Agenda - 04-03-2002 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . 21 Pet Population in Orange County Report to the Orange County Board of Commissioners Surveys of human and pet populations have shown a relationship between dog and cat ownership and household demographics such as the number of people in a household and whether the home is owned or rented. Using these demographic factors, a co-efficient is applied that estimates the dog and cat populations in a given county or geographical area. For example, an owned household with four people living in it has a probability of ownership of one dog of 0.373, and a probability of ownership of two dogs of 0.130. A rented household's probability of owning one dog is 0.327 if four people live there, and 0.151 if only one person lives there. In 1990,the human population was pegged at 93,000 and while the dog and cat population was estimated at 40,000, or 43%of the former. Assuming the same ratio for 2000,we would estimate that there are 50,000 dogstcats in Orange County. As more of the census data is released,these statistics will be reapplied to the new figures. However, there is evidence that there may be fewer than that. From 1997 to 2000 the numbers of pups, kittens and strays sheltered at the Orange County Animal Shelter declined, with pups showing a dramatic 19.4% decrease. Kittens lagged behind with only an 8% decrease. The $7500 you appropriated for the "Barn Cat"program will also improve that figure overtime. "Strays" sheltered decreased by 10.4% over the four years. The past year's statistics look about the same or slightly reduced for 2001-2002. Meanwhile, Animal Controls'pet/tax registration database showed a significant increase in sterilized dogs/cats(15%) and a significant decrease in unsterilized dogs/cats (12.5%.) The database currently contains almost 37,000 dogs and cats. In 1997 the Animal Protection Society inaugurated a stand alone veterinarian clinic with Bobby Shopler as the on-staff veterinarian. This allowed the Animal Protection Society to offer low cost spay neuter to all. Dr. Shopler has neutered 5900 dogs and cats in these four years, thereby largely contributing to the figures cited above. County and town Animal Control Officers have done their part by encouraging owners of unsterilized pets to spay/neuter their pets at every opportunity. The Animal Protection Society also acquired a small grant to offer spay/neuter subsidies for residents that cannot afford to spay or neuter their pets. The dog/cat sheltered and registered figures show that Orange County has possibly turned the corner on pet overpopulation. To further decrease our dog and cat euthanasia in absolute numbers,the Board of Health will be looking into whether the sterilized/unsterilized pet tax differential should be increased from the current 1:2 to 1:5 ratios. The current fees are $5 for sterilized and $10 for unsterilized. Another strategy _ might include increasing the shelter reclaim fee for fertile animals impounded for being at large.