Animal Shelter Statistics - 02-2008

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Animal Services Monthly Report February, 2008 5 Monthly and Seasonal Variations Month by mo nth there are significant changes in the numbers of cats, dogs and other animals that are sheltered at Orange County’s Animal Shelter. In very general terms, there is a significant “spread” in the number of animals that are sheltered each mo nth, which reflect the seasonal nature of pet demographics and animal sheltering in our own and other communit ies. During the peak summer months, the numbers are much higher than in other months of the year. In February, for instance, 419 animals were sheltered. Whereas this is comparable to the number sheltered last February (392), it is much lower than the number sheltered this past June (733). Similarly, this February 270 animals were admitted to the shelter—a very large number that equates to more than 9 animals per day over that twentynineday period. During the last twelve months, the number of animals admitted to the shelter has ranged fro m 233 (December 2007) to 488 (June 2007). Moreover, it should be underscored that the “live release rate” for a given time period is determined by the number of animals that are sheltered as well as the total number of animals that are adopted, transferred, or recovered by their owner. It may well be that there is a very high percentage of animals that are released alive in a given month but that the abso lute number is lower than in other months because of the number of animals that come to the shelter. Addressing Pet Overpopulation To work toward the desideratum o f ending euthanasia as a means of population control, it is thus essent ial to posit ively impact the number of animals that come into Orange County’s Animal Shelter in the course of the year. Essent ial to this is a communit y spay/neuter program for animal companio ns such as dogs and cats that promotes responsible pet ownership and enables all communit y members to spay and neuter their own pets. Developing such a program through the County’s Animal Services Department, in coordination with the Animal Services Advisory Board, remains a fundamental and realizable object ive for the foreseeable future. No less essent ial is progressive legislation that is enforced in an effect ive, fair and reasonable manner. A starting po int is what is sometimes referred to as “different ial licensing”—that is, licensing or registration fees that are much lower for spayed and neutered animals than for intact animals. Orange County has had different ial licensing for many years, and this fiscal year that different ial became $5 for sterilized dogs and cats and $30 for intact dogs and cats. Other legislative options include an extra redempt ion fee for intact animals recovered fro m the Animal Shelter, which may be refunded if they are sterilized within a given t ime period, and permit systems that require a permit for dogs and cats that are going to be bred. Moreover, there is an overwhelming need to address the deepseated problem of feral cats in Orange County. Month after month feral cats (as defined by their communit y history