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

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community volunteers in all of its programs. Annually that number exceeds 20,000 hours of volunteer time. The APS operates the Orange County Animal Shelter'under contract with Orange County. The APS owns and operates the Felicite E. Latane Animal Sanctuary. The APS also provides a variety of services to areawide residents, such as the Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), low-cost spay-neuter program for the public, animal control services to Chapel Hill, cruelty investigations under NCGSI9A, obedience classes for dogs, and educational programs on care of animals. History of Orange County Animal Shelter The Orange County Animal Shelter was constructed by Orange County in 1979 with 2,926 square feet. The APS contracted to operate the shelter in 1979 from the outset. The original shelter was built to house 32 dogs and 30 cats. In 1986 734 square feet were added for isolation area and in 1991 3,828 square feet were added to the shelter. The APS provided $61,000 for the expansion in 1990- 91. The total square footage at the shelter is 7,488. This does not include outdoor dog run space. The shelter currently houses approximately 175 animals at any given time. All animal shelters in North Carolina are subject to annual inspections by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. The most recent inspection was conducted in April of 2002. The County is responsible for capital improvements and for capital maintenance of the building. Maintenance includes painting, flooring, roofing,.HVAC, etc. but does not include janitorial services. Capital equipment necessary to operate the _ shelter is generally negotiated as part of the annual budgeting process. The Orange County Animal Shelter primary purpose is to receive and shelter domestic animals from residents in Orange County. It is the sole place in Orange County that all Animal Control Officers bring domestic animals that are picked up as strays, lost animals, wounded animals, quarantine animals as a result of a bite, animals seized as a result of cruelty investigations, and animals seized in dogfighting or other criminal cases. The shelter was not intended to house wildlife except on a short-term basis until other arrangements could be made. Animal Shelter Finances and Budgeting Process The Orange County Animal Shelter is financed by a collaborative arrangement with.the APS. A preliminary capital improvement budget is developed in December and a preliminary operating budget is developed by the APS in January of each calendar year. Prior to 1999, the budget was submitted directly to the County Manager's Office through the non-profit funding agency application process. Beginning in 1999, the budget was submitted to the Orange County Health Department for review and recommendation to the Board of