042023
Animal Services
Advisory
Board Meeting
6:00 pm, April 20, 2023
The Randolph County Animal Services Advisory Board met in regular session on April 20,
2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Randolph County Office Building Meeting Room A, 725 McDowell
Road, Asheboro, NC. Commissioner David Allen, Lisa Sparks, J.R. Beard, James Moore, Jennifer
Layton, and Renee Bryant. Also present were Clerk to the Board Jenny Parks and Animal
Services Director Jonathan Moody. Other members of Animal Services that were present were
ACO Robert Godfrey, New Hire ACO Brittany Noto, Coordinator Chelsie Bowen, Finance
Manager Sarah Brower, and Lead Rescue Adoption Coordinator Savanna Wilson.
Call to Order and Opening Comments
Commissioner David Allen called the meeting to order and welcomed the Board members
and guests.
On motion of Beard, seconded by Bryant, the Board voted 6-0 to approve the minutes from
the January 19, 2023 meeting.
Public Comment
Commissioner Allen opened the floor for public comment and closed it after no one wished
to speak.
Animal Services Operational/Department Updates
Jonathan Moody, Animal Services Director, gave an update on the increase in animals at the
shelter. As of 4/19/2023, the total intake of dogs was 437; 87 adopted; and 101 rescued. Three
hundred forty cats were processed intake; 46 adopted; and 18 rescued. He expressed the lack
of space needed to accommodate the animals they are taking in. A complete list of activity is
attached as part of these minutes.
Mr. Moody reported on the following events that were held this quarter. They include the
Adopt and Play (first Saturday of every month); the Mutt Strut (Human Race); Pet Smart
Adoption Event with Happy Hills; and a Vaccine Clinic with the Randolph County Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RCSPCA) with Dr. Jones.
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Mr. Moody reported that several events coming up include Adopt and Play (first Saturday of
every month); two adopt events with the Asheboro Library; and a Vaccine Clinic with Happy
Hills and Dr. Tysor.
Mr. Moody expressed his gratitude with the Board and their assistance with the recent Great
Pyrenees case. After the January Board Meting things started to work out well. He also
thanked Lisa Sparks, with Happy Hills, for donating vaccines for these dogs.
Mr. Moody stated that Animal Services has partnered with the Juvenile Day Reporting Center
and they will be administering a program called Tales for Tails. Youth will come into the shelter
to read to the animals. This will assist with reading development for the youth as well as
helping the animals being read to.
Mr. Moody shared that Animal Services will be partnering with several school systems and
their summers camps. Youth will come into the shelter and volunteer, whether it be walking a
dog or cleaning a stall. This program will be a good way of showing youth how to give back to
their community by assisting a local agency.
Mr. Moody also shared that Animal Services will be partnering with Veterans Services as well.
This will allow veterans to come in and volunteer their time.
Mr. Moody stated that they are working on policies, procedures, and continuing education
opportunities for their employees. They hope to have them in place very soon.
Board Discussion
There was a discussion on the need of space at the animal shelter. This continues to be an
ongoing issue.
Mr. Beard asked if the information Mr. Moody provided was on their website. Mr. Moody
said it was not. Discussion followed on this item and no action was taken.
Ms. Bryant reported on the two dogs, Lady and Billy, that were ceased due to neighbors
reporting that they were being mistreated. She stated that Lady stayed at the shelter for sixty
days and Billy stayed 77 days. Because of the overcrowding at the shelter, these two dogs are
being sent to different states where ample space is available for them to be cared for. Ms.
Bryant stated, that in spite of what the public thinks, Randolph County Animal Services are
doing the best they can to provide space for these animals. She also stated that spaying and
neutering needs to be stressed to control the animal population.
Ms. Sparks stated that spaying and neutering is the answer in controlling the pet population
and keeping the intake numbers down at the shelter. She said that maybe the County
Commissioners would consider some type of promotion in the county for spaying and neutering
program, and they also need to educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering.
She also stated that her organization, Happy Hills, is reaching out to veterinarians in Chatham
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County and towards the Raleigh area to spay and neuter the animals that come through her
organization. The services in Randolph County have become so overwhelmed, that getting
animals spayed and neutered in a timely manner is becoming a challenge.
Commissioner Allen inquired on the relationship between Animal Services and the Sheriff’s
Office. Mr. Moody said the relationship is going well and they are working positively together.
Mr. Moody said that although the shelter is extremely busy, they are doing the best they can
with the resources they have. Sometimes things can get challenging, but they are surviving.
Ms. Bryant stated that not only is Animal Services dealing with small animals, they are now
seeing larger animal intakes as well. Recently there were eleven donkeys that were
surrendered to the shelter. Space for larger animals is hard to find.
Commissioner Allen said there could be an opportunity for temporary space assistance once
the new Farm, Food, and Family (F3) Education Center is constructed. There will be some open
space and pastureland that could assist with some of their overcrowding issues temporarily. As
the F3 Center develops, this will be kept in mind.
Ms. Sparks inquired about a grant with the organization Best Friends regarding feral cats.
She stated that she is getting a large amount of calls regarding kitten intakes at Happy Hills, as
well as people bringing them to her organization and dropping them off. Mr. Moody stated
that he did receive the information and is in the process of obtaining signatures so they can
move forward with this grant.
Ms. Bryant said that she believed the Best Friends Animal Society only wants to spay or
neuter the feral cats, and then return them to where they were found. She also said that she
believed Guilford County had received $50,000 to spay and neuter these feral cats. She wasn’t
sure if these funds were from a grant. Citizens show their license and get a free voucher to
spay or neuter their cat(s).
Ms. Sparks said that Happy Hills has a grant founder out of Raleigh that is specifically for
privately owned animals. She has a notebook of people that need lower cost spaying or
neutering services due to them not being able to afford to pay for these services. She stated
that the way to control the increase in animal numbers is to have animals spayed or neutered.
Ms. Bryant stated that Randolph County currently does not have a low-cost option for
spaying and neutering. She said that in Chatham County if you own a pit bull the cost to the
owner is only $20, as pit bulls are what you see a high number of in shelters. Randolph County
does not have any veterinarians that offer low costs spay and neutering options currently.
Mr. Beard inquired as to how much money the County generates from the citizens that pay
taxes on their animals. Commissioner Allen stated he is not sure of an exact amount, but he
knows the amount is nominal. Commissioner Allen also stated that the funds generated from
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these taxes goes into the County’s general fund. Mr. Beard stated it would be good to see
those funds used to assist with the spaying and neutering of animals.
Discussion was had regarding an operating time schedule.
Ms. Bryant reported that in the City of Randleman you have to apply for a permit to breed
animals, but sometimes that can be hard to track especially if owners are taking their animals
to be bred out of the city limits. She also said that in the northern states there are laws
regarding spaying and neutering, but not in the southern states.
Ms. Bryant recommended the Board look at the amount charged for those people that come
to get their animals from the shelter. One example she gave was charging someone $200 if
their pet was not spayed or neutered, and $20 if they were. This could help with animal owners
spay and neuter their animals. She also stated that habitual offenders should pay higher fines
to get their animals back.
Adjournment
Commissioner Allen thanked the Board members and the Animal Services staff for their work
and dedication.
On motion of Beard, seconded by Layton, with a vote of 6-0, the Board voted to adjourn the
meeting at 6:46 p.m.
Minutes Approved: 10/19/23
4/20/2023