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021722 Animal Services Advisory Board Meeting 6:00 p.m., February 17, 2022 The Randolph County Animal Services Advisory Board met in regular session on February 17, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Randolph County Office Building Meeting Room A, 725 McDowell Road, Asheboro, NC. Cynthia Grantham, Lou Wilson, Lisa Sparks, J.R. Beard, Jason Balder, Commissioner Darrell Frye, and Commissioner David Allen were in attendance. April Wilburn was absent. Also present were Ex-Officio member County Manager Hal Johnson, Clerk to the Board Sarah Pack, Animal Services Business Manager Ashley Morris, and Animal Control Manager Jonathan Moody. Other members of Animal Services were present as well. The Veterinarian seat, law enforcement liaison seat, and one animal rescue/volunteer community seat are vacant at this time. Call to Order and Opening Comments Commissioner Frye called the meeting to order and welcomed the Board members. He told the Board that Sergeant Lawrence Albright had accepted a position working for the District Attorney, and therefore would no longer be serving on the Board. On motion of Beard, seconded by Wilson, the Board voted 7-0 to approve the minutes from the September 17, 2020; May 20, 2021; August 19, 2021; and December 16, 2021 meetings. Departmental Updates Jonathan Moody, Animal Control Manager, gave an update on adoptions and rescues. Adoption numbers have increased and rescues continue to pull animals from the Shelter. Sometimes adoptable dogs are sent to a rescue if capacity limits are reached. As of the time of the meeting, there have been 95 adoptions and 75 rescues. At this time in 2021, adoptions were at 73 and rescues were at 84. This increase is attributed to staff working with both rescues and citizens and placing more animals up for adoption. Animals are not being held for rescues; rather, after the stray hold, animals are either placed for adoption or then offered to a rescue. Adoption Coordinator Heather Stewart has been working hard on communication and outreach to rescues that haven’t pulled from the shelter recently. Animal Services works with over seventy rescues and staff are working to broaden the network. Currently, staff are trying to increase the number of cat rescues working with the Shelter in preparation for kitten season. When rescues want to pull an animal, they email the placement team so that all staff members can see that the animal is requested and check timestamps to be sure that they are working on a “first come/first served” system. County Manager Hal Johnson pointed out the successful use of social media to promote adoptions. 2/17/22 J.R. Beard said the Shelter has come a long way from where it was when the Animal Services Advisory Board was formed. Commissioner Frye asked if the adoption rates are easing the crowding in the Shelter. Mr. Moody said there are a lot of intakes: when one animal leaves, it seems like two more come in. Mr. Beard asked how many animals are returned to the Shelter. Mr. Moody said there have been a couple of dogs returned. Commissioner Frye asked if staff were seeing much animal abuse. Mr. Moody said there has not been as much as when he started. There have been some complaints that Animal Services is investigating. Lisa Sparks asked if the Shelter is still using protocols and agreements to qualify rescues. Mr. Moody said with the system they are using, notes can be added regarding rescues. Staff are working hard to qualify the rescues making references a requirement. The number one goal is to get animals out of the shelter. Animal Services needs a support system of people who want to help. Mr. Moody said the Animal Control Officers (ACOs) are completing webinars from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Some of the webinars have tests and certificates of completion. Mr. Moody is still working on implementing ACO 1 and 2 training. At this point, Animal Services is facing a funding issue. Prices have increased to over $850 per officer to take each class and there are five staff members who would need to take the training. At this point, they are focusing on Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and ASPCA free trainings. Happy Hills Animal Foundation is hosting a rabies vaccination event in partnership with Animal Services th on February 19. Happy Hills has 3 certified rabies technicians. The Randolph County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RCSPCA) is hosting a rabies vaccination event soon where Animal Services will be administering the vaccines. Mr. Johnson asked how word spreads about upcoming events. Mr. Moody said that Ms. Steward met with Media and Communications Specialist Chelsey Butler to create promotional materials for social media. Flyers were also printed for ACOs to distribute while in the field. Commissioner Frye asked about the rate of spaying and neutering. Mr. Moody said there are some low cost spay/neuter options in the county. Ms. Sparks said Happy Hills, the Randolph County Humane Society (RCHS), and the RCSPCA all have voucher programs for residents. Ms. Sparks asked which veterinarian (vet) the Shelter uses for animals who may be sick or injured. Mr. Moody said Asheboro Animal Hospital is the practice they use most often. However, due to some prior issues with getting immediate care for shelter animals, Mr. Moody has plans to visit all of the veterinarians in the county and talk to them about partnership. Ms. Sparks commended Shelter staff for their work in finding veterinary care for the animals. 2/17/22 Commissioner Frye asked if veterinarians might see the Shelter as a competitor. Mr. Moody said the challenges more likely stem from money. Most practices will give a discount to the Shelter, so they may view it as a monetary loss rather than seeing it as helping to save an animal. Cynthia Grantham asked how Animal Services handles emergency veterinary care after hours or on holidays. Mr. Moody said there is a place in Greensboro that will accept after hours emergencies but they require $600 up front to see an animal. Ms. Morris is working to establish relationships with local vets. Mr. Beard asked how many vets are in Randolph County. Mr. Moody said there are eight or nine. Ms. Sparks suggested that it would be prudent for Animal Services to have an in-house vet on staff. Ms. Morris pointed out that the Shelter cannot act as a vet. Issuing cruelty citations to owners of injured or sick animals offers Animal Services a way to legally mandate the animal sees a vet. The citation is nullified after the owner provides proof of vet visit. Mr. Moody said there had been some position changes in Animal Services. Heather Stewart has been moved to Lead Rescue Adoption Coordinator and Savannah Wilson has been moved over to Adoption Coordinator. Having two people handling adoptions has helped to increase the rate of adoptions. Commissioner Frye asked if the Shelter is fully staffed. Mr. Moody said yes; as of the time of the st meeting, a Shelter Attendant had just been hired and will start on March 1. Commissioner David Allen exited the meeting at 6:35 p.m. due to a prior engagement. Ashley Morris, Business Manager, said there are currently four main phone lines that come into the Shelter. Right now, Animal Services has two Adoption staff that can handle calls and two Coordinators that handle intake. Ms. Morris wants to transfer some of the rescue call volume to the Coordinators. She is working with Information Technology to have a backup plan for call volume. Phone calls are constant. The Shelter’s voicemail has been updated asking callers to leave a message so their calls can be returned. At this time, the Shelter is still requiring appointments for owner surrendering. There are no surrenders accepted on Fridays because the animal would have to be held all weekend. Staff are working to make owners more responsible for their pets, sometimes telling owners that when the Shelter is full, the only option for the animal is euthanasia. Often, the owners will reschedule or reconsider. The Shelter is currently scheduled three weeks out for owner surrenders. The staff encourage owners to reach out to friends and rescues for placement before bringing their pet to the Shelter. Ms. Spark asked if the Shelter has a list of rescues they will recommend to owners who may surrender their pets. Ms. Morris said yes, and staff may encourage owners to run an internet search for rescues in their areas. Ms. Sparks asked if the Shelter charges a fee for owner surrenders. Ms. Morris said there is a $15 fee per surrendered animal. Ms. Sparks asked what happens if the situation is dire and the owner needs to surrender their pet but cannot afford the fee. Ms. Morris said it depends on situation. Each case 2/17/22 is assessed independently and staff can add notes into a tracking system so the person cannot adopt animals in the future. Staff also works to educate citizens on options for rehoming multiple animals. Ms. Morris said a Shelter Attendant position opened when Ms. Wilson moved to the Coordinator position. A new Attendant has been hired who has both livestock and domestic animal experience. The st new Attendant will start on March 1, at which time the Shelter will be fully staffed. Staff is being trained on state requirements, team building, and more. Ms. Morris asked Jason Balder to come to the Shelter to work with the staff. Mr. Balder agreed. Mr. Balder’s work with the North Carolina Zoo and exotic animals makes him an invaluable resource for the Shelter staff. Mr. Balder said that, previously, he went to the Shelter and talked to staff about professional development, behaviorrecognition, enrichment, and ways to improve the animals’ stay at the Shelter. He said that he would be happy to visit the Shelter again under the new management team and work with staff. Ms. Morris stated this is a fantastic, unique opportunity for Randolph County Animal Services to work with someone with such specialized and expansive knowledge. Ms. Morris introduced Animal Services Coordinator Amanda Batchelder, who was in attendance. Ms. Batchelder’s scope of work includes dispatching, intake, citations, and more. She also acts as the face of the Shelter when the public visits, giving her the opportunity to provide education to the public. Ms. Morris said the staff often bring unique ideas for improvements to the department. Ms. Batchelder suggested posting adoption stories on social media. Ms. Wilson suggested “Forever Home Fridays.” Animal Services Coordinators Sarah Brower and Ms. Wilson organize the stories and photographs and post them to social media on Fridays. This initiative has just begun and they have already received sixteen adoption stories. Ms. Morris said that feedback from the community had indicated a concern regarding lag time on pictures of found/stray animals being posted on the website. She explained that pictures don’t get taken until the animal gets to the Shelter. The lag is created because a description and location is entered into the system by the ACO upon retrieving the animal, but the picture won’t be uploaded until the animal has arrived at the Shelter. Ms. Morris said that they don’t want to post pictures of the animal on the back of the impound truck while the ACO is in the field, and sometimes animals need time to decompress once they arrive back at the Shelter. If there is an animal listed on the website, but no picture, this is why. Mr. Balder asked how long the lag time generally is. Mr. Moody said it’s usually the amount of time it takes from retrieval of the animal to the time it arrives at the Shelter. Mr. Balder asked if the animal’s description and location could be entered into the system later at the same time as the picture. Ms. Morris said sometimes people recognize the description of their pet and location where the animal was found and get to the shelter to reclaim their pet before the ACO even arrives at the Shelter with the animal. 2/17/22 Ms. Morris said she is really proud of the Animal Services team. Staff are working hard to do what’s best for animals. Mr. Johnson said there are lots of challenges with establishing a new department. He is most impressed with the training programs that have been established for Animal Services staff. He appreciates what the management team is doing. What Mr. Balder can offer with regards to staff training is special. Mr. Johnson wants word to get out about what Randolph County is doing in Animal Services. Ms. Grantham likes the idea of adoption stories. Mr. Moody said they are trying to shine a positive light on Animal Services. Ms. Sparks asked about the status of the Animal Control Ordinance updates. Mr. Johnson said Animal Services staff and Associate County Attorney Aimee Scotton have been working on the Ordinance. Once complete, the Ordinance will have to go to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. The Ordinance will be more specific about the dangerous dog policy. Mr. Moody said the Ordinance will also address tethering rules. More items were added after discussion at the previous Animal Services Advisory Board meeting. Ms. Sparks said this is a pressing matter. Lou Wilson thanked staff for their tireless work. She said it is a joy to come to meetings and hear positive updates. Public Comments Commissioner Frye opened the floor for public comment and closed it after no one wished to speak. Adjournment Commissioner Frye thanked Board members and Animal Services staff for their work. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m. 2/17/22