Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 1 061 AIRPORT ROAD • CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA 27514 <br /> TELEPHONE 91 9-967-7363 • FAX 91 9-967-751 7 <br /> DATE: October 17, 2002 <br /> TO: Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> FROM: APS Board of Directors <br /> COPY TO: Laura Walters, APS Executive Director <br /> John Link, Orange County Manager <br /> Rosemary Summers, Director of Public Health <br /> This is in response to the recent publicity concerning the Orange County Animal Shelter and the <br /> role of the Animal Protection Society (APS). The APS has been in existence for more than 40 <br /> years in Orange County and has dedicated itself to the rescue of hundreds of thousands of lost, <br /> injured, abused and abandoned animals. Since 1979, the APS has contracted with Orange <br /> County to oversee operations of the animal shelter in Chapel Hill. The total annual cost of <br /> operating the animal shelter at its current level of services,programs,and personnel is <br /> $1,002,493. Orange County subsidizes this amount by $428,818. The partnership between the <br /> County and APS has been very successful and has allowed the APS to offer additional programs <br /> to Orange County residents that would otherwise not have been possible. <br /> The recent complaints from a few vocal citizens are of great concern to the APS Board of <br /> Directors which has taken immediate action to investigate the allegations. The APS Board has <br /> carefully looked at these allegations concerning wildlife, adoption and appeals procedures, <br /> transparent policies and decisions, and disease control. The APS Board has come to the <br /> conclusion that all four issues are being promoted by the same core group of complainants. Our <br /> response sums up the APS Board's findings on each issue of concerns. <br /> WILDLIFE <br /> Beginning in November of 2001, the APS Board and both former and current APS Executive <br /> Directors, Pat Sanford and Laura Walters, worked closely with Dr. Bobby Schopler to come to <br /> an agreement on the role of domestic animal and wildlife care at APS, his job description, salary, <br /> and the APS financial commitment to wildlife. After more than 8 months of discussion and <br /> negotiation, Dr. Schopler was still not satisfied with the provisions of the contract and he chose <br /> not to sign the employment agreement with APS. <br /> 1 <br />