Animal Shelter Statistics - 02-2006

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Orange County Animal Services – February 2006 Monthly Report – Page 5 WRAL “Pet of the Day” – On Tuesday, February 21st, the Program Coordinator visited WRAL TV with 2 rat terrier mix puppies, for their “Pet of the Day.” Our shelter received an overwhelming number of calls in response to this feature and both of the puppies were adopted. Science Fair Presentation – On Thursday, February 23rd, Chapel Hill Animal Control Officer Michael Hess and Program Coordinator Sarah Fallin gave a presentation on rabies and proper pet care to the students at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill during their Science Fair. Animal Control Highlights Animal Intake Data shows that Orange County mirrors trends affecting animal sheltering insofar as we impound a large number of unclaimed stray animals and a large number of animals related to or surrendered by their owners. The presence of such animals in our community accounts in no small part for our need to have professional animal control services as well as an animal shelter to provide for the welfare of animal companions as well as to minimize the adverse affects of stray and unwanted animals on members of the public. Animal intake of stray and surrendered animals also underscores the importance of promoting responsible pet ownership in our communities. While responsible pet ownership begins with matters such as rabies vaccination and licensing, among other legal requirements, it is much broader, including socialization and training, no unwanted offspring, and the formation of a lifelong bond. Promoting such ownership is basic to the various programs our Animal Services Department has and will continue to provide, including public education on health and safety, spay/neuter outreach, and low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. Animal Intake Data Total Percent Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total Strays (1) Surrender Strays Surrender Chapel Hill 20 3 16 14 53 18.66% Carrboro 8 1 5 4 18 6.34% Hillsborough 9 6 4 3 22 7.75% Orange County 90 40 6 21 157 55.28% Night Deposit 0 0 20 5 25 8.80% Other County 0 0 0 9 9 3.17% Total 127 50 51 56 284 100.00% Strays178 62.68% Animal Control 177 62.32% Surrenders106 37.32% Public 107 37.68% (1) “Strays” under Animal Intake Data also includes impounded animals not surrendered to Animal Services With respect to rabies control—historically one of the core functions of our own and other animal control programs throughout the United States—we have continued to see positive rabies tests based upon public reporting and our surveillance of possible exposures of people and/or their pets. As noted at the outset in discussing Department Highlights, in February there were two positive rabies cases—bringing to three (3) the total for 2006 (two raccoons and a skunk). As always, any incidence of rabies underscores the need for effective rabies control as it is provided through our Animal Control Division and preventive measures beginning with the vaccination of our dogs and cats. As can be seen from the following table (Rabies Exposure Investigations), the two positive tests results came from twelve (12) rabies cases our Animal Control Officers investigated in the course of the month. Usually, these are cases involving known or suspected contact between a domestic small animal and a