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Animal Services Monthly Report February, 2010 <br /> <br />8 <br />North Carolina (POP NC) to spay and neuter 22 dogs and cats belong to Orange County <br />residents that receive services from the Department of Social Services. <br /> <br />A notable factor in disposition numbers still again this month is the overall economic <br />downturn that North Carolina and other regions have experienced. As has been discussed <br />in professional publications and reviewed on national news coverage, this economic <br />burden has forced many people to give up things they once were more able to afford, <br />including pets. Our impression is that this may not only be affecting adoption numbers, <br />but also owner surrenders, reclaim rates and the ability for people to provide different <br />levels of care such as spaying and neutering pets. Despite the economy’s effects on <br />businesses of all kinds, adoption and reclaim numbers have stayed moderately level, in <br />part due to staff’s dedicated work in areas such as outreach, visibility, awareness, and <br />education. <br /> <br /> <br />Conclusion <br /> <br />Animal Services continues to develop new ways in which to better serve the animals and <br />citizens of the county. With the opening of the new Animal Services Center in June of <br />2009, the department expects to be able to better meet the needs of the community and <br />more effectively and efficiently in the long run. The creation of the new facility has been <br />a priority in the planning and time of the department since its creation, and this <br />realization will finally allow other activities to move further into the front as the <br />department fine tunes and adapts to meet the needs of the county and community. <br /> <br />Pet overpopulation continues to be a problem in Orange County and beyond, and one that <br />the Animal Services Department is dedicated to addressing on a long-term basis. As <br />suggested in our discussion of pet overpopulation, there are a number of initiatives that <br />must be taken to effectively address the underlying problem. These include the creation <br />of a spay/neuter fund and a strategic plan to remedy pet overpopulation, and steps are <br />being taken toward those goals by the department in coordination with the Animal <br />Services Advisory Board. <br />