Agenda - 10-28-2002 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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APS originally hired a veterinarian in 1997 because projected salary and costs were believed to be equal to or less than the amount spent annually at local veterinary clinics for necessary care of shelter animals. The APS determined that it could hire a veterinarian to serve the needs of domestic animals coming through the shelter and support its wildlife program simultaneously. In the fall of 2001, Dr. Schopler revealed that his ultimate personal goal was to create a wildlife center where he could study disease, teach other veterinarians and students, and publish articles and papers on wildlife. He sought out wildlife in need from all over North Carolina and even neighboring states. Squirrels were receiving heart surgery and robins were having wings pinned. While APS continually supported the efforts of Dr. Schopler over the years, it became obvious that his goals as an employee of APS did not support the overall goals of APS. The animals in the animal shelter in Chapel Hill were not receiving necessary medical care due to Dr. Schopler's schedule with wildlife and once again it was necessary to send the domestic animals to local veterinarians at a substantial cost to APS. The APS does not have the funds to support a full time wildlife veterinarian and separate veterinary services for domestic animals. Contrary to what has been reported in the media, in July 2002, the APS Board met after Dr. Schopler's departure and decided to offer him the opportunity to be an independent contractor to APS for wildlife care. He declined that offer, but expressed a desire to submit a proposal to the APS Board that would include both wildlife care and domestic animal care. He was asked to submit his proposal to one of the APS Board members in time for it to be examined before the APS went to the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board with a proposal for a low cost spay/neuter clinic. Dr. Schopler said he would submit his proposal. When no proposal was received from Dr. Schopler,the APS Board asked that he be sent a written request for his proposal. On August 13, 2002, a letter was sent to Dr. Schopler that included the following invitation: "On behalf of the APS Board of Directors, I am requesting that, if you desire to be involved in devising a plan for our Wildlife Center and our proposal to the Veterinary Board, you submit a proposal to the APS for providing veterinary services. The proposal must cover veterinary care for all APS domestic animals being sheltered, all wildlife brought to APS facilities, spay/neuter of all APS animals slated for adoption, and administration of the low cost spay/neuter program. The proposal must be detailed and also include all technical and managerial aspects of operating the Wildlife Center-S/N Clinic as has been done in past years. At a minimum,the proposal must list all of the activities and duties you will perform and the compensation you desire for these items." We hoped that Dr. Schopler would propose a way to fund both veterinary care for shelter animals, as well as wildlife. Although Dr. Schopler told APS Board members that he would present a proposal,he ultimately refused to do so and walk away from the opportunity to continue operation of the Wildlife Center and Spay/Neuter clinic under his management. We currently lease our veterinary facility on Nicks Road to a veterinarian. He is establishing his clinic in those facilities. We have contracted with this clinic to provide a wide variety of our veterinary needs. During the morning hours, the veterinarian at this clinic performs spay/neuter surgeries on APS animals and will perform low cost/low income spay/neuter surgeries for the public. In the afternoon, this veterinarian visits the animal shelter where he does rounds, prescribes medicines, and treats injuries. He is also doing emergency surgeries on stray animals hit by cars instead of euthanizing them. These animals are later returned to their owner, placed