Animal Outreach of Shelby County encourages responsible pet ownership, promotes spay/neuter affordable for everyone, and advocates for feral cats.
YTD Spay/Neuters by Animal Outreach
Cats
Dogs
Total
Males
21
6
27
Females
32
19
51
Pregnant
7
5
12
In-heat
7
3
10
53
25
78
Number of births prevented:
110
Shelbyville - Shelby County Animal Shelter
2007 Shelter Statistics
DOGS
CATS
TOTAL
INTAKE
1255
1100
2,355
ADOPTED
436
237
673
RTO*
262
73
335
KILLED
557
790
1347
%
of unclaimed animals killed
56%
77%
67%
*RTO is animals reclaimed by their owner.
NOTE:
The most common reasons given for relinquishment of pets include
moving, landlord issues, allergies, too many pets in the home, and cost.
According to the industry standard for calculating a community’s kill rate, in the year 2007 Shelby County killed 31 dogs or cats for every 1,000 human residents (also known as the “e-index”). This is one of the highest kill rates of any community in the United States. The national average in 2007 was 12.5. We killed 31: Almost 3 times as many as the average community.
Why do we use the term Killed instead of Euthanized?
Websters defines euthanasia as the humane taking of a life to end irremediable suffering. This means an animal that is ill or injured in a manner than cannot be medically addressed, would have its life ended as painlessly as possible.
A majority of shelters mis-uses euthanasia as a euphemism for any killing of an animal. This is done because the public does not like the notion of killing, so by mis-representing it as a humane act, makes it more palatable to the general public and even the staff having to perform the gruesome task.
Nathan WInograd, a national leader in the no-kill movement, shares his thoughts on the topic of kill vs. euthanasia in Issue 3 2008 of the No Kill Advocate.
Shelbyville - Shelby County Animal Shelter
2006 Shelter Statistics
DOGS
CATS
TOTAL
INTAKE
1107
976
2,083
ADOPTED
359
192
551
RTO*
258
31
289
KILLED
495
777
1,272
%
of unclaimed animals killed
58%
80%
70%
*RTO is animals reclaimed by their owner.
NOTE:
The most common reasons given for relinquishment of pets include
moving, landlord issues, allergies, too many pets in the home, and cost.
WHAT ANIMAL OUTREACH WILL DO:
Develop & implement a community wide education program.
Develop & implement a community wide public relations campaign.
Research & implement all possible solutions for encouraging pet owners to spay/neuter their pets.
Develop specific program(s) for the low income community, and
Be a leader in implementing community wide events such as Spay Day USA, National Spay/Neuter Month, and/or “Big Fix Events.”
IndyTails's profiles Animal Outreach in the April 2008 issue.
Download our brochure.
All of our programs and services are supported through the generosity of our
contributors. We do not receive any federal, state, or local government
funding. Please consider making a contribution today.
Animal Outreach of Shelby County, Inc. 910 Revello St. Shelbyville, In 46176 317-642-0578 info@shelbypets.com
