PRESS CONFERENCE

Animal welfare agencies announce consistent reporting system to allow countywide view of euthanasia rates

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Pinellas County Animal Services

12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo

WHO:

Martha Boden, CEO/SPCA Tampa Bay

Sarah Brown, executive director, Humane Society Pinellas

Phil Morgan, bureau director, Pinellas County Animal Services

After several months of research and collaboration SPCA Tampa Bay, Humane Society Pinellas and Pinellas County Animal Services have established a consistent reporting system that will allow each agency to clearly report animal intake and outcomes each month.

The figures are also easily combined to present a countywide view. The new tracking reports will be posted on all three agency websites beginning in December. 

In advance of that release, the agencies are inviting media representatives to attend a press conference to learn more about the process behind the numbers and the expectations agency leaders have for the new reporting structure.

Background

The three agencies’ combined care for the majority of homeless animals in Pinellas County, more than 30,000 each year. The leaders at each agency share a common vision to reduce euthanasia. A key factor is finding a way for all the major organizations involved in this goal to share animal statistics. Different terminology and software systems can make it very difficult to accurately combine stats from multiple shelters.  

People who care about animals need to see the county-wide figures to understand the magnitude of the challenge, and the many ways to get involved. Without this perspective, an apparent decrease in intake or euthanasia at one shelter could actually mean more animals are simply coming into a shelter across town.

While the mission of all three Pinellas agencies is to shelter and care for the county’s unwanted animal population, there are some differences in service capability.

SPCA Tampa Bay accepts pets surrendered by their owners and sick or injured stray animals without requiring an appointment or a fee, though donations are strongly encouraged.  The SPCA also provides 24/7 animal cruelty investigation and emergency ambulance service for sick/injured companion animals and wildlife. All companion animals received by the SPCA are given a full medical and behavior evaluation. Animals that are medically stable and behaviorally sound are spayed/neutered if needed and put up for adoption. They remain available for adoption as long as their well-being doesn’t deteriorate. If that happens and the situation can be treated, an animal is removed from the adoption floor for treatment which can include medication, foster care and behavioral support. Animals with extensive medical issues that cannot be reasonably and humanely treated, those that do not respond to a treatment regimen and any which are behaviorally unsound are humanely euthanized. Approximately 10,000 animals a year are brought to the SPCA. www.spcafl.org

The Humane Society of Pinellas, Inc. is Pinellas County’s largest limited intake animal shelter. Located in Clearwater, Florida, HSP is a 501(c)3 organization that has been caring for the homeless pets in our community for over 60 years. HSP is committed to helping keep pets and people together through a variety of programs including a Low Cost Vaccine Clinic and Pet Food Pantry. When pet surrender is the only option, our No Time Limit policy offers the opportunity for every adoptable pet to have its own second chance success story. One hundred percent of contributions are retained by the organization. HumaneSocietyofPinellas.org

Pinellas County Animal Services is a countywide facility that accepts all dogs and cats, shelters them and seeks to provide good homes to all adoptable shelter animals. Animal Services runs spay and neuter programs, provides rabies control and vaccination of dogs and cats. As the administrator of county pet licenses and tracking system, the county helps to reunite pets and owners and has more pets licensed and vaccinated than any other county in the state. It also provides code enforcement and assistance to citizens with animal-related issues. It encourages responsible pet ownership and provides many opportunities for the community to adopt, donate and volunteer. www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices

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