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Kill rate soars at county animal shelter; adoptions decline
September 24th, 2008, 7:00 am · 30 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
Just as the County of Orange rejected a mandatory spay/neuter law for pets, statistics show a 21 percent leap in the number of unwanted animals killed at the Orange County Animal Shelter over the past year, and a 3 percent drop in adoptions.
- In 2006-07, the county euthanized 12,068 unwanted animals.
- In 2007-08, the county euthanized 14,642 unwanted animals.
(These numbers exclude what the county calls “owner-requested euthanasias” - when a pet owner sidles up to the counter with an old or sick animal and asks that it be put down. That’s another thousand or so animals a year.)
That’s a lot of dead animals.
WHY THE CARNAGE?
The terrible economy is partly to blame, said shelter spokesman Ryan Drabek. When money gets tight, the expense of a pet can be hard to justify. And when people lose their homes, it can be hard to find pet-friendly new digs. It’s not just a phenomenon here; it’s happening all over the place as the economy tanks, Drabek said.
The economy would seem to explain the decline in adoptions as well.
The chart below shows what’s happening in graphic form. Ponder the purple line.
NO SPAY/NEUTER LAW
But it’s the juxtaposition of this leap in euthanasia with the decline in adoptions and county’s rejection of a mandatory spay/neuter law that we find so interesting.
In June, the Orange County Grand Jury urged the county to adopt a mandatory spay/neuter law for pets to reduce the euthanasia rate, which is about 50 percent. One of every two animals brought to the county shelter, put down.
The county response, approved in August, was essentially, ”No, no, a thousand times no.”
“This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or it is not reasonable,” the county said. Essentially, it’s way too “nanny state” for live-free-or-die OC.
The county is taking smaller steps. This year, it has two pilot programs in the works:
- One to provide spay/neuter vouchers to those in need (cost: $50,000)
- And another to trap, neuter and release feral cats, which should cut down on the number of kitties coming into the shelter (cost: $50,000).
A spay/neuter voucher program was part of New Hampshire’s very successful voluntary spay-neuter program. Since it was adopted in 1994, euthanasia rates dropped 70 percent, and 30,000 fewer cats and dogs came into shelters. How? By targeting low-income pet owners, and offering nearly free spay/neuter procedures.
The county animal shelter continues to stress adoptions. A recent event at an Angels baseball game found homes for 38 animals in a single day. Click here to see the sweeties awaiting homes. (Yes, The Watchdog is a sucker for animals. What else would you expect?!)
For more on the county-wide kitty crisis, see Erika Ritchie’s story here.
More Watchdog:
· No mandatory spay/neuter law for OC pets
· Doggie-dumping days may be numbered
· Mission Viejo animal shelter supporter fires back
· Stop the killing! A no-nanny approach OC can emulate
· OC’s dead pets enter the food chain. Mmmm.
· OC’s dead pets enter the food chain, part two
· OC’s dead pets enter the food chain, part three
· OC’s dead pets enter the food chain, part four
· Recycling dead animals 1: Waste not, want not?
· Recycling dead animals 2: Waste not, want not?
September 24th, 2008 at 7:27 am
This is so sad…the pictures of the puppies makes me want to cry. Please Orange County officials, rethink your stance on mandatory spay/neuter because it is not fair for these animals to suffer because of a pet owner’s laziness or negligence. At least they are taking small steps to improve the problem, but we will have to wait and see if it works. It goes for all animals really, they can feel pain, plain and simple.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I’ve been the OC shelter countless times looking for a dog and not once did I ever find what I was looking for. Then I finally figured out why. Here’s the reason:
Shelters take in dogs. Then rescues come in and take specific breeds before the public gets access to them. The rescues then sell the dogs for hundred of dollars. Meanwhile the shelters are left with all the unwanted mutts.
I basically got tired of going again and again only to find the same type of mutts. So instead of paying hundreds for a rescue dog with who knows what behavior problems. I bought a dog from a breeder without all the hassles.
Now, why are there more killings and less adoptions? Because people are losing their jobs and houses at the same time prices for everything are increasing. When it comes down to; Do I feed my family or go to the shelter and pay $100 for a mutt? People aren’t going to starve themselves.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:03 am
The rescues spay/neuter, vaccinate, feed and provide medication for the animals they rescue.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I just went on Craigslist and found a cat. I am very happy with him. Why are people so interested in finding a certain breed of dog?? If I was looking for a dog, I would get a mixed breed…
September 24th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I’m with you, I’m a sucker for animals. 3 of our cats are from the shelter. I guess the obligations of pet ownership can bring out the worst in some people. Suddenly their pets become more disposable than the cost of HBO or having internet service on their cell phone. I have mixed feelings about the rescue orgs because they’re sometimes demanding and critical — let’s remember that everyone of those rescue places has saved those discarded pets from abandonment by owners, physical abuse or nearly certain death at the shelter. (every other pet you see there is going to die!) They’re feeding, sheltering and caring for those animals till some, hopefully decent and responsible, pet owner comes along to “buy” them at a 10th of what a pet store or breeder would charge — & no one is paying them a dime to do this.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:43 am
They also charge way more here at the OC shelter then in neighboring counties. I have heard of a few people going to LA to adopt a dog, because OC charges more.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:04 am
If you cant afford the $150 adoption fee you shouldnt own a dog.
Think about doing somehting constructive with your money when getting adopting, paying a breeder is both stupid and borderline immoral given the condition of so many of these dogs.
-Proud owner of an english bulldog from the oc shelter
September 24th, 2008 at 9:12 am
With a 9.4% increase in the number of animals being handled by the organization the euthanized rate only increased 5.6%!
This is a good number as it is less then their actual increase so they must be doing something right.
So did the kill rate actually soar as headlined in this article or was it actually managed very well under the increase in abandoned pets?
New Headline:
Despite an increase in unwanted pets, the kill rate was well managed by the County
September 24th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I cannot believe that they are not requiring spay/neuter!
I used to work with someone whose cat kept having kittens and they would just take them all to the pound. I asked her why she did not spay her cat. She replied “I’m not spending 35.00 on that!”. When I told her it could be done low cost, she scowled at it.
These are the irresponsible sloths that need to be told what to do, and it needs to be enforced.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Has the unwanted pet population increased? Why are they not all killed by now? Sounds of alarmism.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I believe that making it illegal for pet shops to sell dogs would do much more than a mandatory spay and neuter law. While I was in favor of such a law in the beginning, the last and final attempt was not something I could support.
By the way, I am extremely happy with a very unique mutt from the shelter and a wonderful purebred from a rescue organization. Both adoptions went without any problems.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I can’t go into a shelter anymore unless I’m specifically looking to adopt. I couldn’t volunteer there and God bless our volunteers. It totally breaks my heart to know how many innocent animals are euthanized and never find homes.
While I certainly don’t like the government telling me what to do and how to live my life, from time to time I don’t mind laws like mandatory spay/neutering. But like anything in life, you can’t force anyone to do the right thing. And I doubt a law will do much for those who weren’t planning on putting the $$ required to do this will do it now. Just like talking on the phone while driving. I see dozens of people daily not hands free jabbing away.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Went to OC ACS several times, Irvine too. They wouldn’t let our family adopt because we had small children.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Sorry, but I doubt that. I have been at OC shelter several times, once I was going to adopt a dog and there have been absolutely no questions asked. I see families adopt a dog from there all the time and I have good friends with a small kid who adopted a dog from the OC Shelter.
Irvine may have more requirements, but small children will not be the reason to decline an adoption request.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:34 am
We also adopted a dog from the OC shelter back in 2003 with a 3 year old and 6 year old. It was not a problem at all. I’ve gotten a cat from both OC and Irvine as well. I don’t understand why there isn’t a mandatory spay/neuter law but if you get a shelter animal from anywhere, it is required to take the animal home. Shouldn’t the same rule apply to everyone?
September 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
What a waste. The school lunch programs could benefit from this situation.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
If you are against the spay/neuter law.. then please go to the OC pound… walk in the back and see the metal barrels with feet of dead pets sticking out waiting to be put in the large crematory. Its something you have to see.. sad and pathetic if you are one of those people who say ” i don’t want a pound dog.. its not what I’m looking for.” I wish your parents could have chosen to pass you up. And to think, some of them get 30 days.. and then its over. So sad.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
This increase is due to the economy. Castrating your dog or cat at considerable expense will increase eutheanizations and not reduce them. Castrating animals will not reduce the number of animals owned.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
# homer92630 Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Went to OC ACS several times, Irvine too. They wouldn’t let our family adopt because we had small children.
I had this happened years ago to me. I wanted to adopt a cat from Irvine and they said that I had to provide proof that I had a lease that would allow additional animals or proof of home ownership.
Needless to say I didn’t want to go through the hassle of amending a lease, so I bought a dog from a pet store instead.
Don’t wonder why!
September 24th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Melanie: I do wonder why. Buying from a pet store is the worst you can do. I also wonder why you bought a dog when originally you wanted a cat?
Providing evidence that you are in fact allowed to have a dog in your house/appartement is a step to prevent animals being returned to the shelter because the land lord does not allow pets. How hard can it be to provide a statement from your land lord that cats and/or dogs are allowed when you are considering a change that will affect the next 15 years of your life?
September 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Doubt it all you want, but the animal care people become pet nazi’s when it comes to placing the animals in homes. We were denied three times. Three strikes, and we quit visiting the pound.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
BTW: the only animals we have been allowed to adopt from the shelters were hamsters and guinea pigs. So, apparently even the shelter people draw the line just above fuzzy critters.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
The Man said…..”Then rescues come in and take specific breeds before the public gets access to them. The rescues then sell the dogs for hundred of dollars. Meanwhile the shelters are left with all the unwanted mutts.”….are you sure about that?????
So a pet gets dropped off at a high kill shelter on a Tuesday and your family goes on Saturday to pick up your pure-bred non-mutt. Sorry it is too late….he is probably already had his last call on Thursday morning and the network of breed specific rescues get a day or hours to pick up these dogs. I hear about owners being contacted time after time and they don’t care to pay the fees to release their stray or tell them to keep the animal.
Rescues do not really get first dibs, but are around 24 hours a day 365 days a year to get their specific breed. And honestly in this economy and so many owner turn ins we are passing up on so many pure bred dogs.
The pure-bred dogs also are altered and often require medical care that comes out of the rescue’s pockets. We are not caring for just one great healthy well adjusted dog, but also the sick, neglected, deformed, imperfect, and three-legged ones too. One major illness sets us back $2-4K, plus orthopedic costs can be $4-6K.
The rescue I work with is over 10-20 weekly volunteers and we are still a bare bones operation, no fancy marketing materials and we are almost always in the red. We do bake sales, garage sales and fundraisers, so I am not sure how a few hundred dollars for a rescued purebred is such a money machine? Seriously.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I’ve adopted three dogs from the shelters in OC. The only thing they required from me is to show proof that we were allowed to have a pet. Before you go to a shelter, you need to do your homework on what is required. My first was a yorkie mix, beautiful little dog. Second is a border collie/aussie shepard mix, wonderful dog. A pure joy. Third is a goofy little terrier/chihuahua mix with a wart on his nose. Couldn’t have found…..nor asked for…..more love in this world.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
When you purchase a puppy mill puppy from a pet store you are supporting dog abusers. Educate yourself. Dogs are alive and have feelings. Dogs are not a fashion statement.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Thanks again to the OC Register, our county citizens have more information on the welfare of our pets. The numbers are there on the killing of animals per year. The county had a chance to lower the number of intakes by 10% so they wouldn’t have to kill so many animals. Citizens from five south county cities went to their city council meetings and asked their cities to do a feasibility study for a shelter. The county shelter director showed up to each meeting with a power point presentation showing how great the county shelter services were. She used county funding to block a lowering of the number of animals being sent to the county. Why would she do this?
We can no longer pretend we don’t know about the killing at the county. And we can do something about it. Stop sending so many pets to the county. The county shelter is not an “open access” shelter. They would not even take in pets from cities they contract with last summer. They are what they are, a kill shelter. The numbers say so. Lets all do something to stop this. Support any movement that gets your city to go pro-humane. Support any candidate that wants your city to go that way. Yes, we can all stop this killing
September 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I adopted a dog from the OC shelter last week and all they asked for was my drivers licence and costs for neuter, vaccines, avid microchip, worming, flea control. So far the best dog I’ve ever owned.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:59 am
We have owned may dogs. Some were expensive show dogs and some were pound dogs. Our best dog was a mixed breed adopted from an animal shelter when she was a year old. She went over the rainbow bridge almost ten years ago. Even though we love the dogs that now own us, we still miss our special shelter dog.
We are going to follow in Tammy’s footsteps. We are off to the pound to find another dog to add to our pack. We have never purchased a puppy mill puppy from a pet store. We would never support the horrible puppy mill industry.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:53 am
ive never adopted a dog. Ive bought from individual breeders shih tzu’s & great danes. I did adopt one cat & love her beyond words. I have however, taken in dogs and cats from friends who could no longer have them (or just didnt want them anymore). at first, because I took them cuz Im a soft heart, I didnt love them like I loved “my own”..but it doesnt take long for them to melt your heart away. Gypsy (mixed) had obviously been hit by a car yrs, before. One of her front legs just kind of hung there. By the time I got her, it was too late to do anything aobut it and she was quite old. she would sit there and watch as I took my dogs for their daily walks. One day she ran to the door with us. I asked her if she wanted to go out. so I tried. I wasnt sure how she would do, but man the minute I got her out that door she was running like the wind/ It looked like she was smiling! I took her for a walk every day. that little dog was so grateful! she did everything I said. eventually It was her time to go, I cant tell you how I cried. Animals have feelings. they know youve save their life..they appreciate and love you beyond words.
October 4th, 2008 at 1:52 am
boo hoo, the economy is killing pets, hell no!! Irresponsible pet owners are killing pets, not the economy! The same fools who think they can handle a mortgage also thought they could handle a pet. If pro-life groups are good for anything, they should be up in arms with this issue…