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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Shelter Statistics - 09-2008Summary Statistical Report: September 2008* Animal Services Department, Orange County, North Carolina Introduction This is the Animal Services Department’s monthly statistical report for the month of September 2008. Each month a standard set of summary statistics are generated regarding our core or essential services and activities. These are essential for purposes of effective management and administration in different program areas, in both our Animal Control and Animal Sheltering Divisions. At the same time, these statistics are an invaluable tool in communicating to various stakeholders, the general public and our elected officials and County management the scope and extent of animal services. Notably, these monthly statistics provide a basis for thinking about sheltering practices in a broader context. Adoption and euthanasia numbers must be understood in the context of a multitude of other influential factors, including the number of animals that come into Orange County’s Animal Shelter and the availability of medical and behavioral resources. By far the greatest factor influencing sheltering practices in our own community and others is that of “pet overpopulation,” a community-wide problem consisting of a large number animals for whom there are no homes. As we continue to push forward to find better and more innovative ways in which to improve, we must remember that all of these factors work together to create the broader challenge we must address as a department, a county, and a community. Standard Statistics Each of our monthly reports contains various statistics that summarize the various activities of the County’s Animal Services Department. These are standard statistics insofar as for a given month, such as September, they report on the same core or essential services. They are all presented at the end of the narrative portion of this report. Some statistics capture the overall effort of all staff as they work together to provide integrated and coordinated animal services to the citizens of Orange County. These include: 1. A.1 Monthly Demographics (which shows from where and how animals arrived at Orange County’s Animal Shelter). 2. A.2 Monthly Shelter Activity (which shows total animal intakes and dispositions). * Questions about the statistics or narrative discussion September be addressed to Andi Morgan, Administrative Assistant, Orange County Animal Services at amorgan@co.orange.nc.us. Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 2 Other statistics are more specific in summarizing the services and activities of our department’s Animal Sheltering and Animal Control Divisions. These include: Animal Sheltering 1. B.1 Monthly Dispositions (which reports the dispositions of all animals sheltered in a given month) 2. B.2 Live Release for Placeable and Recovered Animals (discussed in detail in the following sections). 3. B.3 Reasons for Euthanasia (which reports the specific reasons for which animals were euthanized in a given month) 4. B.4 Volunteer Hours (reports volunteer hours and how they compare to previous months and years) Animal Control 1. C.1 Rabies Exposures Investigated and Positive Cases (which reports positive rabies tests and related investigations conducted by Animal Control Officers). 2. C.2 Rabies Statistics (showing positive cases year-to-date and by comparison with previous years). 3. C.3 Rabies Vaccinations (which reports the number of vaccinations given by area veterinarians, at low-cost vaccination clinics organized by our department, and at Orange County’s Animal Shelter). 4. C.4 Year to Date Rabies Vaccination Clinic Numbers (which shows the number of dogs and cats vaccinated to date during the current year at the County’s low- cost rabies vaccination clinics) Together, these monthly statistics provide a convenient summary of our critical services and activities. In a very transparent manner, they describe the efforts of our staff in delivering field services, sheltering animals whose dispositions they must ultimately decide, and programs such as our volunteer program that, among other things, is responsible for public outreach activities and dog walking. Statistical Development The summary statistics provided in our monthly reports are not static. They must be subject to change as our services are redefined, our practices evolve, and we produce the most useful statistical information. A good example of change is table B.3 Reasons for Euthanasia. Staff captured and encouraged the reporting of this information to make adoption figures, as well as the reasons for euthanasia, more meaningful and transparent. It does matter greatly whether a behaviorally sound and healthy animal is euthanized as a result of space limitations or an animal is euthanized because it is aggressive or infirm. In the month of September, for example, the most common cat euthanasia reasons were behavioral and medical, with 99 cats euthanized for these reasons. This number made up Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 3 48 percent of all cats euthanized during the month and 36 percent of all animals euthanized. For dogs, the primary reason for euthanasia for the month was behavioral, with 35 dogs euthanized for this reason. This made up 51 percent of the dogs euthanized and 13 percent of all animals euthanized for the month. Also, we anticipate further development of the euthanasia categories that are used to report such information. Of special note is the generation of more specific information concerning the medical and behavioral reasons for euthanasia—not only because this clarifies the difficult decisions that staff must make on daily basis but because such information enables us to discuss whether there are specific programs that may be offered to reduce the rate of euthanasia of certain animals. Finally, our intention is to link specific monthly reports such as this one to data about trends in our services and activities. What we foresee is a related set of graphs showing monthly data over time that enable us to identify and evaluate trends in key services and activities in relation to policies, practices and our own mission. As allowed by time in the coming year, these graphs will be prepared and they are expected to be presented along with reports of standard statistics for a given month. Adoptions and “Lives Releases” The placement of healthy and behaviorally sound animal companions is one of the foremost objectives of Orange County’s Animal Services Department. The direct placement or “re-homing” of small animals, cats and dogs occurs through our own adoption program. In addition, many companion animals are transferred to “placement partners”—that is, non-breed as well as breed specific rescue organizations for cats and dogs (as well as other animals)—for their final placement on the basis of additional effort and evaluation by these various animal organizations. Adoptions and transfer are two of the three elements of what September be referred to as “live releases.” Animal companions recovered by their owners or a custodian—usually if not always “stray” animals brought to Orange County’s Animal Shelter either by one of our Animal Control Officers or a member of the public—form the third element of animals that are released alive. Using this basic formula, it is possible to calculate the total (or absolute) number of animals that are released alive from Orange County’s Shelter.1 The figures needed to make this calculation are provided by table B.1 Monthly Dispositions: September 2008. 1 It should be said that we are using “live release” rather than “placement” for two very specific reasons as well as because it has become a convention in the field of animal welfare since the appearance of the Asilomar Accords (http://www.asilomaraccords.org/). One reason is that it includes all animals that are not euthanized, i.e., transfers to placement partners and returns to owners and custodians as well as direct adoptions. The other reason is that it does not presume that an animal transferred to placement partners is, in fact, “re-homed.” In the absence of feedback data from these organizations, which is desirable and an objective toward which we are working, there is no way to know what decision they have ultimately made about the disposition of a particular animal. Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 4 For the month, there was a total of 204 “live releases,” consisting of 133 adoptions, 27 transfers and 44 returns to owners or custodians. Moreover, it is possible to determine the rate of live release for placeable animals and animals that have been recovered for a given month. Placeable animals do not include animals surrendered by their owner for euthanasia (usually due to illness, infirmity or a behavior problem); feral cats (as these are typically not placed); or animals that died before arriving at the shelter or in our custody as a result of an “untreatable” injury or illness; or animals that are being held for a bite quarantine or court case. The number of placeable animals is determined by subtracting animals surrendered for euthanasia, feral cats, deceased animals, and court and bite holds from the total number of animals dispositioned in a given month. For the month of September, there were 491 total animals dispositioned. When we remove the animals on bite and court holds, animals surrendered for euthanasia, the feral cats and those animals that arrived dead or died of an untreatable injury while at the shelter, we are left with 432 “placeable” animals. To find the “live release rate,” we must then divide the total number of “live releases” (204) by the total number of potentially placeable animals whose disposition was decided in the month (432)—and as can be seen in Table B.2 Live Release for Placeable and Recovered Animals, the rate is 47 percent for the month of September.2 With respect to adoptions themselves, finally, several observations can be made. By comparison with August 2008, there is a slight decrease in the number of adoptions (133 vs. 139), and a slight decrease in the number of “live releases” (204 vs. 218). When compared with September in 2007, there was also a decrease in adoptions for the month (133 in September 2008 vs. 147 in September 2007), but an increase in the total number of live releases (204 vs. 195). Pet Demographics and Overpopulation It is often said that pet problems are people problems, and that pet overpopulation is a community problem. These insights very much apply to our own circumstances and they help create a broader perspective in which to understand our own sheltering statistics. More specifically, the number of animals that are sheltered in a given period of time is itself not caused by or a direct function of our sheltering operations and practices. The number of unwanted animals in our communities (sometimes referred to as “surplus” pets); the extent to which cats, rabbits and dogs alike are spayed or neutered rather than allowed to remain intact and reproduce; the strength of norms and customs of responsible pet ownership; the scope and strength of animal regulations and their effective 2In earlier monthly reports, this was referred to as the “adoptable placement rate” versus the “gross placement rate,” insofar as the latter was determined on the basis of all animals dispositioned in a given month. Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 5 enforcement; and other such “variables” are what affect the number of animals that are sheltered in our own and other communities. Monthly and Seasonal Variations Month by month there are significant changes in the numbers of cats, dogs and other animals that are sheltered at Orange County’s Animal Shelter. In very general terms, there is a significant “spread” in the number of animals that are sheltered each month, which reflect the seasonal nature of pet demographics and animal sheltering in our own and other communities. During the peak summer months, the numbers are traditionally much higher than in other months of the year. In September, for instance, 731 animals were sheltered. Whereas this is much higher than the number sheltered last March (398), as is expected, it is also quite higher than the number sheltered last September (568). This is not something that would not have been predicted and is likely due to many factors, including the state of the economy. Similarly, this September 473 animals were admitted to the shelter—a very large number that equates to almost 16 animals per day over that thirty-day period. During the last twelve months, the number of animals admitted to the shelter has been as low as 233 (December 2007). Moreover, it should be underscored that the “live release rate” for a given time period is determined by the number of animals that are sheltered as well as the total number of animals that are adopted, transferred, or recovered by their owner. It may well be that there is a very high percentage of animals that are released alive in a given month but that the absolute number is lower than in other months because of the number of animals that come to the shelter. Addressing Pet Overpopulation To work toward the desideratum of ending euthanasia as a means of population control, it is thus essential to positively impact the number of animals that come into Orange County’s Animal Shelter in the course of the year. Essential to this is progressive legislation that is enforced in an effective, fair and reasonable manner. A starting point is what is sometimes referred to as “differential licensing”—that is, licensing or registration fees that are much lower for spayed and neutered animals than for intact animals. Orange County has had differential licensing for many years, and this fiscal year that differential became $5 for sterilized dogs and cats and $30 for intact dogs and cats. No less essential is a community spay/neuter program for animal companions such as dogs and cats that promotes responsible pet ownership and enables all community members to spay and neuter their own pets. The development of the Community Spay/Neuter Fund during the past year, in coordination with the Animal Services Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 6 Advisory Board, has been a major accomplishment for the Animal Services Department. Funded by an increase in the differential licensing fee for unaltered pets, this fund will allow the Animal Services Department to work with several existing programs to promote Spay/ Neuter and responsible pet ownership throughout Orange County in the coming months and years. Other legislative options include an extra redemption fee for intact animals recovered from the Animal Shelter, which September be refunded if they are sterilized within a given time period, and permit systems that require a permit for dogs and cats that are going to be bred. Moreover, there is an overwhelming need to address the deep-seated problem of feral cats in Orange County. Month after month feral cats (as defined by their community history and/or observed behaviors in the context of the shelter) are one of the largest groups of animals euthanized. In September, 32 feral cats were euthanized, and they comprised 16 percent of all cats euthanized during the month (and 12 percent of all animals euthanized). In fact, euthanasia of feral cats is not a “shelter problem,” but rather a community problem, and it needs to be addressed as such. There is a great need for initiatives in the area of public education to raise awareness insofar as euthanasia is the end result for most of these creatures, and their presence must be considered in relation to the risk of rabies, given the ongoing and endemic nature of so-called “raccoon rabies” in our County and region. Thus addressing the problem of feral cats has also been a major objective for the County’s Animal Services Department, and will be included in the Community Spay/ Neuter Fund’s program scope, beginning next fiscal year. These are illustrations of the kinds of positive and proactive approaches that are needed to address the problem of pet overpopulation as a community problem. In working to reduce the number of unwanted animals that must be sheltered in our own communities, we would also expect improvements in some of the outcomes of our sheltering practices. We should all look forward to the day when there are very good numbers of adoptions and “live releases” but no less notable ongoing decreases in the number of animals that come to our shelter. Rabies Cycle, Rabies Prevention and Rabies Control With respect to rabies control—historically a core function of animal control—there is a continuing concern about positive rabies tests based upon public reporting and our surveillance of possible exposures of people and/or their pets. Table C.1 Rabies Exposures Investigated and Positive Cases shows that this month there were three (3) positive rabies tests in Orange County in September, bringing the total for the year to seventeen (17). There were nineteen (19) positive rabies tests in Orange County for 2007. Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 7 Our own public education activities stress that pet owners not only need to be sure that their pets are vaccinated and licensed but that a dog or cat with a current rabies vaccination must receive a booster shot within seventy-two (72) hours of any exposure to rabies. Unless an exposed pet with a current vaccination receives a booster shot within that time frame, the requirements of North Carolina law is the same as for an unvaccinated animal—namely, euthanasia or a six (6) month quarantine. In this regard, staff stresses the immediate reporting of any possible contact to animal control and/or public health authorities to ensure the health of all members of a household—human and pet alike. As can also be seen from the table on rabies exposures, Animal Control Officers investigated five (5) cases in which there were possible rabies exposures. Usually, these are cases involving known or suspected contact between a domestic small animal such as a dog or a cat and a wild animal such as a raccoon, as well as whether there is indirect contact between a human and pet member of a household in these situations. But our Animal Control Officers are also responsible for bite reports involving dogs and cats (as well as other animals) and a human victim. In these cases, it is a legal requirement and public health precaution that a dog or cat biting a human being be contained and observed for a period of ten (10) days—thereby ensuring that the bite victim was not exposed to the rabies virus. Efforts to ensure current vaccination, for the welfare of pets and the people with whom they come into contact, are ongoing and activities in this area are captured by vaccination statistics compiled by our Animal Control Division. As is ordinarily the case, the majority of these vaccinations—1175 out of a total of 1484 vaccinations—continue to be performed at veterinary establishments. In addition, another sixty-eight (68) animals were vaccinated at our Animal Shelter prior to their adoption or recovery. Three low-cost rabies vaccination clinics were held in September in celebration of the second annual World Rabies Day, a worldwide event designed to promote rabies awareness and prevention. A total of two hundred and forty-one (241) cats and dogs were vaccinated at these three clinics (as can be seen in table C.4 Year to Date Rabies Vaccination Clinic Numbers). To date 1055 animals have been vaccinated at seventeen 2008 clinics. Seventeen total clinics were held during 2007—and 1157 dogs and cats were vaccinated as a result. Details and further information on low-cost rabies vaccination clinics can be found at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices.rabies.asp. All of these activities—public education and outreach, investigations and enforcement, and providing low-cost vaccination clinics—are critical given that Orange County continues to be affected by the epidemic of “eastern raccoon rabies” that began in the latter half of the 1990s. Their essential nature is further underscored by the current view that we are on the upside of a raccoon rabies cycle that may bring even higher numbers of confirmed rabies cases than we have seen in recent years. Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 8 Special Monthly Notes There have been several events and challenges that have affected animal disposition numbers this month. The most notable was the end of the remediation project that had been underway near the Animal Shelter on Municipal Drive for several months. The project, conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, posed several challenges, including parking adjustments, public awareness and visibility. The project was completed and original parking and entrance routes were re-established in September. September 28th, as mentioned above, was the date of the second annual World Rabies Day. This worldwide event is co-sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alliance for Rabies Control, among others. Orange County Animal Services celebrated World Rabies Day by holding three low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. In addition, Orange County also created a Rabies Informational Flyer that was distributed to area vets and other public places to raise awareness and increase education about rabies for pet owners and others. A copy of that flyer can be seen at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/RabiesInfo.asp. Another recent challenge has been the overall economic downturn that North Carolina and other regions have experienced in recent months. As has been discussed in professional publications and reviewed on national networks news coverage, this economic burden has forced many people to give up things they once were more able to afford, including pets. Our impression is that may not only be affecting not only adoption numbers, but also reclaim rates and the ability for people to provide different levels of care such as spaying and neutering pets. Despite the economy’s effects on businesses of all kinds, adoption and reclaim numbers have stayed moderately level, in part due to staff’s dedicated work in areas such as outreach, visibility, awareness, and education. Conclusion As a very young department that only came into existence in 2005, Animal Services continues to develop new ways in which to better serve the animals and citizens of the county. As suggested in our discussion of pet overpopulation, there are a number of initiatives that must be taken to effectively address the underlying problem of pet overpopulation. These include the creation of a spay/neuter fund and an effective program to address feral cats, among others, and steps are being taken toward those goals by the department in coordination with the Animal Services Advisory Board. Also, on behalf of its citizens the County has committed itself to building a new animal services facility. With the opening of this facility at the end of 2008, for the first time Animal Control, the Animal Shelter, and Administrative staff will be housed under the same roof. In addition to providing some true economies of scale, and better allowing the coordination of animal services, it is expected that this facility will help to overcome one Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 9 of the major inhibitions to our placement efforts—namely, the inhibition that members of the public have toward earlier generations of shelters which are often perceived as dreadful places. As it is being designed as a resource center that is an attractive public destination, the new facility is expected to have a very positive affect on the number of adoptions, transfers, community outreach programs, public visitors—and much more. With its innovative and modern design, this new facility will become a community asset and help further staff efforts to deliver integrated and coordinated animal services to the citizens of Orange County. As well, it is intended and expected to enhance our adoption activities and increase our average rate of “live releases” at the same time as it enables our staff to work with community stakeholders to more effectively address and ultimately resolve the pressing problem of pet overpopulation. Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 10 STANDARD MONTHLY STATISTICS: SEPTEMBER 2008 A. Overview Statistics A.1 Demographics: September 2008 (1) “Strays” under Animal Control Demographics also includes quarantined animals that have not been surrendered. A.2 Shelter Activity: September 2008 Dogs Cats Others Total In Shelter Custody as of September 1, 2008 110 145 3 258 + Total Admitted September 2008 156 289 27 473 Sheltered in September 2008 266 434 31 731 - Dispositions for September 2008 (1) 183 295 13 491 Remaining in Shelter Custody on October 1, 2008 (2) 83 139 18 240 (1) Includes corrections to previous month (2) Within Shelter: 82 dogs, 117 cats, 15 other In Foster Homes/ Pet Stores: 1 dog, 22 cats, 3 other Total Percent Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total Strays (1) Surrender Strays Surrender Carrboro 14 1 26 8 49 10.4% Chapel Hill 21 6 37 25 89 18.8% Hillsborough 29 8 12 35 84 17.8% Orange County 122 32 30 7 191 40.4% Other County 5 0 8 14 27 5.7% Unknown 0 0 33 0 33 7.0% Total 191 47 146 89 473 100.0% Strays 337 71.2% Animal Control 238 50.3% Surrenders 136 28.8% Public 235 49.7% Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 11 B. Animal Sheltering Statistics B.1Total Disposition: September 2008 Dogs Cats Others Total % of Total Dispositions Reclaimed 38 6 0 44 8.96% Adopted 54 77 2 133 27.09% Transferred (1) 21 4 2 27 5.50% Euthanized 69 205 3 277 56.42% Died 1 3 6 10 2.04% Other 0 0 0 0 0.00% Totals 183 295 13 491 100.00% (1) Transferred to Rescue Service B.2 Live Releases for Placeable and Recovered Animals: September 2008(1) Dogs Cats Others Total % of Total Dispositions Reclaimed 38 6 0 44 10.19% Adopted 54 77 2 133 30.79% Transferred (2) 21 4 2 27 6.25% Totals 113 87 4 204 47.22% (1) Live Releases include all animals that are not euthanized, i.e., transfers to placement partners, returns to owners and custodians, and direct adoptions. The “live release rate” is calculated by dividing the live releases by the total number of placeable animals. To calculate placeable animals, we must remove the animals surrendered for euthanasia, feral cats, animals that arrive dead or die in our custody, bite quarantine animals, and animals that have been confiscated from the total number of animals dispositioned. For September, this number was 59, and removing these animals from the total number dispositioned leaves 432 “placeable” animals. (2) Transferred to Rescue Service Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 12 B.3 Reasons for Euthanasia: September 2008 % of Total % of Total % of Total Dogs Euthanized By Reason Cats Euthanized By Reason Others Euthanized By Reason Age 10 14.49% Age 35 17.07% Age 0 0.00% Behavioral (1) 35 50.72% Behavioral (1) 50 24.39% Behavioral (1) 0 0.00% Feline Leukemia 0 0.00% Feline Leukemia 2 0.98% Feline Leukemia 0 0.00% Feral 0 0.00% Feral 32 15.61% Feral 0 0.00% Heartworm 1 1.45% Heartworm 0 0.00% Heartworm 0 0.00% Medical (2) 4 5.80% Medical (2) 49 23.90% Medical (2) 0 0.00% Pregnant 0 0.00% Pregnant 0 0.00% Pregnant 0 0.00% Owner Request 3 4.35% Owner Request 1 0.49% Owner Request 3 100.00% Space 16 23.19% Space 36 17.56% Space 0 0.00% Totals 69 100.00% 205 100.00% 3 100.00% (1) “Behavioral” includes a wide range of behavioral issues that September prevent an animal from being available for adoption to the public. These issues vary widely between cats, dogs and other animals, and can include aggression, lack of socialization, severe kennel stress or other factors that make the animal a risk if placed back into the community. (2) “Medical” includes a wide range of conditions and diseases that September prevent an animal from being available for adoption to the public due to unsound health. These conditions range in severity and differ greatly between cats, dog and other animals. Additionally, because we test animals for certain diseases as a standard protocol, these are often more easily identifiable and thus can be separated as a specific condition statistic. For example, the “Feline Leukemia” category above is listed separately, though it is a medical condition. B.4 Volunteer Hours: September 2008(1) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 2005 2006 2007 2008 (1) Information for March 2006 is not available. Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 13 C. Animal Control Statistics C.1 Rabies Exposures Investigated and Positive Cases: September 2008 Dogs Cats Other Total Exposures Investigated 1 0 4 5 Tested Positive 0 0 3 3 C.2 Rabies Statistics: September 2008 Total Rabies Exposures Jan 1- September 31, 2008: 17 Total Rabies Exposures Jan 1- September 31, 2007: 16 Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2008 14 C.3 Rabies Vaccinations: September 2008 Dogs Cats Other Total Vaccinated at Shelter 44 24 0 68 Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 549 626 0 1175 Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 133 108 0 241 Total Vaccinations 726 758 0 1484 C.4 Year to Date Rabies Vaccination Clinic Numbers Rabies Clinics 2008 # Date Dogs Cats Total Location 1 2/13/2008 13 5 18 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 2 2/16/2008 60 15 75 Chapel Hill (New Hope Fire Station #2) 3 2/20/2008 6 5 11 Hillsborough (Animal Control) 4 2/23/2008 50 27 77 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 5 4/16/2008 106 21 127 Hillsborough (Gov't Services Annex) 6 4/16/2008 17 9 26 Hillsborough (Animal Control) 7 4/19/2008 59 44 103 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 8 4/23/2008 34 17 51 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 9 6/11/2008 24 15 39 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 10 6/18/2008 26 7 33 Hillsborough (Fairview Park) 11 6/18/2008 71 38 109 Hillsborough (S. Cameron St) 12 6/21/2008 54 29 83 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 13 8/20/2008 32 14 46 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 14 8/27/2008 14 2 16 Rougemont (Paws and Claws Kennels) 15 9/24/2008 18 28 46 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 16 9/27/2008 41 44 85 Chapel Hill (Animal Shelter) 17 9/27/2008 74 36 110 Hillsborough (Gov't Services Annex) Grand Total 699 356 1055 Percent 66.26% 33.74%