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

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Commissioners as part of the regular departmental budgeting process for county departments. The Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee of the Board of Health reviews the performance of the shelter, the budget request, the annual contract and provisions within the contract for potential changes, and makes recommendations to the full Board of Health. The Board of Health makes recommendations for funding and contract changes to the Board of Commissioners through the regular budgeting process. This year the Board of Commissioners requested that the APS include a customer satisfaction card for all customers of the shelter. Since August 1, the APS has made sure that each person receiving shelter services receives a form to complete. The APS original budget request for fiscal year 2002-2003 was $453,060 (attached). The Board of Health recommended $432,112 and the County Manager forwarded a request for$428,818 which is the budget that the Board of Commissioners approved for this fiscal year. In addition to these funds, the APS receives funds from the town of Carrboro ($2,791) and the town of Chapel Hill ($8,822)for sheltering services. The town of Chapel Hill also contracts with the APS for animal control services within the town limits. That is a separate contract and not accounted for in this report. Shelter fees earn approximately $45,000 each year through adoptions, reclamation and boarding fees. In addition, various APS programs such as microchips, rabies clinics, and education, held at the shelter also earn fees that defray the cost of operating the shelter (approximately$47,000 each year). Finally, the APS contributes around $90,000 each year. There has never been and there currently is no funding in the budget for the Felicite Latane Animal Sanctuary. The Shelter sends quarterly financial reports to the Orange County Finance Director and the Health Director. The most recent financial audit of the APS was conducted in 2000 and a copy Of the shelter audit and the audit of the APS is attached. Animal Shelter Statistics The animal shelter houses approximately 5,000 domestic animals and 1,200 wild animals annually. Typically the wild animals are transferred to the Wildlife Sanctuary shortly after they are brought to the shelter. The numbers have been decreasing by small increments each year, believed to be a result of the aggressive spay neuter program at the shelter and widespread community education on spay neuter for animals. Over 50% of the domestic animals admitted to the shelter are from the unincorporated areas of Orange County. About 12% of the animals are from the night deposit box, unidentified from where they were picked up. A summary page of statistics is attached that shows dispositions by month for calendar year 2001 and the first six months of 2002.