Shelter reports low euthanasia rate

The Bella Vista Animal Shelter finished 2017 with a 2.7 euthanasia rate for dogs and a 3.8 euthanasia rate for cats. Over 420 dogs came in and 196 of those were reclaimed. Another 291 were adopted, with 33 returned. One dog was sent to a rescue and six were euthanized.

The shelter took in 260 cats and adopted out 161 of them, with six returned. Five cats were reclaimed by their owners, nine were euthanized and three were sent to rescues.

Shelter director Dee Dee Knight-Matney said that the only animals euthanized in the shelter last year had severe health issues. In the past, the shelter was forced to euthanize very aggressive animals, but that hasn’t been necessary recently. The shelter works with aggressive animals and tries to find them the right home, even if it means a long wait in the shelter.

“We try to make all animals adoptable,” she said. “Sometimes animals are a little nippy at first because they’re scared.”

Not all shelters determine their euthanasia number the same way, she explained. Some count only adoptable animals in their number, not the very sick or very aggressive animals.

The Springdale Animal Shelter cited an 11 percent euthanasia rate, but director Courtney Kremer said that includes animals who die of natural causes. That shelter accepted 2,340 animals last year.

The Rogers Animal Shelter, which is run by the city and was also used by Bentonville last year, claims a euthanasia rate of 1.7 percent with more than 1,400 animals accepted last year.

In Siloam Springs, animal services took in 900 animals, but manager James Harris said he does not disclose the euthanasia rate.

Unlike some other shelters in the area, the Bella Vista Shelter is not part of the city. It’s an independent nonprofit. About 21 percent of its income in 2017 came from the city in the form of fees to house animals picked up by Bella Vista Animal Control. About 16 percent was raised by events like the “Wiener Take All” dachshund races, and the remainder came from donations and grants.

A board of directors runs the shelter, and members are elected at the annual meeting which was held last week. Three new members joined the board, Knight-Matney said. They are Anita Posey, Karen Deal and Merissa Spicer. Curt Stoops was reelected as president of the board, with Jeremy Velten as vice president and Anita Werts as treasurer. Posey will be secretary.