HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_1225Il. Difl"erential fine - This is a program in which county residents pal' a higher fine fin-
unaltered
arunaltered animals when a violation occurs. When officers check on pet licenses, they could
verify compliance with rabies vaccination. Nigher Vines could help pay for cast of
enforcement
111. Lethal injection - Lethal infection should be used (or those animals which can be handled,
including puppies and kittens and elderly or infirm pets. For those who cannot be handled
due to temperament the county should continue tine use a L lethal gas such as carbon
monoxide for euthanizing animals.
1V. Micro -chipping and scanning - Every pet that comes through the door is scanned as part of
normal protocol. Every pet adopted should be micro -chipped and a fee charged. This
would be beneficial both for identifying pets who belong to families and also identify -mg
when pets are allowed to randordy nm free.
V. Vaccinating pets for rabies and other serious diseases and promoting adoptions - The
present policy of the animal shelter is to release adoptable pets to the public for adoption.
If animals are not adopted by the end of the holding period, some animals are placed with
the humane society for possible placement. Animals, whose history is not known, but
appears to be adoptable, Leuthanized.
It is proposed that the policy be changed to permit the animal shelter authority, to vaccinate
all animals that are candidates for adoption, and that animals without a known history be
confined at the shelter for 10 days, ifspace is available, before releasing for adoption. If
space is not available, then the humane society will be notified and permitter/ to hold the
animals atfoster homes the required 10 mays. 1(no homes are available, and no shelter
space is available, the animal control supervisor, at hisler discretion, pray euthanize pets
being held.
Having differential licensing and conducting rabies vaccination checks, along with
vaccinating in the shelter, should help reduce the risk of a pet being exposed to rabies.
VL Education and public relations - The animal control director and the humane society need
to intensify efforts promoting humane education and building support for programs and
options which are available to the citizens_ Preventing problems is more afficient than
trying to correct problems once thev have developed.
This is an expansive plan and one which has been proven to work. The benefits of implementing it
include:
• Saving tax -payer dollars
• Saving animals'lives
• Increasing compliance with rabies vaccinations
• Reducing the number of homeless pets
• Reducing incidents of cruelty and neglect
• Boosting image of and morale at shelter
• Enhancing our county's public image
We set forth this plan with the hope and anticipation of being able to work together to make this it
better community for all its residents. While a transformation won't happen overnight, with cooperation
and collaborative effort, we believe public health and safety can be enhanced even without the rabies ban
on adoptions. the adoption rate of adoptable pets can be increased erponenttally, the problems with
which Animal Control has to deal can be reduced, and the image of our community can be enhanced -
There is no reason why Iredell County shouldn't become a landmark of progress in this area, fust as
other communities around our nation have
(END OF PLAN)
Pertaining to the fifth point, Lane said disclaimers could be inserted in the adoption
contract to help alleviate any perceived liability on either the Humane Society's part or
the county. She said a possible wording might be, "Although we take every precaution
to assure the health of our animals, no guarantee of any kind can be given regarding the
animal you have adopted. The majority of the animals come to us with unknown
medical histories and 1, the undersigned, do hereby declare that I am aware that Iredell
County makes no claim or representation as to the hearth, temperament, mental
disposition, or personality of any animal available for adoption. I hereby release the
county of any liabilities relating to the adoption of the pet."
Lane said the Humane Society contributed the ideas for the plan, but a
committee consisting of County Manager Joel Mashburn, Emergency Services Director