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Animal Services Monthly Report February, 2010 <br /> <br />4 <br />February 2010. For the month, there was a total of 137 “live releases,” consisting of 85 <br />adoptions, 40 transfers and 12 returns to owners or custodians. <br /> <br />Moreover, it is possible to determine the rate of live release for placeable animals and <br />animals that have been recovered for a given month. Placeable animals do not include <br />animals surrendered by their owner for euthanasia (usually due to illness, infirmity or a <br />behavior problem); feral cats (as these are typically not placed); animals that died before <br />arriving at the shelter or in our custody as a result of an “untreatable” injury or illness; or <br />animals that are being held for a bite quarantine or court case. The number of placeable <br />animals is determined by subtracting animals surrendered for euthanasia, feral cats, <br />deceased animals, and court and bite holds from the total number of animals <br />dispositioned in a given month. <br /> <br />For the month of February, there were 212 total animals dispositioned. When we remove <br />the animals on bite and court holds, animals surrendered for euthanasia, the feral cats and <br />those animals that arrived dead or died of an untreatable injury while at the shelter, we <br />are left with 190 “placeable” animals. To find the “live release rate,” we must then <br />divide the total number of “live releases” (137) by the total number of potentially <br />placeable animals whose disposition was decided in the month (190)—and as can be seen <br />in Table B.2 Live Release for Placeable and Recovered Animals, the rate is 72 percent for <br />the month of February.2 <br /> <br />Several observations can be made with respect to adoptions for the month. By <br />comparison with January 2010, there is a decrease in the number of adoptions (85 vs. <br />101), and a decrease in the number of “live releases” (137 vs. 166). When compared <br />with February in 2009, there was also a slight decrease in adoptions for the month (85 in <br />February 2010 vs. 93 in February 2009), as well as a decreased live release number (137 <br />vs. 157). <br /> <br />Likely contributing to the overall decrease in adoption and live release numbers is the <br />overall decline of the economy. The Triangle area of North Carolina saw the effects of <br />this later than some other areas, but is beginning to see the results of economic decline <br />take effect throughout. This affects not only adoption rates, but the public’s ability to <br />reclaim animals as well. It also affects transfer numbers to placement partners, as many <br />of those organizations are volunteer-run nonprofit organizations that are also feeling the <br />effects of the economy and are therefore unable to move animals as quickly through their <br />organizations, and are even, in some cases, being forced to downsize. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />2In earlier monthly reports, this was referred to as the “adoptable placement rate” versus the “gross placement rate,” <br />insofar as the latter was determined on the basis of all animals dispositioned in a given month. <br /> <br />