Adoption up, euthanasia down at animal shelters

Adoptions are up, euthanasia is down and the number of homeless pets in Canada’s animal shelters is lower, according to a report by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

Overall, there were more than 82,000 cats and 35,000 dogs taken into Canadian shelters in 2015, according to a report released by the organization last week.

Barbara Cartwright, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, said the country’s shelter system has taken a more proactive approach to reducing numbers of homeless cats and dogs.

The charity collected 2015 data by sending out surveys to 170 humane societies and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelters nationwide; 89 responded.

The report said it doesn’t capture private shelters, rescue and foster groups and municipal animal shelters. Still, it’s the only comprehensive study of the country’s animal shelter system, Cartwright said.

Adoption rates are up, with 48 per cent of dogs and 57 per cent of cats adopted in 2015 — the highest level observed for cats in the two decades the charity has been collecting data.

And “there is an increasing trend in the proportion of stray cats who are reclaimed. These observations inspire a sense of optimism that the message to provide identification for cats is reaching more of the public.”

Fewer animals are being killed at shelters. Euthanasia rates for cats were down: 21 per cent of cats taken in were put down in 2015, down from 27 per cent the year before and 54 per cent in 2008.

Cartwright said there appears to be a correlation between euthanasia rates and limiting the intake of cats.

“We see high euthanasia rates when a whole bunch of cats get together in a shelter, they get stressed and get diseases and they end up being euthanized,” she said.

Euthanasia rates for dogs increased slightly in 2015 from the year before to more than 10 per cent of dogs taken in. Overall, 15,341 cats and 2,820 dogs were euthanized last year. While the news is good, Cartwright said, more needs to be done.