Animal Shelter Statistics 10-2009

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Animal Services Monthly Report October, 2009 4 October 2009. For the month, there was a total of 195 “live releases,” consisting of 117 adoptions, 27 transfers and 51 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 October, there were 411 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 358 “placeable” animals. To find the “live release rate,” we must then divide the total number of “live releases” (195) by the total number of potentially placeable animals whose disposition was decided in the month (358)—and as can be seen in Table B.2 Live Release for Placeable and Recovered Animals, the rate is 54 percent for the month of October.2 Several observations can be made with respect to adoptions for the month. By comparison with September 2009, there is a slight decrease in the number of adoptions (117 vs. 123), but an increase in the number of “live releases” (195 vs. 188), as a result of higher reclaim numbers for the month. When compared with October in 2008, there was a slight decrease in adoptions for the month (117 in October 2009 vs. 128 in October 2008), and a slight decrease in the live release number (195 vs. 206). Likely contributing to the decrease in adoption and live release numbers 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.