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Orozco, Norma <br /> From: Michael Mavrovouniotis < <br /> Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2023 2:02 PM <br /> To: eComment <br /> Subject: General Public Comment - OC Animal Care <br /> General Public Comment for City Council <br /> OC Animal Care <br /> I support the Findings and Recommendations of the Grand Jury on OC Animal Care. I urge the city to work <br /> towards the implementation of the Findings and Recommendations <br /> The Grand Jury Report on OC Animal Care can be found here: <br /> https://www.ocgrandjM.org//pdfs/2022_2023_Wreport/Gimme_Shelter_and a Pound of Advice.pdf <br /> Below is the intact text of the Grand Jury's Findings and Recommendations. (I added yellow highlighting to <br /> what I found most interesting... and cyan highlighting to an important cat issue.) <br /> FINDINGS <br /> Management: <br /> F1 Management has limited flexibility utilizing personnel within Orange County <br /> Animal Care across departments due to structured work rules, volunteer work restrictions, and <br /> employees working in departmental silos. <br /> F2 Low staff morale exists within Orange County Animal Care. <br /> F3 Orange County Animal Care staffing is negatively impacted by vacant positions remaining <br /> unfilled for greater than six months due to burdensome hiring processes. This delay in <br /> recruitment and completion of hiring has resulted in qualified candidates declining job offers. <br /> F4 Based upon industry standards and best practices, Orange County Animal Care kennel <br /> attendants are understaffed to meet the needs of animals under care. <br /> F5 Orange County Animal Care's operating policies and procedures manual is out of date. <br /> F6 The Orange County Animal Care Volunteer program was stopped during COVID- <br /> 19 and restarting the program has been slow, resulting in decreased animal socialization and <br /> enrichment. <br /> Animal Welfare <br /> F7 Orange County Animal Care's Behavior Evaluation Committee evaluates dogs for euthanasia <br /> without written guidelines, policies, or procedures, resulting in <br /> inconsistent outcomes over time. Behavior evaluated euthanasia outcomes are dependent on <br /> the experience and personal considerations of the individual committee members and <br /> management rather than written objective standards. <br /> 1 <br />