ASAB Meeting Summary 07152020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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o At-large non-municipality o Animal trainer position ■ Recommendation: Allan Polak o Motion to approve nomination of Susan Spinks and Allan Polak to the ASAB: approved unanimously o Discussion with new applicant for animal advocate position ■ Lori Gershon, animal welfare advocate position Animal Hearing Panel Pool • Casey Ferrell approved to join Ed T. and Amanda S. as the third member of the Animal Hearing Panel Pool • BOCC amended the general policy; members of the Hearing Panel Pool are beholden to the code of ethics Animal Services during the pandemic • Overview o At the onset of pandemic,there was an open question of whether animal services were essential services.That was quickly resolved and OCAS deemed essential, allowing it to continue to operate. Circumstances drove significant innovation to assure continuity of service. Hard choices included suspension of low-cost rabies vaccination program; anticipate possible resumption of the program in the fall. Also suspended spay/neuter programs.Also had to manage shelter population and intake; asking the community to lessen the burden on the shelter has been successful in reducing shelter load. o Intake for 2Q20:42%fewer animals than 2Q19. o Shelter population on July 3, 2020: 209 vs.July 2: 2019: 291 • Kitten Intake Program o Working to avoid taking in unweaned kittens and keep those animals with their mothers o 51 calls received about found kittens 0 3 people fostered their found kittens through us 0 20 "other" (inclusive of sterilization via working cat program, kept kittens and did not use our resources, reached out to rescues, etc.) 0 28 Did not want to keep the kittens on property and brought them to us as strays • New Foster Program o 92 foster families; adopted out 55 cats from foster; doing virtual meet-and-greets • Pet Food and Vet Care Assistance Initiatives o From the Pet Food Pantry at OCAS we have helped serve 140 animals (72 dogs, 67 cats, and 2 rabbits). We have partnered with the OC Emergency Services for 5 Food Distribution Events that alternate between Carrboro High School and Cedar Ridge High School.Through those events we have given away around 400 bags of cat and dog food. o The Vet Assistance Program is still in the process of begin established.This will be a program that will help cover the vet costs for treatable, non-routine, non-emergency vet care. We currently have$6,000 from the GoFunclMe for this program. o Pretty far below numbers of spay/neuter surgeries compared to this time last year: 2019 Q2--140 surgeries vs. 2020 Q2--75.