Animal Shelter Statistics 06-2009

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Animal Services Monthly Report June, 2009 4 month, there was a total of 179 “live releases,” consisting of 108 adoptions, 17 transfers and 54 returns to owners or custodians. Moreover, it is possible to determine the rate of live release for placeable animals and animals that have been recovered for a given month. Placeable animals do not include animals surrendered by their owner for euthanasia (usually due to illness, infirmity or a behavior problem); feral cats (as these are typically not placed); animals that died before arriving at the shelter or in our custody as a result of an “untreatable” injury or illness; or animals that are being held for a bite quarantine or court case. The number of placeable animals is determined by subtracting animals surrendered for euthanasia, feral cats, deceased animals, and court and bite holds from the total number of animals dispositioned in a given month. For the month of June, there were 456 total animals dispositioned. When we remove the animals on bite and court holds, animals surrendered for euthanasia, the feral cats and those animals that arrived dead or died of an untreatable injury while at the shelter, we are left with 416 “placeable” animals. To find the “live release rate,” we must then divide the total number of “live releases” (179) by the total number of potentially placeable animals whose disposition was decided in the month (416)—and as can be seen in Table B.2 Live Release for Placeable and Recovered Animals, the rate is 43 percent for the month of June.2 Several observations can be made with respect to adoptions for the month. By comparison with May 2009, there is a slight increase in the number of adoptions (108 vs. 98), and a slight increase in the number of “live releases” (179 vs. 176). When compared with June in 2008, there was a decrease in adoptions for the month (108 in June 2009 vs. 136 in June 2008), and a decrease in the live release number (179 vs. 224). There are several factors that have likely contributed to this decrease, the first being that the department moved into a new facility during the last three days of May and opened to the public for the first time on June 1st. As a result of the closing, hold periods on animals were extended and the number of animals inside the facility that would have been moving through was put on hold during that move. Another factor that has affected live release numbers in the recent months is the overall decline of the economy. The Triangle area of North Carolina saw the effects of this later than some other areas, but is beginning to see the results of economic decline take effect throughout. This affects not only adoption rates, but the public’s ability to reclaim animals as well. It also affects transfer numbers to placement partners, as many of those organizations are volunteer-run nonprofit organizations that are also feeling the effects of the economy and are therefore unable to move animals as quickly through their organizations, and are even, in some cases, being forced to downsize. 2In earlier monthly reports, this was referred to as the “adoptable placement rate” versus the “gross placement rate,” insofar as the latter was determined on the basis of all animals dispositioned in a given month.