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.
I think Jim will eventually turn things around there....he is a huge fan of the Calgary model. Maybe the one cause for concern is the large increase in intake since Crosby took over...Intake is up 33%...
ReplyDeleteThe first year reduction in killing is awesome but why the stall/slight increase in the second year killing?
ReplyDeleteI agree, although Brent does point out that intake is up 33%, which could account for the lack of another dramatic decrease in killing.
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