Animal Shelter Statistics - 08-2007

Browse Search

Animal Services Monthly Report August, 2007 7 staff stresses the immediate reporting of any possible contact to animal control and/or public healt h authorities to ensure the healt h of all members of a househo ld—human and pet alike. As can also be seen fro m the table on rabies exposures, Animal Control Officers investigated twentyfive (25) cases in which there were possible rabies exposures. Usually, these are cases invo lving known or suspected contact between a domest ic small animal such as a dog or a cat and a wild animal such as a raccoon, as well as whether there is an indirect contact between a human and pet member of a househo ld in these situations. But our Animal Control Officers are also responsible for bite reports invo lving dogs and cats (as well as other animals) and a human victim. In these cases, it is a legal requirement and public health precaution that a dog or cat bit ing a human being be contained and observed for a period of ten (10) days—thereby ensuring that the bite victim was not exposed to the rabies virus. Efforts to ensure current vaccination, for the welfare of pets and the people with who m they come into contact, are ongoing and act ivit ies in this area are captured by vaccination statist ics compiled by our Animal Control Divisio n. As is ordinarily the case, the majorit y o f these vaccinations – 1,411 out of a total o f 1,555 vaccinations – continue to be performed at private veterinary establishments. But another one hundred and forty four (144) animals were vaccinated at our Animal Shelter prior to their adoption or recovery. All o f these act ivit ies—public educat ion and outreach, invest igations and enforcement, and providing lowcost vaccination clinics—are crit ical given that Orange County continues to be affected by the epidemic of “eastern raccoon rabies” that began in the latter half o f the 1990s. Their essential nature is further underscored by the current view that we are on the upside o f a raccoon rabies cycle that may bring even higher numbers of confirmed rabies cases than we have seen in recent years. North Carolina public health veterinarians have articulated this view because of their awareness that last year 520 animals were confirmed rabid by North Carolina’s rabies laboratory, an increase of 62 cases fro m the year before. Special Monthly Notes There have been several challenges and changes that have affected animal disposit ion numbers this month. One of the most notable has been the typical seasonal increase of animal intakes during spring and summer, a clear indicat ion of the ongoing problem of pet overpopulation. Another notable challenge over the last six mo nths has been the housing o f 17 dogs that were confiscated due to a cruelt y case. In May, nine of these dogs were humanely euthanized due to medical or behavioral problems, but six of the dogs still remain in the care of the Animal Shelter, subject to the terms of a plea agreement reached in Superior