Orange County NC Website
',. Mr. Jacobs asked for elaboration. Ms. Sanford reviewed the present and proposed <br /> facilities and programs at the sanctuary including veterinary services, including <br /> spay/neuter, and livestock and wildlife holding facilities. There is also a three-acre <br /> 'fenced dog park and three very large rooms for training dogs indoors. She explained how <br /> sanctuary programs are operated at no cost to the county and once animals are transported <br /> from the shelter to the-sanctuary, the Society bears the expenses. The APS clinic is <br /> managed by Bobby Shopler and the APS bears all expenses. Pat invited all to attend the <br /> tour of the sanctuary on 3/25"'. The adoption facility will start out as doubling as a <br /> boarding kennel. $720,000 is to be raised in a capital campaign. The USDA will <br /> underwrite,but the APS will likely have to borrow. <br /> Ms. Sanford wants to clearly define that after an animal has been at the shelter for its five <br /> day stray period that it become the property of the APS so they can transport it to the <br /> sanctuary. A question has arisen as to the validity of the contract and ordinance provision <br /> that give ownership to the APS after five days. <br /> Mr. Jacobs thinks they are on the right track. He has two problems: (1) the supposition <br /> that outdoor-only animals will not be treated as well, and that (2) an entity is being <br /> empowered by the county to inspect the way a person lives. He suggested that an <br /> alternative method would be a generic letter from a veterinarian saying people care for <br /> their animals. He objects to the presupposition that a person is guilty until proven <br /> innocent, and that they are going to violate the leash law if they have an outdoor animal. <br /> - He wants to see provisions for adopting" outdoor animals built into these adoption <br /> n^•h! <br /> procedures. <br /> Ms. Sanford said that the APS feels that if they are outdoor animals and they don't have a <br /> fenced in yard, that they are probably going to stray. <br /> Mr. Jacobs understood but disagreed.with the supposition that the animal will be <br /> mistreated rather than treated properly. The other way of looking at it is that someone <br /> can be a responsible pet owner and still have outdoor dogs. We don't have to distrust <br /> them to start with. <br /> Dr. Quinn wanted to know where all of the outdoor dogs come from. If the average <br /> person goes through the whole adoption process - going through the shelter,pay the fees, <br /> fill out all of the forms, etc., that surely they aren't going to just tic them out and neglect <br /> them. <br /> Dr. Cammarata added that as far as his clients go,.he really doesn't know if they have a <br /> fenced-in yard or proper housing. A vet that sees an animal once a year cannot know <br /> what home environment is like. He wondered if we do not do the home visit, will that <br /> result in more work for Animal Control? <br /> Mr. Jacobs agreed and suggested an experiment to see if these adopters allow their dogs <br /> to become nuisance problems. <br /> 2 <br />