|
November 1, 2010 (Work Session) Page 193
<br />accomplish this, the Board of Commissioners is establishing the following
<br />guidelines to be used in the establishment and operation of a community wide
<br />adoption program:
<br />• No animal should be killed if the animal can be placed in a suitable
<br />home, if a private sheltering agency or rescue group is willing to
<br />take care and custody of the animal for purposes of adoption, or, in
<br />the case of feral cats, if they can be sterilized and released to
<br />their habitats;
<br />• Animals held in shelters deserve proper care and humane treatment
<br />including prompt veterinary care, adequate nutrition, shelter,
<br />exercise, environmental enrichment, and water;
<br />• The shelter and private rescue organizations have a duty to make all
<br />adoptable animals available for a reasonable period of time;
<br />• Owners of lost animals should have a reasonable period of time
<br />within which to redeem their animals;
<br />• All efforts should be made to encourage the voluntary spaying and
<br />neutering of animals;
<br />• When euthanasia is necessary for an animal, it should be done as
<br />humanely and compassionately as possible;
<br />• The Cabarrus County Animal Shelter and community adoption program
<br />should be operated in a transparent manner at all times, to include
<br />reporting procedures and shelter operations, thereby building trust
<br />with the community;
<br />• The Board of Commissioners further encourages any rescue
<br />organization operating in Cabarrus County, and participating in the
<br />community adoption program to:
<br />• Commit themselves anew to ending the killing of savable animals in
<br />their care and custody;
<br />• Work cooperatively with other animal adoption organizations to the
<br />fullest extent to promote the adoption of animals and to reduce the
<br />rate of killing;
<br />• Provide every animal in their custody with individual consideration
<br />and care, regardless of how many animals they take in, or whether
<br />such animals are healthy, unweaned, elderly, sick, injured,
<br />traumatized, feral, aggressive, or of a particular breed;
<br />• Not ban, bar, limit or otherwise obstruct the adoption of any animal
<br />based on arbitrary criteria, such as breed, age, color, or other
<br />criteria except as to the individual animal's medical condition or
<br />aggression, or the adopter's fitness to adopt.
<br />• If needed, adjust operating hours to be open to the public for
<br />adoption in the evening to allow for greater contact with the
<br />public;
<br />• Implement and /or strengthen their programs to save lives, including
<br />free and low -cost spay /neuter services for animals, including feral
<br />cats; a foster -care network for animals needing special care,
<br />including unweaned, traumatized, sick and injured animals;
<br />comprehensive adoption programs that operate during weekend and
<br />evening hours and include adoption venues other than.the shelter;
<br />medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs; pet- retention
<br />programs to solve medical, environmental, and behavioral problems
<br />and keep animals with their caring and responsible owners; and,
<br />volunteer programs to help socialize animals, promote adoptions, and
<br />assist in the operations of the shelter.
<br />He further advised the Animal Protection and Preservation Advisory
<br />Committee (APPAC) is scheduled to meet on November 8 th to discuss
<br />recommendations for the Board's consideration. He also responded to a
<br />variety of questions from the Board. Chairman White expressed concern with
<br />the phrase, "no kill" and questioned the definition of "save rate ".
<br />Note: Earlier in the meeting, this item was approved to be included in
<br />the November 15, 2010 Agenda as an Old Business item.
<br />Recess of Meeting
<br />The Board took a short break at 5:15 p.m. The meeting reconvened at
<br />5:40 p.m.
<br />Cabarrus Health Alliance - New Facility
<br />Phred Pilkington, Cabarrus Health Alliance Director, provided an update
<br />on the open design concept and the budget for the new Health Alliance
<br />facility anticipated to cost $15.1 million or approximately $108 - $110 per
<br />
|