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Animal Services Monthly Report May, 2009 <br /> <br />8 <br />continues to be affected by the epidemic of “eastern raccoon rabies” that began in the <br />latter half of the 1990s. <br /> <br /> <br />Special Monthly Notes <br /> <br /> <br />The most notable monthly occurrence in May was our move to our brand new Animal <br />Services Center on Eubanks Road. This move, which took place between Wednesday, <br />May 28th and Saturday, May 30th, was the most tangible illustration of years of planning <br />and preparation. Existing facilities on Revere Road in Hillsborough (Animal Control), <br />Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (Shelter) and Franklin Street (Admin) were all closed <br />permanently and all three divisions of Animal Services merged into one state-of-the-art <br />facility for the first time since the department’s creation. The new center features a green <br />design, glass-fronted kennels, and improvements in water usage, disease control, space <br />and overall aesthetics and environmental stimulation for both the animals and visitors that <br />come to Animal Services. <br /> <br />Still a factor in disposition numbers again this month is the overall economic downturn <br />that North Carolina and other regions have experienced. As has been discussed in <br />professional publications and reviewed on national news coverage, this economic burden <br />has forced many people to give up things they once were more able to afford, including <br />pets. Our impression is that this may not only be affecting adoption numbers, but also <br />owner surrenders, reclaim rates and the ability for people to provide different levels of <br />care such as spaying and neutering pets. Despite the economy’s effects on businesses of <br />all kinds, adoption and reclaim numbers have stayed moderately level, in part due to <br />staff’s dedicated work in areas such as outreach, visibility, awareness, and education. <br /> <br /> <br />Conclusion <br /> <br />As a very young department that only came into existence in 2005, Animal Services <br />continues to develop new ways in which to better serve the animals and citizens of the <br />county. As suggested in our discussion of pet overpopulation, there are a number of <br />initiatives that must be taken to effectively address the underlying problem of pet <br />overpopulation. These include the creation of a spay/neuter fund and a strategic plan to <br />remedy pet overpopulation, and steps are being taken toward those goals by the <br />department in coordination with the Animal Services Advisory Board. <br />