /> support for the county's Community Spay and Neuter Program and its <br /> effort to manage free roaming cats in more proactive and humane ways. <br /> The board has also supported Animal Services in exploring how to serve <br /> underserved parts of our county. <br /> Also integral to this responsibility is receiving feedback from the board <br /> members who serve on the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool. This is <br /> one basis for the ASAB to working with staff to maintain a list of challenges <br /> and problems that may be addressed through the amendment of the <br /> Unified Animal Ordinance. <br /> Finally, the ASAB is concerned with the human aspects of animal issues as <br /> well as animal welfare. Fundamental to this concern is the relation of <br /> animals to public health and safety. Indeed, one board member is the <br /> veterinarian for Orange County Health Board. <br /> What are your Board/Commission's most important accomplishments? <br /> The ASAB continued to work with staff and stakeholders managing pet <br /> overpopulation in Orange County. Free-roaming cats have been of great <br /> significance to recent efforts in this area, and among other things, the <br /> ASAB and staff together have sought to establish strong working relations <br /> with community partners Including the Agricultural Preservation Board. <br /> Central to this effort has been the creation of a "working barn cat" <br /> program. Within the last year more than 150 working barn cats have been <br /> sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped and vaccinated through this program. <br /> This innovative and important program has received very positive coverage <br /> in the media including a feature article in the Herald Sun and News and <br /> Observer (see Attachment A). <br /> Also, the board worked closely with Animal Services staff and one of the <br /> county's staff attorneys to develop some needed amendments for the <br /> Unified Animal Ordinance. These were developed on the basis of the <br /> county's experience with the Unified Animal Ordinance since its adoption <br /> early in 2016. The BOCC adopted these amendments in November of 2018. <br />