Shelter sees drop in euthanasia

MONTROSE — The number of animals euthanized at the shelter dropped dramatically last year and the Montrose Police Department credits the work of volunteers.

In 2007, the Montrose Animal Shelter put down 95 adoptable cats and 68 adoptable dogs. 2008’s numbers were hearteningly lower: only seven adoptable cats and 12 adoptable dogs had to be put to sleep.

An “adoptable” animal is one that does not suffer from untreatable disease or serious behavioral issues, and is adequately socialized to humans.

The shelter put down 83 cats deemed unadoptable and 96 unadoptable dogs last year — again, lower than 2007’s numbers of 118 cats and 155 dogs. The number of feral cats euthanized at the shelter in 2008 was 391, nearly 50-percent fewer animals than the 720 that were put down in 2007.

A total of 1,992 animals came into the shelter last year, including raccoons, skunks, guinea pigs, ducks, other birds, rabbits, coyotes and deer, not just cats and dogs.

Close to 600 animals were adopted last year, while 416 were reclaimed by owners and 344 were transferred. A few died while at the shelter and one dog escaped.

Total euthanasia numbers for all types of animals brought into the shelter was 588. In 2007, a total of 1,156 were put down.

“Our volunteers are the ones that have made the difference in our reduction in euthanasia, simply by transferring animals,” MPD Officer and Shelter Supervisor Mike Duncan said Friday.

Volunteer Beth Jones singlehandedly transferred 343 animals to other agencies that needed adoptable pets. Jones also established a network of contacts, eventually approved by the state board of agriculture. Other volunteers joined her in taking cats and dogs to drop-off points, from where East Slope volunteers took them to facilities needing adoptable animals.

Jones, who also lined up a few out-of-state transfers, was named the shelter’s volunteer of the year.

Duncan said about a dozen dogs were taken through the Rescue Wagon from areas of surplus to areas of need.

Other volunteers were Bill Pyle, who walked shelter dogs nearly every day last year; Kim Yokum who cleaned cages before heading off to work each morning; Steve Winslow and daughter Amanda who pitched in on the weekends and John Provenza, who regularly cleans kennels.

Additionally, Tony Wilson saved several litters of kittens by fostering them under the shelter’s program. Volunteers overall donated more than 2,300 hours last year and animal control officers responded to more than 3,500 calls for service.

“Really, our volunteers have been fantastic this year,” Duncan said. “It’s amazing.”

He also cited the Montrose Animal Protection Agency and local veterinarians for their support of spay and neuter programs, as well as the city, for funding the shelter’s mandatory spay-neuter program for animals adopted there.

“I’m hoping we see a trend,” Duncan said, acknowledging the recession. “You’ve just got to hope we can continue these programs we worked so hard to build over the past several years.”

To find out how you can help the shelter, call 240-1487.