Animal Shelter Statistics - 07-2008

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Animal Services Monthly Report July, 2008 5 Monthly and Seasonal Variations Month by month 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 month, which reflect the seasonal nature of pet demographics and animal sheltering in our own and other communities. During the peak summer months, the numbers are much higher than in other months of the year. In July, for instance, 737 animals were sheltered. Whereas this is quite a bit higher than the number sheltered last July (596), it is much higher than the number sheltered this past March (398). Similarly, this July 522 animals were admitted to the shelter—a very large number that equates to almost 17 animals per day over that thirty- day period. During the last twelve months, the number of animals admitted to the shelter has been as low as 233 (December 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 absolute 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 of ending euthanasia as a means of population control, it is thus essential to positively impact the number of animals that come into Orange County’s Animal Shelter in the course of the year. Essential to this is progressive legislation that is enforced in an effective, fair and reasonable manner. A starting point is what is sometimes referred to as “differential licensing”—that is, licensing or registration fees that are much lower for spayed and neutered animals than for intact animals. Orange County has had differential licensing for many years, and this fiscal year that differential became $5 for sterilized dogs and cats and $30 for intact dogs and cats. No less essential is a community spay/neuter program for animal companions such as dogs and cats that promotes responsible pet ownership and enables all community members to spay and neuter their own pets. The development of the Community Spay/Neuter Fund during the past year, in coordination with the Animal Services Advisory Board, has been a major accomplishment for the Animal Services Department. Funded by an increase in the differential licensing fee for unaltered pets, this fund will allow the Animal Services Department to work with several existing programs to promote Spay/ Neuter and responsible pet ownership throughout Orange County in the coming months and years.