Agenda - 10-01-2002-10a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 1, 2002 Action Agen Item No. ��-Q SUBJECT: Review Work in Progress and Authorize Negotiation of an Agreement to Secure an External Evaluation of the Orange County Animal Shelter DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No County Manager's Office ATTACHMENT(S): Veterinarians' Report Background Report INFORMATION CONTACT: AHA and HSUS Evaluation Proposals Rosemary Summers, ext 2411 APS Funding Request & Contract Gwen Harvey, ext. 2300 Shelter Statistics TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Subcommittee Minutes Hillsborough 732-8181 APS Financial Statements Chapel Hill 968-4501 APS By Laws Durham 688-7331 County Attorney Memo Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To provide the Board of County Commissioners with information on actions underway to address operational concerns at the Orange County Animal Shelter, propose entering into an agreement with the consultation arm of a national humane organization to conduct a comprehensive assessment, and receive feedback and direction from the Board on particular issues they may wish examined through the evaluation process. BACKGROUND: Several residents raised concerns at the BOCC meeting on September 3, 2002 regarding the operation of the Orange County Animal Shelter and the contract that the County has with Animal Protection Society of Orange County (APS)to provide those shelter services. Specific concerns were raised regarding disease management practices at the shelter. Concerns were also raised regarding adoption procedures and responsiveness to public input. The health department staff took immediate steps to procure a preliminary assessment of disease management practices. The health director consulted with Dr. Kate Wilder, the Board of Health veterinarian and with Dr. Lee Hunter, the NC Public Health Veterinarian to select external veterinarians that could provide an unbiased assessment of disease management at the shelter. Dr. Richard Fish, an infectious disease specialist with the NCSU School of Veterinary Sciences, and Dr. Dwight Bellinger, Director of Animal Research Laboratories at UNC at Chapel Hill, were contacted and agreed to examine practices at the shelter. They made a site visit on September 17, inspected the facilities, and interviewed the APS Executive Director and the Shelter Manager. Their findings, received on September 24, relate to the physical plant and quarantine and sanitation practices, and are being reviewed with APS management for actionable items. A copy of their report is attached.