Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Shelter Statistics - 06-2006 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 June 2006 Departmental Highlights 1. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for architectural and engineering services for Orange County’s new animal services center (aka animal shelter). Proposals are expected to be received and reviewed such that a staff recommendation is made to the BOCC at its first meeting in August. Also, the BOCC initiated the creation of a twelve person Design Advisory Committee consisting of members of the Animal Services Advisory Board, members of the general public, and BOCC Chair Barry Jacobs and County Commissioner Moses Carey. It is expected that this committee will be formed as soon as possible when the BOCC convenes again in August. 2. Pet Harbor, a website for records and photographs of animals at Orange County’s Animal Shelter, was successfully implemented. Pet Harbor can be accessed directly through http://www.petharbor.com/ , which requires entering a zip code or city name to produce a list of participating shelters in the area – Orange County Animal Services can then be selected from the list, and further criteria for an animal search entered. Alternately, we reproduce the info on the Adoption and Lost & Found pages on our own website, at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/shelter/adoption.htm and http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/shelter/lost.htm respectively, which presents the information directly for those who are starting from the county website. Pet Harbor, an integral component of Chameleon, the software used by the Animal Services Department, is designed to make information available to people looking for a lost pet as well as people looking for a new pet. In improving access to such information, it is expected to improve our service to the public and to have a positive affect on the overall placement of animals that come into the County’s Shelter. Throughout the month, our department work team has been involved in the various activities required for Pet Harbor implementation. Of special importance in June was making adjustments in and refining the work processes required to take and upload digital photographs and properly administer Pet Harbor as an integral component of the department’s website. Orange County Animal Services – June 2006 Monthly Report – Page 2 In coming months, the Pet Harbor work team will be exploring how to market and otherwise utilize this information medium to further the aim of returning and adopting animals from the County’s Animal Shelter. An overall objective will be to bring adopters, owners of lost pets and other members of the public to this resource and the Animal Services Department website. 3. The Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) met on June 21st, 2006. At this meeting the Board reviewed and approved a new brochure for the Department’s Animal Control Division; discussed the BOCC process for the design of a new animal services facility; and received select departmental updates. Also discussed at the June ASAB meeting were foster program materials prepared by a program review committee consisting of ASAB members and staff. On the basis of comments, these materials are to be returned to the ASAB for final review at an upcoming meeting. The review of the foster program is the first part of a broader review of shelter programs that includes spay and neuter outreach, temperament testing and the transfer of animals to rescues and other animal organizations. Another important part of this review process will be adoption activities given their importance and their close relationship to other programs oriented toward the placement of animals. 4. Animal Services staff was involved in several initiatives in the Fairview Neighborhood in Hillsborough as a result of community concerns about responsible pet ownership. One was a low cost rabies vaccination clinic held on Saturday, June 10th, at Fairview Park at which sixty (60) dogs and cats received their rabies vaccination. Another activity was our participation in a Community Fair at Fairview Park organized by the Hillsborough Police Department (HPD) and held on Saturday, June 24th. Finally, Animal Control Officers canvassed the Fairview Neighborhood with HPD Officers assigned to the Fairview Substation to field complaints, answer questions, and raise awareness of responsible pet ownership. 5. Two departmental staff training sessions were held in the month of June. One was the first of a two-part training program on “stellar customer service” by Ms. Annis Davis. This particular program was customized to the needs of our staff, and among other things, it set the basis for skill development practices based on real life experiences in the second part of the training. Training on customer service is being provided in recognition of Orange County’s mission of providing excellent customer service and to address one of the major parts of the “Three Cs” that are basic values in the delivery of Animal Services—namely, customer service, quality care of animals, and cooperation and courtesy in our work with each other and service to the public. Another departmental training session concerned hurricanes and disaster preparedness. Offered by Jack Ball, Director, Orange County Emergency Management, this training session addressed the dynamics and history of hurricanes in our region and County; disaster mobilization in the context of an incident command structure; and all-round preparedness including household preparedness for pets. 6. The Board of County Commissioners authorized staff to discuss and if possible negotiate a contract for interim animal control services to the Town of Carrboro. Animal Services received Orange County Animal Services – June 2006 Monthly Report – Page 3 a request for such an arrangement from the Town as a result of the reassignment of its Animal Control Officer to other duties in the Carrboro Police Department and questions about the best way to provide animal control services in the future. One possibility that has emerged for discussion is the provision of these services by the County’s Animal Services Department under a contract of the kind that currently exists with the Town of Chapel Hill. 7. Two low-cost rabies vaccination clinics were held in June. At the clinic held at Orange County’s Animal Shelter on June 3rd, a total of sixty-one (61) animals – thirty-eight (38) dogs and twenty- three (23) cats – were vaccinated. At the clinic held at Fairview Park on Saturday, June 10th, a total of sixty (60) animals—fifty (50) dogs and ten (10) cats—were vaccinated. In addition, a rabies vaccination special involving a partnership between the Hillsborough Veterinary Clinic and Animal Services Department was held the week of Monday, June 19th, through Saturday, June 24th. During select hours on those days, pet owners could come to the Hillsborough Veterinary Clinic for a low-cost ($5) rabies vaccination. A total of one-hundred and fifty-nine (159) animals – one-hundred and seven (107) dogs and fifty-two (52) cats – were vaccinated throughout the week. To ensure the continuing availability of low-cost rabies vaccinations for County residents, a work team of staff planned additional clinics throughout the year. A complete list of clinics is available on the Animal Services website at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/clinics.htm . 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. As of the end of June, finally, 2006 YTD there have been twelve (12) positive rabies tests—one (1) skunk, one (1) bat and ten (10) raccoons. Nine (9) of these involved definite exposures; however, in three (3) cases tests were conducted to be “safe rather than sorry” but it was ultimately determined that there were no exposures. In 2005, there were twenty-three (23) positive rabies tests in the County. All but five of those involved raccoons; the remainder included positive tests for two foxes, a bat, a beaver and a dog. Animal Shelter Highlights The comparisons between June 2005 and 2006 reveal a very similar pattern to April and May. The number of animals adopted/transferred (205 in 2006 and 191 in 2005) and reclaimed (51 in 2006 and 52 in 2005) are very similar. The only difference is that there were 33 fewer animals taken in within June of 2006 than in June of 2005 (540 in 2006 and 573 in 2005). The number of animals euthanized is lower in 2006 (225) than in 2005 (272), continuing a positive trend toward fewer animals being euthanized. Also, the placement rates for June 2006 (47% gross and 50.5% adoptable) are slightly higher than or comparable to those in June 2005 (42% gross and 50% adoptable) As with the figures for last month these figures reflect the lower intake of animals, once again highlighting the importance of this figure and possible trend. Orange County Animal Services – June 2006 Monthly Report – Page 4 Sheltering Activity May 2006 Dogs Cats Others Total In Shelter Custody as of June 1 2006 (1) 77 125 3 205 + Total Admitted June 2006 246 271 23 540 Sheltered in June 2006 323 396 26 745 - Dispositions for June 2006 231 230 23 484 In Foster Homes 9 34 1 44 In Pet Stores 0 5 1 6 Within Shelter 83 127 1 211 Total Within Animal Services custody on July 1 2006 92 166 3 261 Returns: 9 dogs, 0 cat (1) Includes corrections to previous months 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 of the end of the month, a total of 50 animals were in foster homes or pet stores. It should be said that this figure is a snapshot of fostering activity done through the County’s Animal Shelter. The actual number of animals fostered in the month of June—sixty four (64)—is greater than the number in foster on the final day of the month. This is because some animals that were in foster have been adopted or returned to the shelter for adoption prior to the end of the month. Tracking animals in foster and pet stores is important in providing complete 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. Such tracking is closely related to the ongoing review of the foster program being conducted staff and members of the Animal Services Advisory Board. Orange County Animal Services – June 2006 Monthly Report – Page 5 Animal Dispositions Percent of Total Dogs Cats Others Total Dispositions Reclaimed 39 9 3 51 10.54% Adopted 65 82 16 163 33.68% Transfers (1) 19 22 1 42 8.68% Euthanized 107 115 3 225 46.49% Died 1 2 0 3 0.62% Other 0 0 0 0 0.00% Totals 231 230 23 484 100.00% (1) Transfers are all to APS except: 15 cats, 4 dogs, 1 'Other' to rescue/pet store 2 dogs, 2 cats surrendered for euth/disp; 29 cats (25%) feral. Animal Shelter--and Services--Program Report Our Program Coordinator, Sarah Fallin, was out for the month of June on medical leave. Due to her absence our volunteer orientation and training sessions, outreach programs and special events were very few by comparison with a more regular summer month. We are delighted that Sarah will return to her duties, if only on a part-time basis, late in July, and in August, look forward to her more complete return to work. 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 nine (9) people attended the single orientation 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. Fifteen (15) 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 four programs were held at Dubey’s, Phydeaux’s, Carrboro Town Commons, and the PTA Thrift Shop in Chapel Hill. Volunteers: Volunteers this month numbered 46 and volunteer hours totaled 388.25. As can be seen from the chart below, notwithstanding Sarah’s absence, and the expected seasonal decrease in volunteers, we’re still maintaining a healthy margin above last year’s figures. Orange County Animal Services – June 2006 Monthly Report – Page 6 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 2. Special Events and Community Meetings After Hours at Weaver Street Market – On Thursday, June 1st, we hosted a cookout to benefit Animal Services at the After Hours event at Weaver Street Market. Volunteers and our Program Coordinator served barbecued chicken and portabella mushrooms, with pasta salad and watermelon, accompanied by the music of Chris Reynolds and Swinging Jazz. All proceeds went to the shelter. Fairview Park Informational Fair – On Saturday June 24th, we partnered with Hillsborough Police Department, at their request, to present information and community contact at Fairview Park in Hillsborough. Our Animal Control Manager, with two Animal Control Officers and volunteers, staffed an information booth to present a positive face to a community largely unfamiliar with our services. We were well-received, and commended by Hillsborough Police for our participation and approach. 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 (or surrendered) 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 and place them in new homes to the greatest extent possible. Of course, animal intakes numbering hundreds each month underscores 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 proper husbandry and care; socialization and training; no unwanted offspring; and ultimately, the formation of a lifelong human-animal bond. Thus our staff will necessarily continue to provide public education on responsible pet ownership, perform spay/neuter outreach; and offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. Orange County Animal Services – June 2006 Monthly Report – Page 7 Animal Intake Data Total Percent Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total Strays (1) Surrender Strays Surrender Chapel Hill 26 4 33 35 98 18.15% Carrboro 8 1 4 7 20 3.70% Hillsborough 51 21 6 14 92 17.04% Orange County 145 51 27 29 252 46.67% Night Deposit 0 0 55 10 65 12.04% Other County 0 0 6 7 13 2.41% Total 230 77 131 102 540 100.00% Strays 361 66.85% Animal Control307 56.85% Surrenders 179 33.15% Public 233 43.15% (1) “Strays” under Animal Intake Data also includes impounded animals not surrendered to Animal Services With respect to rabies control—historically a core function of animal control—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 June, there was one (1) positive rabies tests for a raccoon, bringing the total for 2006 to twelve (12). Our own public education activities continue to 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. 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. Also, if a possible exposure occurs outside regular hours of service, an Animal Control Officer should be reached right away through Orange County’s Emergency Communications (911). As can be seen from the following table, the one (1) positive test in the month of June resulted from our Animal Control Officers investigation of eighty-two (82) 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 an indirect contact between a human and pet member of a household in these situations. Bite Quarantines and Rabies Exposure Investigations Dogs Cats Humans Other Total Bite Quarantines 14 10 0 0 24 Exposures Investigated 23 12 24 23 82 Tested Positive 0 0 0 1 1 Inconclusive 0 0 0 1 1 Orange County Animal Services – June 2006 Monthly Report – Page 8 In addition to these kinds of “rabies exposure investigations,” our Animal Control Officers also 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 above Table, in June there were twenty-four (24) 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 – 1,411 out of a total of 1,756 vaccinations – continue to be performed at veterinary establishments that service pet owners who reside in Orange County. And another sixty-five (65) animals were vaccinated at our Animal Shelter prior to their adoption or recovery. More than three hundred dogs and cats were vaccinated as a direct result of other Animal Services Department activities. One-hundred and twenty-one (121) of these vaccinations were given at low cost vaccination clinics. In addition, a total of one hundred and fifty-nine (159) were animals were vaccinated as part of a rabies vaccination involving our partnership with the Hillsborough Veterinary Clinic. Pet owners were able to get their dogs or cats vaccinated for $5 during select hours the week of Monday, June 19th, through Saturday, June 24th. Rabies Vaccinations within Orange County Dogs Cats Total Vaccinated at Shelter 40 25 65 Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 728 683 1411 Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 195 85 280 Total Vaccinations 963 793 1756 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.