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

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in foster care, or offered for adoption. With our current contracts for veterinary services,we have been able to expand treatment for emergency cases. We did not have access to any of these veterinary services in previous years. We are also now able to legally operate a low cost spay/neuter program. In order to provide all of these services to the public and APS animals, it was necessary to allow a veterinarian to lease the facilities and establish his own clinic. In order to operate a clinic, our facilities on Nicks Road needed to be renovated. This is one of the reasons APS decided to temporarily close the wildlife center to allow for these renovations. The APS Board has gotten many letters and phone calls asking why Dr. Schopler was not offered the opportunity to establish his own clinic at the Nicks Road facility. Dr. Schopler was offered this opportunity twice, once in the fall of 2001 and again when he was asked to submit his proposal in August, 2002. He declined both times. The APS Board has a strong commitment to all animals including wildlife. The APS Board thought that with the changes in leasing the veterinary facilities, it would be a good opportunity to evaluate and reorganize the wildlife program. Both short term and long term goals will be determined. The cost of the wildlife program to APS was$142,900 annually with a deficit of $96,283 that APS had to support in other ways. While this is a substantial financial commitment of the APS, it is certainly a benefit to the community and APS supports this important program. ADOPTION AND APPEAL PROCEDURES Since October 7, 2001, Laura Walters has been the director of the animal shelter and in that capacity has directed all policies,programs, and animal care. Though Pat Sanford didn't officially leave the employ of the APS until February 1, 2002, she was not responsible for any operations of the animal shelter after October 7,2001. Due to Ms. Walters' extensive background in animal husbandry and shelter operations,the Board was confident in her abilities to lead the animal shelter. She was later appointed to the position of Executive Director in March 2002 after a nationwide search and interview process. Under Ms. Walters' guidance the adoption process became more open and accessible to the public. Unnecessarily strict guidelines were eliminated and following recommendations by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), animals previously considered unadoptable for such reasons as the color of their tongue or their breed were given the opportunity to find a new home. Other changes that Ms. Walters has made include loosening up rigid restrictions of prospective adopters. For instance,animals considered to be outdoors only are looked at more favorably and families with young children may now be considered to adopt puppies and kittens. Ms. Walters has opened up the process and made adopting the animals in Orange County more accessible to all. During her tenure, she has had outstanding success in increasing the adoption rate from 40%to 50% (which is the highest in North Carolina) while decreasing the euthanasia rate. A goal of the APS is to ensure that animals are being adopted into permanent homes and that there is a good match between animal and the new family. Under HSUS recommended guidelines, Ms. Walters instituted a temperament testing program using volunteer dog trainers that help make the match a lasting one. The APS is in the process of testing 200 dogs and comparing their adoption's success to that of animals that were not tested. This is a huge project 3