Animal Shelter Statistics - 09-2007

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Animal Services Monthly Report September, 2007 6 neutered animals than for intact animals. 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 time 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 and/or observed behaviors in the context of the shelter) are the largest single group of animals that are euthanized. In September, 78 feral cats were euthanized, and they comprised 72 percent of all cats euthanized during the month (and 48 percent of all animals euthanized). In fact, euthanasia of feral cats is not a “shelter problem,” but rather a communit y problem that needs to be addressed as such. There is a great need for init iatives in the area of public educat ion to raise awareness insofar as euthanasia is the end result for most of these creatures, and their presence must be considered in relation to the risk of rabies, given the ongoing and endemic nature of socalled “raccoon rabies” in our County and region. Thus addressing the problem of feral cats must beco me part of a strategic plan for the County’s Animal Services Department, again working in coordination with our concerned cit izenry through the Animal Services Advisory Board. These are illustrations o f the kinds of the positive and proactive approaches that are needed to address the problem of pet overpopulation as a communit y problem. In working to reduce the number of unwanted animals that must be sheltered in our own communit ies, we would also expect improvements in so me o f the outcomes of our sheltering practices. We should all look forward to the day when there are very good numbers of adoptions and “live releases” but no less notable ongoing decreases in the number of animals that come to our shelter. Rabies Cycle, Rabies Prevention and Rabies Control Wit h respect to rabies control—historically a core function of animal control—there is a continuing concern about posit ive rabies tests based upon public reporting and our surveillance of possible exposures of people and/or their pets. Table C.1 Rabies Exposures Investigated and Positive Cases shows that this month there were 4 posit ive rabies tests. This brought the total number of positive cases to sixteen (16) for 2007, and in 2006 there were twentyseven posit ive cases—eighteen (18) raccoons, four (4) bats, four (4) skunks, and one (1) fox. Our own public educat ion activit ies stress that pet owners not only need to be sure that their pets are vaccinated and licensed but that a dog or cat with a current rabies vaccination must receive a booster shot within sevent ytwo (72) hours of any exposure to rabies. Unless an exposed pet with a current vaccination receives a booster shot within that time frame, the requirements of North Carolina law is the same as for an unvaccinated animal—namely, euthanasia or a six (6) month quarant ine. In this regard,