HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Shelter Statistics - Sept-Dec 2006
Orange County Animal Services
501 W. Franklin St, Suite 106, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 968-2287
Animal Disposition Summary Report:
September –December 2006
February 14th, 2007
Due to staff vacancies, it has not been possible to produce and post our regular monthly reports in the
last four months of 2006. Integral to the monthly report is a set of statistical tables that include the
disposition of animals at Orange County’s Animal Shelter as well as intake numbers and numbers
regarding rabies cases and vaccinations.
As a result of one staff vacancy, it was necessary to recreate our ability to produce statistical table
concerning animal intakes and dispositions, a task staff diligently worked toward and accomplished
toward the end of the year. While performing their regular duties, they worked with others to reproduce
and validate the process for generating shelter statistics, using the same tools and methods that we
previously used for this purpose.
Below please find our standard statistical reports for the months of September, October, November and
December of 2006. These are exactly the same statistical reports as appear in monthly reports for the
previous months of 2006 and the months of 2005 for which these monthly reports were produced and
posted on our website. All that is different is that these reports are presented without accompanying
narrative, essentially due to our more limited human resources as a result of two staff vacancies we are in
the process of filling.
With regard to our sheltering activities and their effective administration, these statistics remain as
important in the present as they have been in the past. They assist us in identifying and tracking trends of
note, and they enable us to communicate openly and easily with stakeholders, partners, and the general
public about our operations and activities.
For the months about which we are reporting, there is generally an increase in the number of animals
admitted to the shelter by comparison with the same months of the previous year. By comparison with the
preceding year, there is also a decline in the number of adoptions and the total number of “live releases”
(consisting of not only adoptions but animals transferred to other organizations and ones recovered by
their owners and custodians). While these declines may well be affected by increased admissions, they
are attributable to other factors as well in the complex processes that affect animal dispositions as well as
pet demographics.
We thus want to reflect upon possible reasons for changes in the number of adoptions and ”live releases”
as well as inventory the initiatives that we have taken to ensure that we are placing as many healthy and
behaviorally sound animals as we possibly can. While each of these subjects is addressed in the
following sections, what should be said here is that our initiative are closely related to our monitoring of
our sheltering activities on the basis of the statistics presented herein.
Initiatives have been taken to ensure that we can and do continue to place as many healthy and
behaviorally sound animals as possible given our core responsibilities, available resources and the
dynamics of pet overpopulation here as well as elsewhere. As always, such initiatives as well as our
regular services rely not only upon the dedicated efforts of our staff but their collaboration with other
organizations and individual members of the public with a commitment to the welfare of animals in our
community. And we look forward to our continued work with stakeholders, partners and members of the
general public in addressing and ultimately resolving what at root is a community problem—namely, the
problem of pet overpopulation.
Questions about the statistics and narrative discussion that follow may be addressed to Robert A.
Marotto, Director, Orange County Animal Services at bmarotto@co.orange.nc.us.
Factors Affecting Animal Dispositions
A number of observations may be made about the decline in the number of animal adoptions and “live
releases” during the period under consideration. While some of these concern specific challenges,
others relate to changes in our internal processes and service orientation. Also of note are some broader
factors related to the operation of Orange County’s Animal Shelter in a dynamic context.
Challenges
• During December of last year, we lost the off site adoption spaces at Dubey’s Pet World because
it closed. This caused not only a loss of additional space and an adoption venue for adoptable
cats but was also a loss in terms of advertising of shelter services including adoption.
• Building maintenance during this period (painting the shelter floors and walls), required to
comply with new state regulations for public shelters, caused loss of space for holding animals
and thus reduced the number of animals available for adoption for the duration of the project.
• The appearance of two different serious infectious disease outbreaks—ringworm and
parvovirus—impacted the number of animals available for adoption. In each of these situations,
shelter staff worked closely with our consulting veterinarian to control the spread of disease (and
in the case of ringworm, initiate prophylactic treatment) but all such measures limited adoption
possibilities.
• Staffing vacancies inhibited the department’s ability to maximize adoption opportunities
particularly with respect to promoting adoptions in the community and developing collaborative
relationships with rescue organizations.
Changes
• Improvements in the area of adoption counseling provide the public with better information about
the responsibilities involved in owning and caring for pets. This critical educational process has
promoted more informed decision making, but it may sometime mean that a potential adopter
chooses to not adopt at this time
• Our goal is to ensure that animals made available for adoption are both healthy and behaviorally
sound. Improvements have been made to the process used to evaluate animals and thereby help
to identify animals not suitable for placement into the community. The end result of this process
is of great benefit to those adopting from the shelter; however it impacts the number of animals
made available for adoption to the general public.
Context
• Orange County’s Shelter faces increased competition for adopters with rescues and other animal
organizations. Not only is it the case that another shelter (or sanctuary) now operates within the
county but some private rescue organizations have become quite prominent.
• Related to increased competition is the physical condition of the County’s shelter, which will
remain an impediment to attracting potential adopters until the County’s new facility is finished
at the end of 2008. In the meantime, rescues and newer shelters provide potential adopters with
the opportunity to adopt a homeless animal without having to enter an old, unattractive building.
• In this changing context, 2006 is only the second year of direct operation of the County’s Animal
Shelter, which makes meaningful statistical comparison of smaller periods of time quite
challenging.
Placing Animals
As mentioned at the outset, staff have taken several oriented toward ensuring that adoptable animals are
placed in new homes. These are in addition to the “regular” responsibilities of staff for the care and
placement of the various animals that we shelter. And they are based upon our careful monitoring of our
sheltering activities, on the basis of monthly statistics as presented in the following section, given our full
complement of responsibilities and available resources.
Specific Initiatives
• New marketing ideas have been implemented including classified ads in several area papers,
fliers, and our new website (which includes a link to Pet Harbor to photographically showcase
animals at the shelter). We are also working to more fully and routinely utilize Petfinder and
other such opportunities for the electronic advertising of adoptable animals.
• Developing the volunteer program in new ways that help to promote adoptions. One example is
taking adoption deposits at outreach events. Another a brand new component of our dog walking
program in which volunteers promote our dogs as well as hand out information about the
County’s Animal Shelter and its services.
• Efforts continue to sustain and broaden relations with other animal organizations to increase the
number of animals that are transferred for final placement, within the context of a developed
partnership program, in this way expanding our the capacity to house as well as place animals.
• Working with the Adoption Committee of the Animal Services Advisory Board, staff are more
carefully evaluating the reasons for euthanasia, not only so that there is a clear understanding of
that process in the County’s Animal Shelter but to begin to identify targeted programs to increase
animal placements.
Developments
• We have been building on the skills and abilities of staff through training and have every reason
to believe that our human resources will continue to grow stronger in the coming years—
strengths that are already readily apparent in our service to the public and our care of animals.
• In the same vein, two vacant positions with administrative responsibilities for our sheltering
services are expected to be filled, and doing so is another opportunity to strengthen our human
resources and leadership capabilities as we move forward in developing and delivering animal
services.
• Orange County is well along the way to having a new state-of-the-art animal services facility, one
that has greater capacity per se, allows attractive presentation of adoptable animals, and that
more effectively controls infectious disease while better ensuring animal wellness.
• Integral to the design of the County’s new facility is the promotion of animal placements by
creating a much more inviting and desirable destination for members of the public—one to which
they are drawn for the non-human members of their families and one which achieves a visible
profile throughout the County.
Shelter Activity
September 2006
Dogs Cats Others Total
In Shelter Custody
as of Sept 1, 2006 (1) 63 107 4 174
+
Total Admitted Sept 2006 195 239 6 440 Returns 5 dogs, 2cats
Sheltered In Sept 2006 258 346 10 614
-
Dispositions for Sept 2006 180 253 6 439
In Foster Homes 7 39 0 46
In Pet Stores 0 0 0 0
Within Shelter 71 64 4 139
Total Within Animal Services
custody on October 1 2006 78 93 4 175
(1) Includes corrections to previous month
Dispositions
% of Total
Dogs Cats Others Total Dispositions
Reclaimed 44 10 2 56 12.76%
Adopted 55 65 2 122 27.79%
Transfers (1) 11 31 0 42 9.57% 6 dogs, 21 cats to rescue/pet store
Euthanized 66 144 0 210 47.84% 2 dogs, 1 cat euthanized for euth/disp
68 cats (40%) feral
Died 2 3 0 5 1.14%
Other (1) 2 0 2 4 0.91%
Totals 180 253 6 439 100.00%
(1) Transfers were all to APS unless specified otherwise at right
Demographics
Total Percent
Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total
Strays (4) Surrender Strays Surrender
Chapel Hill 13 2 45 28 88 20.0%
Carrboro 5 0 7 1 13 3.0%
Hillsborough 18 10 16 10 54 12.3%
Orange County 147 66 23 7 243 55.2%
Other County 0 0 32 0 32 7.3%
Unknown 0 0 7 3 10 2.3%
Total 183 78 130 49 440 100.0%
Strays 313 71.1% Animal Control 261 59.3%
Surrenders 127 28.9% Public 179 40.7%
(1) "Strays" under Animal Control Demographics
also includes quarantined animals that have not
been surrendered.
Rabies
Statistics
Dogs Cats Other Total
Bite Quarantine 10 3 0 13
Exposures Investigated 0 0 15 15
Tested Positive 0 0 2 0
Inconclusive 0 0 0 0
Vaccinated at Shelter 52 36 88
Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 492 608 1100
Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 118 70 188
Total Vaccinations 662 714 1376
37 Wild Intakes and dispositions not included in statistics
Shelter Activity
October 2006
Dogs Cats Others Total
In Shelter Custody
as of October 1, 2006 78 93 4 175
+
Total Admitted October 2006 193 190 23 406
Sheltered in October 2006 271 283 27 581
-
Dispositions for October 2006 (1) 187 174 18 379
Remaining in Shelter Custody
on November 1, 2006 (2) 84 109 9 202 (2) Within Shelter: 76 dogs, 68 cats
In Foster Homes / Pet Stores: 8 dogs, 38 cats
(1) Includes corrections to previous month
Other Within Shelter 2 and In Foster / Pet stores
7
Dispositions
% of Total
Dogs Cats Others Total Dispositions
Reclaimed 42 5 0 47 12.40%
Adopted 39 73 2 114 30.08%
Transfers (3) 19 30 2 51 13.46%
Euthanized 84 62 8 154 40.63%
Died 3 3 6 12 3.17%
Other (1) 0 1 0 1 0.26%
Totals 187 174 18 379 100.00%
(3) Transfers to Rescue Services.
Demographics
Total Percent
Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total
Strays (4) Surrender Strays Surrender
Chapel Hill 20 3 41 28 92 22.7%
Carrboro 5 2 10 6 23 5.7%
Hillsborough 17 19 8 18 62 15.3%
Orange County 115 53 17 28 213 52.5%
Other County 0 0 4 6 10 2.5%
Unknown 0 0 6 0 6 1.5%
Total 157 77 86 86 406 100.0%
Strays 243 59.9%
Animal
Control 234 57.6%
Surrenders 163 40.1% Public 172 42.4%
(4) "Strays" under Animal Control Demographics also includes
quarantined animals that have not been surrendered
Rabies Statistics
Dogs Cats Other Total
Exposures Investigated 1 2 9 12
Tested Positive 0 0 2 2
Vaccinated at Shelter 48 43 91
Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 82 33 115
Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 526 607 1133
Total Vaccinations 656 683 1339
Shelter Activity November 2006
Dogs Cats Others Total
In Shelter Custody
as of November 1, 2006 84 109 9 202
+
Total Admitted November 2006 170 148 29 347
Sheltered in November 2006 254 257 38 549
-
Dispositions for November 2006 (1) 172 176 31 379
Remaining in Shelter Custody
on December 1, 2006 (2) 82 81 7 170
(1) Includes corrections to previous month
(2) Within Shelter: 78 dogs, 52 cats. In Foster Homes / Pet
Stores: 4 dogs, 29 cats Other Within Shelter 5 and In Foster
/ Pet stores 0
Dispositions
% of Total
Dogs Cats Others Total Dispositions
Reclaimed 35 5 0 40 10.55%
Adopted 63 40 5 108 28.50%
Transfers (3) 8 41 1 50 13.19%
Euthanized 64 89 14 167 44.06%
Died 2 1 8 11 2.90%
Other (1) 0 0 3 3 0.79%
Totals 172 176 31 379 100.00%
(3) Transfers to Rescue Services.
Demographics
Total Percent
Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total
Strays (4) Surrender Strays Surrender
Chapel Hill 9 4 33 35 81 23.3%
Carrboro 6 0 8 9 23 6.6%
Hillsborough 15 18 11 6 50 14.4%
Orange County 92 50 17 9 168 48.4%
Other County 1 0 6 9 16 4.6%
Unknown 0 0 8 1 9 2.6%
Total 123 72 83 69 347 100.0%
Strays 206 59.4% Animal Control 195 56.2%
Surrenders 141 40.6% Public 152 43.8%
(4) "Strays" under Animal Control Demographics also
includes quarantined animals that have not
been surrendered.
Rabies Statistics
Dogs Cats Other Total
Exposures Investigated 0 2 8 10
Tested Positive 0 0 3 3
Vaccinated at Shelter 42 41 83
Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 489 510 999
Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 52 44 96
Total Vaccinations 583 595 1178
Shelter Activity December 2006
Dogs Cats Others Total
In Shelter Custody
as of December 1, 2006 82 79 5 166
+
Total Admitted December 2006 213 104 29 346
Sheltered in December 2006 295 183 34 512
-
Dispositions for December 2006 (1) 185 109 28 322
Remaining in Shelter Custody
on January 1, 2007 (2) 110 74 6 190
(1) Includes corrections to previous month
(2) Within Shelter: 106 dogs, 59 cats In Foster
Homes / Pet Stores: 4 dogs, 15 cats
Other Within Shelter 1 and In Foster / Pet stores 5
Dispositions
% of Total
Dogs Cats Others Total Dispositions
Reclaimed 42 2 0 44 13.66%
Adopted 56 36 0 92 28.57%
Transfers (3) 6 20 2 28 8.70%
Euthanized 80 46 13 139 43.17%
Died 1 5 12 18 5.59%
Other (1) 0 0 1 1 0.31%
Totals 185 109 28 322 100.00%
(3) Transfers to Rescue Services.
Demographics
Total Percent
Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total
Strays (4) Surrender Strays Surrender
Chapel Hill 11 12 35 18 76 22.0%
Carrboro 3 0 9 2 14 4.0%
Hillsborough 10 7 11 17 45 13.0%
Orange County 98 68 11 8 185 53.5%
Other County 0 0 4 10 14 4.0%
Unknown 0 0 12 0 12 3.5%
Total 122 87 82 55 346 100.0%
Strays 204 59.0%
Animal
Control 209 60.4%
Surrenders 142 41.0% Public 137 39.6%
(4) "Strays" under Animal Control Demographics
also includes quarantined animals that have not
been surrendered.
Rabies Statistics
Dogs Cats Other Total
Exposures Investigated 0 1 10 11
Tested Positive 0 0 2 2
Vaccinated at Shelter 33 17 50
Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 430 395 825
Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 0 0 0
Total Vaccinations 463 412 875