HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_1226Tracy Jackson, Health Director Ray Rabe, Animal Control Supervisor Sidney Weisner,
and Environmental Health Supervisor Kelly Sheeks, assisted in its development.
Rachel Compton and Melissa Corrigul Present a Petition in Reference to
Animal Care and Control: Rachel Compton said over 3,000 signatures had been
obtained on a petition that addressed animal care and control. She mentioned a recent
incident in which a puppy, born in Iredell County, was later diagnosed by a veterinarian
in another county as having rabies. Compton said she thought this was an isolated
incident. She said that she felt there were other ways to control rabies instead of killing
the animals.
Compton then presented the petition that was captioned: -We the undersigned
residents of Iredell County, are outraged at the number of animals that are killed in Iredell
Counq' and the way str(vs are treated. We respectlidly request that the Courny Commissioners:
Revise the use (jour tax dollars since we are one of the highest nixed in
NC for animal control and have one of the highest kill rates of 89%.
Allocate funding to promote adoption of stray animals and promote
spgving and neutering.
Revoke the ordinance that stray animals without proof of rabies
vaccinations are autamaticallp killed and cannot be adopted.
Discontinue the use of carbon monoxide gas and adopt a more humane
method ofeudmnasia such as lethal uy'ections. "
Melissa Corrigul said "animals were innocent victims of circumstance, and
ordinances should be set up to hold people accountable for not vaccinating and
spaying/neutering the way responsible people should." She said people should be
punished -- not the animals.
County Manager Mashburn said during the recent meetings with the Humane
Society there seemed to be a consensus among the attendees that there was an
overpopulation of unwanted animals in Iredell County, specifically dogs and cats. He
said a major way to address this would be to provide a low-cost spay -neuter program.
Mashburn said the fine structure could also be altered. He said the employees at the
animal control department were trained in the usage of lethal injection, and they had
been using this euthanization method in some situations. Mashburn said that in some
cases; however, the present usage of carbon monoxide gas was the most humane way to
euthanize animals. He said that if the board chose to discontinue the carbon monoxide
gas and strictly use lethal injections, more personnel would be needed because this
method took more time. Mr. Mashburn said micro -chipping was being done at the
shelter in some situations, but all animals were scanned in an effort to locate their
owners.
Mashburn said the petition that had been presented could easily lead the public
to believe that the animals brought to the shelter were being mistreated. He said this
was not true, and that the animal control employees were caring and highly -trained
people. Mashburn said in reference to the petition's comment about the high budget for
animal control, that over two-thirds of the funds went to personnel. He said this
indicated Iredell had more employees on the streets, and at the shelter, than some of the
other departments in the state. He said the per capita spending in Iredell County for
animal control was about $5.70. Mashburn said information obtained from Humane
Society of the United States indicated this amount was "a little above average"
Mashburn continued by saying the International City/County Manager's
Association published a report on local animal control management, and it had included
a position from the Humane Society of United States that stipulated the following items
were needed to have an effective animal control program. These were:
1. Local government support
2. Comprehensive animal control ordinance
3. Programs to ensure that pet owners have sterilization options
4. Adequate facilities and equipment