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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Shelter Statistics - 04-2006 Orange County Animal Services 501 W. Franklin St, Suite 106, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 968-2287 Animal Control PO Box 8181 304 Revere Rd Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2075 Robert A. Marotto, Director Animal Shelter 1081 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 967-7383 Monthly Report Orange County Animal Services April 2006 Departmental Highlights 1. Orange County Health Department provided Respiratory Protection Training to select Animal Services staff. Specifically, staff that ordinarily handle animals and who passed the required medical screening were trained in the use of and fitted them with N95 respirators. These are the recommended respirators for a variety of public health activities including pandemic flu. Of special concern from the standpoint of Animal Services are avian-related viruses insofar as staff might be expected to handle birds and fowl in a variety of circumstances. It may of interest in this regard to note that national organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States now encourage animal care and control personnel to take such precautions when handling fowl in the context of animal fighting investigations and seizures. 2. Animal Services Department staff continued to make age-specific and interactive presentations about their services to fourth grade (and other) classes in Orange County Schools. One part involves an Animal Control Officer facilitating an exercise in which children identify what kinds of things an Animal Control Officer does and does not do. In the second part, our Program Coordinator, Sarah Fallin and/or a volunteer facilitates an exercise in which children helped to design a shelter for the animals in their community. All indications are that these presentations are being very well received by students, teachers and administrators, and that our staff will be welcomed back in coming years to do similar sessions. In addition, it is hoped that in the future it will be possible to do presentations about more specific topics such as animal safety (or dog bite prevention) and the importance of spaying and neutering pets. 3. Efforts are underway to secure additional sterilization services for animals adopted from Orange County’s Animal Shelter. These efforts have involved the issuance of a request for proposal for sterilization services, review of responses, and discussions with and an inspection of one interested clinic. These efforts were initiated when it was learned that Dr. Wendy Royce, who does business as Pet Overpopulation Patrol, would be ending her service to us and our Shelter. As part of this process, staff has begun to explore available options for stabilizing sterilization services on a long-term basis in a cost-effective manner. Staff visited the Animal Shelter in Orange County Animal Services – April 2006 Monthly Report – Page 2 Guilford County to see how on-site sterilization is done by contract veterinarians. Staff also met with others in the animal welfare field to learn more about the operation of mobile sterilization units. Our explorations of such sterilization options are ongoing, and of course, they will relate to design criteria and possibilities for Orange County’s new facility for animal services. 4. Three low-cost rabies vaccination clinics were held in April. At the clinic held at the Orange County Animal Shelter on Saturday, April 1st, a total of eighty-six (86) animals – fifty-nine (59) dogs and twenty-seven (27) cats – were vaccinated. At the clinic held at the Efland Cheeks Elementary School on Wednesday, April 26th, a total of thirty-seven (37) animals – twenty- five(25) dogs and twelve (12) cats – were vaccinated. At the clinic held at the Hillsborough Courthouse on Thursday, April 27th, a total of eighty-eight (88) animals – sixty-four (64) dogs and twenty-four (24) cats – received their rabies vaccinations. To ensure the continuing availability of low-cost rabies vaccinations for County residents, a work team of staff planned five clinics for the months of May and June. These upcoming clinics are: Saturday, May 20, 9:00 AM - 11:00 a.m. at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro Wednesday, May 24, 6:00 PM - 7:00 p.m. at the Northern Human Services Center, 5800 NC Hwy 86 North, Cedar Grove Thursday, May 25, 6:00 PM - 7:00 p.m. at the Hillsborough Courthouse Parking Lot, 106 East Margaret Lane, Hillsborough Saturday, June 3, 9:00 AM - 11:00 a.m. at the Orange County Animal Shelter, 1081 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (Municipal Drive) Chapel Hill Saturday, June 10, 9:00 AM – 11:00 a.m. at Fairview Park, 505 Rainey Avenue, Hillsborough As has been the case in the past, rabies vaccinations will cost $5.00 (which must be paid in cash). Pet owners are asked to remember to bring their most recent vaccination record. Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier; and pet owners are asked to keep nervous or unsettled animals in their car so that the vet can come to them. Further information about these clinics is available by calling 245-2075. Also, a complete 2006 low cost rabies vaccination clinic is now available on the Animal Services website at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/clinics.htm . Animal Shelter Highlights April continues the very positive dual trends of fewer animals coming into the shelter (237 in April of 2006 and 319 in April of 2005) and steady placement numbers for the month (125 in April of 2006 and 135 in 2005). This is reflected in the placement rates. The gross placement rate for this month is 52.5 percent (compared to 42 percent in February 2005); and the adoptable placement rate this month was 58 percent (as compared to 44 percent in February 2005). These rates are more reflective of the norm than the winter rates which tend to be higher. Orange County Animal Services – April 2006 Monthly Report – Page 3 Sheltering Activity April 2006 Dogs Cats Others Total In Shelter Custody as of April 1 2006 (1) 66 29 0 95 + Total Admitted Apr 2006 142 91 4 237 Sheltered in Apr 2006 208 120 4 332 - Dispositions for Apr 2006 117 68 4 189 In Foster Homes 9 11 0 20 In Pet Stores 0 5 0 5 Within Shelter 82 36 0 118 Total Within Animal Services custody on May 1 2006 91 52 0 143 Returns: 1 dog, 0 cat (1) Includes correction to previous month We also see a continuation of the current trend in the percentage of disposition figures. Over half of the dispositions are placements (66 percent), while just under a third are euthanized (32 percent). This figure includes feral cats and owner’s requests for euthanasia. Animal Dispositions Percent of Total Dogs Cats Others Total Dispositions Reclaimed 27 6 0 33 17.46% Adopted 38 32 4 74 39.15% Transfers (1) 9 9 0 18 9.52% Euthanized 42 19 0 61 32.28% Died 1 2 0 3 1.59% Other 0 0 0 0 0.00% Totals 117 68 4 189 100.00% (1) Transfers are all to APS except 6 cats, 5 dogs to rescue/pet store (2) 6 dogs, 1 cat surrendered for euthanasia or disposal; 15 cats (16%) feral The comparisons for April 2005 and 2006 illustrate an interesting point more clearly than previous months concerning the different factors which can contribute to increased placement rates. As shown above, the placements rates, both gross and adoptable, are greater in April 2006 than 2005. The numbers of pets adopted/transferred remained practically the same. However, changes have occurred in the number of animals brought into the shelter. More specifically, they decreased from 319 in April 2005 to 237 in 2006. This shows the significance of the intake decline for this month’s higher placement rates because it is the factor that is different in the comparison of the 2006 and 2005 numbers for April. Orange County Animal Services – April 2006 Monthly Report – Page 4 Our sheltering statistics are also tracking the number of animals that are in the custody of our Animal Shelter Division. In the case of the Sheltering Activity Table, it is apparent that the total number of animals in our custody is broken into those animals that are in our custody at the shelter and those animals that are in our custody but either in foster homes or pet stores where they are available for adoption. As is apparent for these figures for the month of April, a significant number of animals (25 or 17 percent) are in our custody but not at the shelter; instead, they are in a foster home or pet stores. As indicated in a previous monthly report, we will continue to track animals in foster and pet stores in this way in order to develop a richer picture of our shelter activities and services. Ultimately, the intent is to develop more comprehensive statistics of this kind – statistics for the overall number of animals in foster in a given month and ultimately the disposition of the animals that have been in foster homes. Program Report 1. Volunteering Volunteer Orientations: This orientation is a requirement of the Animal Shelter to protect the health and well-being of both volunteers and animals. A total of twenty-two (22) people attended the two orientations offered this month. Policy Procedures/Animal Handling Training: This is advanced training for volunteers wishing to work with direct handling of the animals, for example, dog walking and socialization, and cat-room cleaning. It is mandatory for all volunteers who work with animals in the Animal Shelter. Eleven (11) people attended the session offered this month. Outreach Program: Always presented by volunteers, with occasional assistance from the Program Coordinator, this is a program where we set up a table at a public location, often with select shelter animals, and provide information on adoptions and animal care. This month two programs were held at PetCo and Southern Village. Volunteers: Volunteers this month numbered 76 and volunteer hours totaled 436.75. And while we are seeing the expected seasonal drop in both the number of volunteers and the hours they put in, we are also seeing a significant increase over the figures for this same time last year. This increase translates directly into better services and programs within the department, and indeed the whole county. Volunteer Hours 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Ja n Fe b M ar Apr M ay Ju n Ju l Aug Sep Oc t No v De c 2004 2005 2006 Orange County Animal Services – April 2006 Monthly Report – Page 5 2. Special Events and Community Meetings April was a busy month for events… Ongoing Orange County Schools Program – We continued our regular program aimed at Fourth Graders within Orange County Public Schools. This program – given by Animal Control Officers, our Program Coordinator and volunteers – presents Orange County Animal Services’ role in the community. April 5th found us at Hillsborough Elementary School in front of roughly 80 children (they’re hard to count, they keep moving). Outside of this program, our Program Coordinator also made a presentation on pet care to a class of 12 preschoolers, at the shelter on April 19th. They made dog biscuits and staff brought a dog and a cat in for kids to pet. Dog Parade – The 3rd Annual Dog Parade on Market Street in Carrboro was sponsored by Bloom Where You Are Planted, a garden & gift store, with assistance from a local Girl Scout troop. There was a dog parade and many contests. The Girl Scouts sold water and held a dog bath, with one-half of the proceeds going to Animal Services. We had an information booth and shelter pets on location. Chapel Hill Apple Chill Street Fair – Animal Services featured an information booth at the festival on April 23rd, fielding questions and distributing literature. UNC APPLES – There was a presentation and reception by UNC APPLE students, a service learning organization, at Carmichael Residence Hall on UNC campus on April 24th. One of our volunteers was in the APPLES program and did her project at the shelter by helping with school presentations, as well as developing the bookmarks we give out to students. Earth Day – The Program Coordinator could be seen at Eno River State Park on April 25th, presenting to all seventh-graders within Orange County on the role of OC Animal Services in the community and how to stay safe around cats and dogs. Career Day – The eight-graders of Orange County had their shot, too, during Career Day at the Triangle Sportsplex in Hillsborough on April 28th. An Animal Control Officer joined the Program Coordinator to speak about animal services careers. Health Fair – On April 29th at Phillips Middle School in Chapel Hill, the Program Coordinator staffed a booth with information on health-related issues for pets, such as fleas, ticks, heart worms, and feral cats. She also provided information on Orange County Animal Services. Animal Control Highlights Animal Intake Data shows that we are continuing to impound a large number of unclaimed stray animals and a large number of animals released by their owner. The presence of such animals in our community accounts in no small part for our need to have professional animal control services as well as an animal shelter. These respective divisions of the Animal Services Department minimize the adverse affects of stray and unwanted animals on our communities and provide for the welfare of what are sometimes referred to as “surplus” animal companions. Orange County Animal Services – April 2006 Monthly Report – Page 6 Of course, such intake also continues to underscore the importance of promoting pet owner responsibility in our communities and County. While responsible pet ownership begins with matters such as rabies vaccination and licensing, among other legal requirements, in fact, it is much broader. It includes socialization and training, no unwanted offspring, and the formation of a lifelong human-animal bond. Thus our staff will necessarily continue to provide public education on health and safety, perform spay/neuter outreach, and offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. Animal Intake Data Total Percent Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total Strays (1) Surrender Strays Surrender Chapel Hill 8 2 15 18 43 18.14% Carrboro 15 5 4 1 25 10.55% Hillsborough 9 5 4 9 27 11.39% Orange County 51 34 13 6 104 43.88% Night Deposit 0 0 14 10 24 10.13% Other County 0 0 0 14 14 5.91% Total 83 46 50 58 237 100.00% Strays133 56.12% Animal Control129 54.43% Surrenders104 43.88% Public108 45.57% (1) “Strays” under Animal Intake Data also includes impounded animals not surrendered to Animal Services With respect to rabies control—historically one of the core functions of our own and other animal control programs throughout the United States—we have continued to see positive rabies tests based upon public reporting and our surveillance of possible exposures of people and/or their pets. In April, there were two positive rabies tests of raccoons, which brought the total to eight (8) for 2006 – seven (7) raccoons and one (1) skunk. As part of our public education and outreach, staff continue to remind pet owners not only that their pets must be 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 state law are the same as for an unvaccinated animal—namely, euthanasia or a six (6) month quarantine. Ensuring that this requirement is always met requires awareness and immediate action. In the event that their pet has possible contact with a raccoon or other wildlife animal, an owner should be sure to contact their Animal Control program right away. In this way, it is possible to take appropriate action including that an exposed pet receive a booster shot within the required time frame to ensure its own health and the health of the public. As can be seen from the following table (Rabies Exposure Investigations), the positive tests results came from the investigation of fifty-two (52) possible rabies exposures by our Animal Control Officers within the month. Usually, these are cases involving known or suspected contact between a domestic small animal and a wild animal such as a raccoon, as well as whether there is an indirect contact between a human and pet member of a household in these situations. Orange County Animal Services – April 2006 Monthly Report – Page 7 Rabies Exposure Investigations Dogs Cats Humans Other Total Bite Quarantines 14 6 0 0 20 Exposures Investigated 24 11 17 0 52 Tested Positive 0 0 0 2 2 In addition to these “exposure investigations,” our Animal Control Officers are 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. As can be seen from the Rabies Exposure Investigation Table, in April there were twenty (20) such bite quarantines. 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 continue to be performed at veterinary establishments that service pet owners who reside in Orange County. Significantly, two hundred and eleven (211) animals were vaccinated at low-cost clinics sponsored by the Animal Services Department, in addition to the one hundred and forty-eight (148) animals vaccinated at our Animal Shelter prior to their adoption or recovery. Rabies Vaccinations within Orange County Dogs Cats Total Vaccinated at Shelter 96 52 148 Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 534 404 938 Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 148 63 211 Total Vaccinations 778 519 1297 Appendix Placement Rate: This is a gross statistic which relates the number of animals placed (adopted, reclaimed and transferred) to the number of animals admitted in a given time period. This is expressed as a percentage attained by dividing the number of animals placed by the number of animals admitted. Adoptable Placement Rate: To gain a clearer representation of the placement program, the animals brought to the shelter that are not part of the placement program are excluded, namely feral cats and owner requests for euthanasia. Since the number of feral cats in particular can vary a great deal from month to month, they can obscure the true effects of the program. The adoptable placement rate is obtained by subtracting the number of feral cats and owner requests for euthanasia from the total intake number before the number of placed animals is divided by it. This yields a more refined statistic since the absent animals are generally not regarded as animals that can be placed in new homes. Percent of Total Dispositions, which are given in the statistical report, are different from the placement rates in that they do not relate to the number of animals brought into the shelter. They are, as the title implies, the total number of dispositions broken down by category. Their function is to demonstrate the accuracy of the statistics.