March 12, 2008

More animals being saved, fostered in King County

Latest figures show euthanasia down at Animal Care and Control Shelters

New data shows King County Animal Care and Control reduced the euthanasia rates at its two animal shelters by more than 5 percent in 2007, and has lowered the euthanasia rate to below 18 percent in the first two months of 2008. The numbers show the shelter has maintained its goal of not euthanizing any healthy, adoptable animals.

"This is the lowest rate we've ever achieved at our shelter as our staff work with volunteers, retailers and others to find homes for the thousands of cats, dogs and other animals who end up in the shelter," said Al Dams, Acting Manager of King County Animal Care and Control. "We continue to look for ways to provide the best outcomes for animals and the community given existing resources.

The King County Animal Care and Control euthanasia rate for 2007 was 34.4 percent, using the new euthanasia calculation method adopted into the King County Code in 2007. By that calculation method, the euthanasia rate in 2006 was 39.8 percent. The 2007 rate of 34.4 percent was the lowest rate ever for King County Animal Care and Control (39.8 percent in 2006 was the previous low). Not only was the 2007 euthanasia rate the lowest, but the total number of animals euthanized was the lowest ever at 4,054 (the previous low was 4,331 in 2006), despite an increase of incoming animals of more than 700 in 2007.

In the first two months of 2008, King County Animal Care and Control has met the new euthanasia target of 20 percent set by the King County Council in May 2007 through the adoption of Ordinance 15801 (combined rate of just under 18 percent for January and February).

The adoption rate in 2007 was also up over 2006, from 40.2 percent in 2006 to 42.9 percent in 2007, a new high. The total number of adoptions crossed 5,000 for the first time in 2007 (5,233).
In addition to the lower euthanasia rates and higher adoption rates, Animal Care and Control has implemented, or is making progress on over 60% of the recommendations of the King County Animal Care and Control Citizen's Advisory Committee (28 out of 45 (excluding duplicates)), and 93% (12 of 13) of the model-animal control program directives set out in King County Council Motion 12600.

"We have been working very hard in an effort to become the model animal care and control program that we, the Council, and the Advisory Committee want us to be, and that the public deserves. We are not where we want to be yet, but we have embraced the challenge and look forward to making more progress in the months ahead," said Department of Executive Services Director Jim Buck.

Notable accomplishments for 2007 and the first two months of 2008 are highlighted below:

• Reduced euthanasia in 2007 by over 5% and achieved a euthanasia rate in the first two months of 2008 below the 20% mandated by the County Council;
• Achieved approximately 50% increase in the use of the foster care network in 2007 to provide care for additional animals in need of longer term care for medical and/or behavioral issues;
• Completed a variety of critical facility improvements at the Kent Shelter, including relocation of cat caging from the dog stray hold area to other areas of the shelter to reduce stress, behavioral issues, and chance of escape; coverage of open sewer drains in dog runs; remodel of food prep area; and repairs to kennel caging to prevent injury to animals;
• Attained greater shelter sanitation by improving the shelter cleaning protocol to provide deep cleaning of all dog kennels daily (without the dogs in the runs so they do not get wet);
• Negotiated new work schedules with Animal Control Officers to increase daily staffing improving animal care and customer service. The new schedules also will allow the Kent Shelter to be open on Sundays beginning mid-2008;
• Added additional veterinarian and veterinarian technician support at Kent Shelter to provide spay/neuter surgery six (6) days per week (up from four), as well as daily health checks and medical treatment of animals;
• Added a second shelter staff member at the Crossroads Shelter to provide a higher level of animal care, customer service, and volunteer support;
• Agreed to two significant Memorandums of Understanding with the Animal Control Officer's Guild that expand allowable volunteer duties to include all functions of off-site adoptions, a variety of duties in the Veterinary Clinic as approved by the veterinarian, full laundry services, spot cleaning of dog kennels and cat cages holding animals available for adoption, and to provide animals water if their water bowl is empty.
• Sought and receiving significant donations of goods.

"King County Animal Care and Control is demonstrating a strong commitment to achieving the policy goals of King County and moving to becoming a model program. The will is present, but making the improvements necessary to actually deliver and sustain the requisite euthanasia rates and a model animal care and control program will require more," said Executive Ron Sims. "Continued commitment by Animal Care and Control, support by our shelter, foster and rescue volunteers, activists and the like will assist the County in making further progress on the Council directives and Advisory Committee recommendations that will improve the care of animals in our shelters, reduce euthanasia and increase adoptions."

Related information

• Animal Services Web site
• Euthanasia rate at animal shelters falls to all-time low, Seattle Times
• Sims defends care of animals, Seattle Times
• Sims defends treatment of animals at county shelters, Seattle Post Intelligencer