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39 <br /> diversity and equity issues pertaining to animal services with the county. <br /> Brief Statement of Board/Commission's Assigned Charge and Responsibilities. <br /> The ASAB is a sounding board for policy issues raised by residents or identified <br /> by the BOCC. Residents are referred to the ASAB as a critical first step in any <br /> consideration of stakeholder concerns, before proposing an item to the BoCC. <br /> Also integral to this responsibility is receiving feedback from the board members <br /> who serve on the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool. The hearing panel is <br /> responsible for overseeing citizen interactions with OCAS in declaring a pet dog <br /> as dangerous in response to aggressive behavior. This is one basis for the ASAB <br /> to work with OCAS to maintain a list of challenges and problems that may be <br /> addressed through the amendment of the Unified Animal Ordinance. <br /> Finally, the ASAB is concerned with the human side of animal welfare issues. A <br /> fundamental value for the ASAB is the concept of One Health, the relationship of <br /> animals to public health, safety, the environment, and community welfare. One <br /> ASAB member must also serve as veterinarian for the Orange County Health <br /> Board, spanning a critical bridge between human and health challenges in an era <br /> marked by enhanced concerns of zoonotic diseases. <br /> What are your Board/Commission's most important accomplishments? <br /> Because of COVID19 concerns, the ASAB has been meeting virtually since <br /> September 2020, but plans to resume in-person meetings as soon as safe and <br /> practicable. <br /> An ongoing project for one ASAB task force has been working with OCAS staff <br /> and legal counsel to revise existing ordinance provisions for the keeping of wild <br /> and exotic animals dangerous to persons and property. The effort is continuing <br /> and is expected to propose the deletion of the catch-all provision allowing for the <br /> display of exotic and other animals, before being brought forward to the BOCC <br /> for its consideration. <br /> Another task force is examining diversity, equity and inclusion in the area of <br /> animal welfare. This effort is driven by the recognition that animal services and <br /> the human-animal bond is no different than other areas of concern in our <br /> communities, county and country. <br /> An ad-hoc task force analyzed a citizen's request for an exemption to the shelter <br /> requirements for working livestock guardian dogs. After hearing testimony from <br /> various constituencies, the task force concluded such an exemption was not <br /> warranted. <br />