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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Shelter Statistics - 10-2005 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 October 2005 Departmental Highlights 1. The development of the Animal Services Department remains an important ongoing activity. This month efforts included work on the Animal Services website and the refinement as well as the distribution of our monthly service report. 2. Spay/neuter information was again made available at the County rabies vaccination clinic held at the Hillsborough Court House on October 20th. A free raffle was held and three donated prizes were given. In addition, an Animal Control Officer and the Program Coordinator did an informative presentation for students during Earth Walk, on October 7th. These are examples of the kind of coordinated and convergent service activities between the Animal Sheltering Division and the Animal Control Division that we are seeking to develop as an integral part of Animal Services. 3. On October 20th, two low-cost County rabies vaccination clinics were held. Ninety-three (93) animals – sixty-three (63) dogs and thirty (30) cats – were vaccinated at clinics at Hillsborough Court House and Northern Human Services. These were two of the last clinics of 2005 with the final one scheduled for November 5th at the Animal Shelter. 4. On October 28th, NBC-17’s “Triangle Wishes” aired a human interest story about two dogs exposed to a rabid raccoon that were quarantined gratis by Cole Park Veterinary Hospital. The story was prompted by the request of one of the household members who made a wish given concerns about his wife’s health and the statutory requirement that an exposed animal either be euthanized or quarantined at a veterinary clinic for a six-month period. 5. The second meeting of the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) was held on October 26th, 2005. Among the issues addressed at this meeting were the standing committees responsible for appeals of dangerous dog declarations and adoption denials and select updates on the activities of the Animal Services Department. Also, Tracy Carrol and Kristine Bergstrand, DVM, respectively, were elected ASAB Chair and Vice Chair. Amendments to North Carolina General Statutes related to animals and the operations of the Animal Control and Animal Sheltering Divisions of the Animal Services Department were Orange County Animal Services – October 2005 Monthly Report – Page 2 reviewed at the October ASAB Meeting. These amendments were summarized on the basis of Aimee Walls’ North Carolina Animal Control Law: 2005 Legislative Update (Local Government Law Bulletin [David Lawrence, Editor], Number 107, October 2005). These amendments are: a. Regulation of public animal shelters (effective October 2005) i. Certification via NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ii. Rules exist but will be revisited given broader scope of this regulation b. Euthanasia requirements in shelters and other regulated facilities (upon creation of rules) i. Specific requirements to be developed by the Board of Agriculture ii. More specific than methods accepted by AVMA, HSUS, AHA c. Animal exhibition regulation to control physical contact with humans (October 2005) i. Applies to a “sanctioned agricultural fair” to control E coli transmission ii. “Operational permit” required from Department of Agriculture based upon rules it must create d. Disposition procedure for dogs seized in dog fighting cases (effective December 1, 2005) i. Petition to court for court hearing to determine 30 day care deposit ii. Court may order deposit or allow supervised care if cost is prohibitive iii. Affidavits may be filed to renew the court order e. Cockfighting reclassified as a Class I felony from a Class 2 misdemeanor 6. A Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearing – the first held under the auspices of the Animal Services Department – was held on October 28th. The owner of a dog declared “potentially dangerous” because it had attacked and bitten a bicyclist requested the appeal. The Dangerous Dog Committee – one of the two standing ASAB Committees – upheld the declaration. 7. The process of filling the open positions within both the Animal Control and the Animal Sheltering Divisions continued. The Animal Control Manager position was advertised; the Animal Health Technician position was reopened after an employment offer was declined; and initial and follow-up interviews were held for the opening of Animal Control Officer. Animal Shelter Highlights The October 2005 figures show a continuation of the reduction in numbers of animals coming into the shelter compared to the same month of the previous year. This month there were actually almost 100 fewer animals admitted than in the previous October (378 in 2005 and 476 in 2004). Shelter Activity October 2005 Dogs Cats Others Total In Shelter Custody as of October 1 2005 112 148 6 266 + Total Admitted Oct 2005 159 211 8 378 Sheltered in Oct 2005 271 359 14 644 - Dispositions for Oct 2005 (1) 174 226 10 410 Remaining in Shelter Custody on November 1 2005 97 133 4 234 (1) Includes corrections to previous month Orange County Animal Services – October 2005 Monthly Report – Page 3 Animal Dispositions Percent of Total Dogs Cats Others Total Dispositions Reclaimed 34 6 0 40 9.76% Adopted 54 80 5 139 33.90% Transfers (1) 13 17 3 33 8.05% Euthanized (2) 68 118 2 188 45.85% Died 1 0 0 1 0.24% Other (3) 4 5 0 9 2.20% Totals 174 226 10 410 100.00% (1) Transfers: 11 dogs, 6 cats to APS; 2 dogs, 11 cats, 3 'other' to rescue (2) 5 cats, 1 bird surrendered for euthanasia; 40 cats (34%) feral. (3) .Includes 3 corrections to previous month, as well as 3 relocations, 1 disposal, and 2 outside quarantines. While placements were down numerically from 2004, the placement rates are higher because of the reduction in intake. The gross placement rate for October 2005 was 57 percent compared to 48 percent for 2004. The placement rate for adoptable animals was 64.5 percent in October 2005, compared to 59 percent in 2004. Euthanasia numbers continue to be down quite dramatically this month (188 in 2005 and 250 in 2004). This is reflected in the breakdown of dispositions with a higher percentage of placements verses euthanasia. Further, euthanasia as a percentage of dispositions is again lower for 2005 (46 percent) verses 2004 (51 percent). 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. The Program Coordinator, Sarah Fallin, held two orientations this month (on October 6th and 13th), which a total of 39 people attended. Policy Procedures /Animal Handling Training: This is an advanced and required training for volunteers wishing to work with direct handling of the animals, such as dog walking and socialization, cat-room cleaning, and related activities. 36 people attended two of these training sessions given by Program Coordinator, Animal Care Technician , and senior dog volunteer. Volunteers: Volunteers this month numbered 69 (including 10 one-time volunteers) and volunteer hours totaled 493.75. 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 Phydeaux, PetsMart, Southern States, and Whole Foods. Orange County Animal Services – October 2005 Monthly Report – Page 4 2. Special Events and Community Meetings Specific events were numerous this month. On October 2, volunteers staffed an information table at the Blessing of the Animals at Duke Chapel on the Duke University campus. On the same day the Program Coordinator and volunteers staffed an information table at Festifall, a street fair in downtown Chapel Hill on Franklin Street. We also had a children’s contest of guessing how many pieces of candy are in the candy jar, which over 300 people entered. Three people were tied for the closest “guestimate,” so we had a blind drawing performed by ACO Michael Hess. Impact Animall is a not-for-profit organization that uses donated space in the I -40 Mall for pet adoptions from a variety of animal groups, and we were featured there on October 6th & 7th. The Director of Animall provided transportation and volunteers to take shelter pets to Animall for the day and return to shelter. The Program Coordinator coordinated with Impact Animall to take the animals twice a week, 2 times this month. There is a $10.00 charge per week. On October 7th Animal Control Officer (ACO) Gary Morrison and Program Coordinator made a presentation on rabies, bites, abuse, shelter information, and responsible pet ownership to 270 Orange County Middle school kids and their teachers at EarthWalk, an educational program hosted by Orange Soil and Water Conservation. On October 8th, our Program Coordinator and a volunteer brought pets and staffed an information at the Arthritis Walk, sponsored by the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont in Chapel Hill; and on October 9, our Program Coordinator gave a presentation and a tour to a youth group from the Orange United Methodist Church. The 4th and 5th graders made doggie biscuits for our dogs and brought donations of treats and food. Also, on October 21, Program Coordinator held an off-site orientation for members of the Chapel Hill High School Animal Club. PACT (Parent and Children Together), a division of Mental Health Association, held a meeting at the shelter on October 29. The kids stuffed kong toys, went on a tour and discussed appropriate pet handling techniques, and were then permitted to give the dogs the kongs. Also on October 29, volunteers staffed a Halloween Party and Best Costume Contest at Wal-Mart in Hillsborough, netting $104.00 in proceeds for the shelter. On October 14th, our Program Coordinator met with Culbreth Middle School (Chapel Hill Carrboro City School) teacher Allison Machacek. Her 7th & 8th graders will adopt the shelter for the remainder of the school year. They will create a bulletin board with pictures from the shelter, posters for pet preparedness in case of a disaster, and manage a donation drive for National Shelter Appreciation Week Also, on October 14, she met with Caesar and Scott, managers from the new PETCO at South Pointe to discuss Outreach and cat placement in PETCO on a regular basis. They will only do outreach and must be rotated with other animal groups on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Program Coordinator applied to PETCO for our shelter to be a PETCO Charitable Partner. Orange County Animal Services – October 2005 Monthly Report – Page 5 Animal Control Highlights As can be seen from the Animal Intake Data presented in the following table, our County mirrors the nationwide situation in which we impound and shelter a large number of number of unclaimed stray animals and a large number of animals surrendered by their owners (animals sometimes referred to as owner releases). 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. Also, the twin sources of animal intake provide the motivation and the direction for various programs such as the efforts to promote spaying and neutering and animal identification (with permanent microchip technology as well as easily read tags and collars)—and more generally the kind of responsible pet ownership that forms a lifelong bond between human households and their animal companions. Animal Intake Data Total Percent Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total Strays (1) Surrender Strays Surrender Chapel Hill 17 0 35 28 80 21.2% Carrboro 8 0 6 0 14 3.7% Hillsborough 18 18 10 11 57 15.1% Orange County 108 36 14 16 174 46.0% Night Deposit 0 0 24 5 29 7.7% Other County 0 0 12 12 24 6.3% Total 151 54 101 72 378 100.0% Strays 252 66.7% Animal Control 205 54.2% Surrenders 126 33.3% Public 173 45.8% (1) "Strays" under Animal Control Demographics also includes quarantined animals that have not been surrendered. 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. There was one positive rabies case in October, bringing the total to date this year to twenty (20). As always, any incidence of rabies underscores the need for effective rabies control as it is provided through our Animal Control Division and preventive measures beginning with the vaccination of our dogs and cats. 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. Rabies Exposure Investigations Dogs Cats Other Total Exposures Investigated 0 0 5 5 Tested Positive 0 0 1 1 Vaccination Statistics Vaccinated at Shelter 49 43 92 Vaccinated at Vet Clinics 471 573 1044 Vaccinated at Rabies Clinics 63 30 93 Total Vaccinations 583 646 1229 Orange County Animal Services – October 2005 Monthly Report – Page 6 Appendix Placement Rate: This is a gross statistic which relates the number of animals placed (adopted, reclaimed, rescued 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 owners 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’s requests for euthanasia from the total intake number before the number of placed animals is divided by it. This yields a more refined statistic. 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.