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Animal Services Monthly Report July, 2009 <br /> <br />8 <br />performed at veterinary establishments. In addition, another eighty-eight (88) animals <br />were vaccinated at our Animal Services Center prior to their adoption or recovery. <br /> <br />No low-cost rabies vaccination clinics were held in July, but two are being organized in <br />celebration of World Rabies Day in September. So far this year, six low-cost clinics have <br />been held, with 631 animals vaccinated at those clinics. In 2008, 1159 animals were <br />vaccinated at nineteen clinics. Seventeen total clinics were held during 2007—and 1157 <br />dogs and cats were vaccinated as a result. Details and further information about <br />upcoming low-cost clinics are available at <br />http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices.rabies.asp. <br /> <br />All of these activities—public education and outreach, investigations and enforcement, <br />and providing low-cost vaccination clinics—are critical given that Orange County <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 />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 long-term. As suggested in our <br />discussion of pet overpopulation, there are a number of initiatives that must be taken to <br />effectively address the underlying problem. These include the creation of a spay/neuter