Animal Shelter Statistics - 04-2006

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Orange County Animal Services – April 2006 Monthly Report – Page 6 Of course, such intake also continues to underscore the importance of promoting pet owner responsibility in our communities and County. While responsible pet ownership begins with matters such as rabies vaccination and licensing, among other legal requirements, in fact, it is much broader. It includes socialization and training, no unwanted offspring, and the formation of a lifelong human-animal bond. Thus our staff will necessarily continue to provide public education on health and safety, perform spay/neuter outreach, and offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. Animal Intake Data Total Percent Animal Control From Public Incoming of Total Strays (1) Surrender Strays Surrender Chapel Hill 8 2 15 18 43 18.14% Carrboro 15 5 4 1 25 10.55% Hillsborough 9 5 4 9 27 11.39% Orange County 51 34 13 6 104 43.88% Night Deposit 0 0 14 10 24 10.13% Other County 0 0 0 14 14 5.91% Total 83 46 50 58 237 100.00% Strays133 56.12% Animal Control129 54.43% Surrenders104 43.88% Public108 45.57% (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. In April, there were two positive rabies tests of raccoons, which brought the total to eight (8) for 2006 – seven (7) raccoons and one (1) skunk. As part of our public education and outreach, staff continue to remind pet owners not only that their pets must be licensed but that a dog or cat with a current rabies vaccination must receive a booster shot within seventy-two (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 state law are the same as for an unvaccinated animal—namely, euthanasia or a six (6) month quarantine. Ensuring that this requirement is always met requires awareness and immediate action. In the event that their pet has possible contact with a raccoon or other wildlife animal, an owner should be sure to contact their Animal Control program right away. In this way, it is possible to take appropriate action including that an exposed pet receive a booster shot within the required time frame to ensure its own health and the health of the public. As can be seen from the following table (Rabies Exposure Investigations), the positive tests results came from the investigation of fifty-two (52) possible rabies exposures by our Animal Control Officers within the month. Usually, these are cases involving known or suspected contact between a domestic small animal 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 household in these situations.