101923
Animal Services
Advisory
BoardMeeting
6:00 pm, October 19, 2023
The Randolph County Animal Services Advisory Board met in regular session on October 19,
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, James Moore, Cynthia Grantham,
Jason Balder, Nathan Smalland Renee Bryant. Also present wereCounty Manager Hal Johnson,
Clerk to the Board Jenny Parks,and Animal Services Director Jonathan Moody. Other members
of Animal Services that were present wereSarah Brower Business Operations Manager, Erin
Masterson Animal Services Manager, and Savana Wilson Adoption Rescue Coordinator.
Call to Order and Opening Comments
Commissioner David Allen called the meeting to order and welcomed Board members and
guests.
On motion of Renee Bryant, seconded byLisa Sparks, the Board voted 6-0 to approve the
minutes from the April 20, 2023,meeting.
Public Comment
Commissioner Allen opened the floor for public comment and closed it after everyone who
wished to speak had done so.
Amy Pugh said she is a lifelong Randolph County resident. She thanked the Board for
allowing her to speak. Ms. Pugh stated she has a passion for animals, especially the ones that
need homes. She commended Jonathan Moody, Animal Services Director, for all he has done in
Randolph County Animal Services. She knows there is an issue with not enough space for these
animals. She suggested an adoption facility be built on the land where the new Farm, Food,
and Family Education Center is being constructed. She would like to see things change and she
would like to be a part of that change.
Jacqueline Vruwink thanked the Board for allowing her to speak. She understands there is a
growing issue with there not being enough space at the animal shelter. She would like to see a
bigger space to house more animals in individual kennels rather than the animals being
crowded together in kennels. She said there has to be a better way.
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Wanda Bowman turned her time to speak over to Amy Pugh for comments. Ms. Bowman
feels very strongly about the need to investigate additional space for Animal Services. Ms. Pugh
asked how often this board met. Chairman David Allen explained the meeting schedule history
and he said they currently meet quarterly. Ms. Pugh asked if they could meet more often, like
maybe every other month. Ms. Pugh inquired about how people are chosen to be on the
Animal Services Advisory Board. Chairman Allen explained the process. Ms. Pugh said in
Chatham County the spay and neuter cost for qualified animals is only $20. She said they have
three veterinarians who do these procedures and can keep the costs down. Lisa Sparks with
Happy Hills stated Happy Hills spays/neuters for $20, however, the owners of these animals
must qualify for low income, which is the same as the state program uses. Ms. Sparks also
stated they have a grant funder for their procedures.
Henry Vruwink said he commends those who work without monetary rewards toward the
effort of rescuing animals. He thanked the Board for allowing him to speak.
Iris Fox stated she works with the Humane Societyof Randolph County, and she said there is
a problem in Randolph County with spaying and neutering animals. She said the Humane
Society receives calls and emails each from those who cannot keep their animals. She said they
have neutered and spayed 1,703 cats and 723 dogs. She said they had to raise their spay and
neuter fees due to increased costs. She stated all their funds come from donors and/or local
citizens. She said it makes it hard to find funds for the Humane Society and those who do not
have a shelter to offer these services, so they rely on donors and private citizens for donations.
She suggested the county look into ways to offer funds to assist with spaying and neutering.
Erin Acosta said she volunteers her time to trap and release feral cats. She would like to see
better vet care for those who can’t afford it. She suggested a spay/neuter clinic at the shelter.
She encouraged the County to create programs to research the issues we have and come up
with solutions. Ms. Acosta said she receives a lot of calls from people who do not know what to
do with these animals. She said there needs to be a better plan and everyone needs to work
together towards solutions.
Kelli Campbell said she was a mail carrier in City of Asheboro and she has seen a lot of things
relating to animals on her route. She said she has called the police on several occasions, but
nothing is ever done. ReneeBryant stated there is a breakdown in communication between
the municipalities regarding animal services. Chairman Allen stated each municipality has
different animal control responsibilities. Ms. Campbell asked what could be done with the
situations she sees every day. She said there needs to be more space and more kennels, and
animal services need more help. Ms. Campbell said she knows of an issue needing attention
regarding animals and she has not been able to receive assistance from Animal Services due to
them being understaffed. She said there needs to be a way to provide funding for vet careto
assist with spay and neutering.
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Animal Services Operational/Department Updates
Johnathan Moody, Animal Services Director, thanked everyone for coming to the meeting
and for their comments. He said that 2023 has been an extremely busy year. He gave an
update on the increase in animals at the shelter. As of 10/17/23, the total intake of dogs was
1,303; 247 adopted; and 256 rescued. One thousand five hundred sixty-sixcats were processed
intake; 218 adopted; and 105 rescued. He expressed the lack of space needed to continue
accommodating the animals they are taking in. A complete list of activities are attached as
part of these minutes.
Mr. Moody reported there have been 134 cats processed as Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR).
See sheets for info. Funds were received through a grant from the Best Friends Organization to
assist with TNR’s. This has been a slow process, but they have one year to spend the grant
funds and complete the program. He stated feral cats are an issue. Animal Services is putting
forth the effort to try and save these cats. He also stated that he has recently used the Health
Department’s trailer to house cats from large rescues due to the lack of space in the shelter.
Commissioner Allen said the euthanasia rate is down, but the intake of dogs has increased.
Mr. Moody said they are taking in more dogs currently and are being forced to place more dogs
together in kennels. Mr. Moody stated the euthanasia rates have increased due to the intake
increasing, causing the animal shelter to make more room for the increase in intakes. Mr.
Moody said currently, people are not wanting to adopt. He also said rescues are down over
30% with dogs.
Renee Bryant said she would like to see Animal Services get assistance with transporting
animals due to it being very expensive. She is currently in the process of relocating a dog to
Canada due to rescues being full locally.
Lisa Sparks said the reason animals are being moved out of the county is due to the intake in
animals increasing and rescues being full. This is a state-wide issue.
Mr. Moody reported there have been 264 rabies vaccines given this year per the Health
Department from the following clinics: Asheboro Animal Hospital, Blue Flint, Pointe South, and
Seagrove. This report is attached as part of these minutes.
Mr. Moody stated he and Sarah Brower visited the new adoption center in Rowan County.
He provided the Board with a packet of information regarding this center. Mr. Moody said he
would like to see a new Animal Services facility and the old facility would be used as a stray
animal hold. It was suggested to look at the land where the Farm, Food, and Family Education
Center will be built as a site for a new facility. Rowan County has a Vet Suite in its new facility,
and it would be nice for Randolph County to have one as well. Rowan County spent
approximately $2 million on their facility.
Hal Johnson, County Manager, commended Mr. Moody and his staff for all of their hard
work and thanked them for the jobs they are doing. Mr. Johnson said he asked Mr. Moody to
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speak on what his needs were in Animal Services as this will begin the process of making Animal
Services better.
Commissioner Allen explained the timeline to begin the process of addressing Animal
Service’s needs. He suggested Mr. Moody prepare information and present it during the
County Commissioner’s retreat in February. The retreat will be a starting place forplanting the
seed to improvements by getting this information in front of the Commissioners.
Mr. Moody shared the following upcoming events with the Board:
Adopt and play, Several parades, Jordan Way Event, Rabies event with Happy Hills
Board Discussion
Renee Bryant inquired about the trailerthat has been used to house cats. She asked if it
could be moved to Animal Services to assist with hoarding situations. She said animals are
required to be kept healthy during holding times. Mr. Moody stated he will need to speak with
the County Manger regarding this. The trailer was purchased with grant funding to be used in
emergencies. Cynthia Grantham stated it has been used before for people during outbreaks in
the community.
Lisa Sparks said there needs to be a larger shelter in Randolph County. She stated
collaboration needs to be done to seek ideas on how to handle the lack of kennel space. Mr.
Moody said there may need to be a collaborative group that meets more often to address these
issues.
Mr. Moody stated the Animal Shelter does not have to take in owner surrenders, but they do
to attempt to accommodate those that cannot care for their pets. He said that they have to
turn some away due to the lack of space by referring them to rescues or other resources to see
if they can find a new home for the animal.
Commissioner Allen said that there needs to be more education done for the citizens in
Randolph County on these issues. He said the County can support education, but it would be
more impactful coming from private groups and organizations.
Renee Bryant suggested rabies clinics beheld and allow the person in Animal Services who
has been certified to give rabies vaccines to do so. Animals must be vaccinated within 72 hours
of being held. Lisa Sparks said it is required, per the Randolph County Health Department to
have them vaccinated, however, they cannot vaccinate publicly owned animals, unless there is
a licensed vet on site. Each county health director makes their ruling on these items.
County Commissioner Hope Haywood stated that the Department Heads should collaborate
on a plan to improve their departments. Commissioner Allen stated Commissioner Haywood is
a member of the Board of Health in Randolph County. Commissioner Haywood stated she
would inform the Board and County Commissioners of these issues brought forth today.
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Commissioner Allen stated this Board is an advisory board used in an advisory capacity.
Renee Bryant asked how this process works regarding the Board making recommendations to
the County Commissioners. Commissioner Allen stated the retreat in February is where the
process will begin with a presentation by Mr. Moody on behalf of Animal Services.
Commissioner Allen reported that this will be County Manager Hal Johnson’s last Animal
Services Advisory Board Meeting as he will be retiring, after 48 years, from Randolph County
Government. He thanked Mr. Johnson for all the work he has done while serving the County.
Mr. Johnson said he was proud of Randolph County Animal Services and the work they have
done. Mr. Johnson stated the County logo states, “Serving with Heart, from the Heart of North
Carolina” and he believes that is what RandolphCounty Animal Services is about. He stated he
is confident in the future of Animal Services. He thanked Commissioner Allen for his comments.
Cynthia Grantham thanked Mr. Johnson for everything he has done. She also thanked him
for starting this advisory board and realizing Animal Services was a department that was too
large not to serve on its own. She said Mr. Johnson is where it all started.
Adjournment
Commissioner Allen thanked the Board members and the Animal Services staff for their work
and dedication.
On motion of Bryant, seconded by Grantham, with a vote of 6-0, the Board voted to adjourn
the meeting at 7:24 p.m.
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