Animal Shelter Statistics - 12-2007

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Animal Services Monthly Report December, 2007 7 As can also be seen fro m the table on rabies exposures, Animal Control Officers investigated five (5) cases in which there were possible rabies exposures. Usually, these are cases invo lving known or suspected contact between a do mest ic small animal such as a dog or a cat and a wild animal such as a raccoon, as well as whether there is 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 healt h 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—889 out of a total of 971 vaccinations—continue to be performed at veterinary establishments. In addit ion, another eight ytwo (82) animals were vaccinated at our Animal Shelter prior to their adoption or recovery. The Animal Services Department offered no lowcost rabies vaccination clinics in December, but seventeen clinics were held during 2007—and 1157 dogs and cats were vaccinated as a result. Four February 2008 lowcost rabies clinics are scheduled and posted, with dates for the remainder of the year being scheduled soon. 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. Staff and vo lunteers were able to go on several outreach events, including ho liday parades, and ho ld at least one event at the shelter itself. There has been an increase in the number of people visit ing the shelter as a result. On the other hand, mult iple kennels in our holding areas have continued to undergo routine sanding and paint ing during December. This periodic maintenance is necessary for the purposes of disease control and sanitation, and at least four kennels at a time have been unusable due to this maintenance project, reducing available space.