In 2007, animals entering the Bay County Animal Control in Florida had an 80% chance of leaving dead. July, the worst month at the shelter that year, animals had a 90% chance of being killed. Pit bulls were not adopted and generally were killed.
In February of 2008, Jim Crosby took over as director of the shelter. Between February and December of that year, he reduced the kill rate from 80% to 56%. It has remained at about 56-58% in 2009. Adoptions have tripled since 2007 because of the efforts the shelter put forth. Crosby stopped the killing of pit bulls and started adopting them out.
Yep, more needs to be done. Killing more than half of the animals entering the shelter system is unacceptable. But I think this is a great example of what *can* be done in a short period of time within the municipal animal shelter system - a huge reduction in killing and a dramatic increase in adoption.
