PNJ Headlines: Here’s what’s in the news Tuesday
More Democrats turn out for special election, dog owners needed to alleviate Escambia shelter overcrowding, and El Gordo’s Mexican Grill
- More than 3,000 animals were picked up as strays or surrendered by owner in Escambia County last year
- Escambia Animal Welfare Department says overcrowding is a problem at outdated facility
- More dogs than cats are up for adoption
Every cage in the cat adoption room at the Escambia County Animal Welfare Dept. was empty Monday morning, except for one kitty who peeked out warily from the litter box.
Around the corner, in the dog adoption area of the building, it’s an entirely different story.
All 72 kennels are full of canines looking for a forever home, and more are waiting to be added to the list.
Of the 211 animals currently at Escambia Animal Welfare on Fairfield Drive, 187 are dogs and there isn’t enough space for all of them.
“We think we have a lot of great dogs and cats,” Animal Welfare Director John Robinson said, “and cats fly out of here. It used to be the exact opposite. Now it’s transitioned and we’re seeing a significant increase in cat adoptions and dog numbers are stagnant.”
Robinson believes there are several reasons of why.
One of the biggest, he said, is the drop in the numbers of animals that were spayed or neutered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic shut down veterinarian clinics and other organizations that provided similar services, including low-cost spay and neuter programs.
Robinson said the workforce still hasn’t recovered with currently one veterinarian available for every seven positions that are open.
“They weren’t able to operate on and do spay and neuter surgeries and the low-cost ones even more so,” Robinson explained. “Now you’re starting to see the repercussions from that.”
He also thinks younger people and some families are trending toward cats because they are usually lower maintenance for pet owners on the go.
Robinson said he is working to provide more low-cost spay and neuter opportunities for pet owners. In the meantime, the Animal Welfare Department has a full-time vet on staff who works to care for the hundreds of animals that come through the doors, including spay and neuter.
Animals adopted through the facility come spay or neutered and current on their shots. Dogs are $50 and cats are $25.
There is no time limit on how long animals are available for adoption because Robinson said each animal is regularly evaluated with the goal of going to a permanent home instead of being euthanized after a few days, a practice he said the shelter moved away from about 10 years ago.
They also work with foster families and other private, non-profits to keep and help adopt animals.
Overcrowding at animal shelter
Due to the seeming rise of stray or unwanted pets, overcrowding is an issue − a problem shelters across the country are experiencing.
Escambia County took in nearly 4,000 animals, last year. More than half were strays and another 1,100 were surrendered by their owners.
About 2,000 of the total number of animals were adopted.
Robinson said the department used to send as many as 40 to 60 animals a month to shelters in the Northeast because they had room for them. Since the pandemic, they’re full, too.
The office fields about 100 calls a day, often from people looking for someone to take in lost, abandoned or unwanted animals. Most are dogs; however, animal control officers also respond to calls involving livestock like pigs, chickens, and horses.
In fact, Robinson said the entire department is working hard to keep up with the need in the community when it comes to animals.
From investigating criminal complaints and incidents, to rescuing injured and abandoned strays, as well as managing adoptions, he said the need in the growing community is greater than the resources they have to meet it.
He said they can’t get to all the calls in a timely manner, and they prioritize the ones that have to do with safety.
“That’s why if you see a stray running around and animal control hasn’t been there, they’re probably dealing with a bite case and a cruelly treated horse and other issues. They’re going to get to those priority calls for the safety of the animals or the public first, and then they’ll get to the strays.”
Robinson said they do encourage people to report strays, especially “frequent flyers,” and the Animal Welfare Department will follow up with the owner.
Meeting the shelter’s growing needs
Last month, Escambia County Commissioners approved a new Animal Welfare Coordinator position for the department, for $16.26 an hour.
Robinson said Animal Welfare also needs a new, modern facility. The current facility was built in 1997, and Robinson says it’s not only too small to meet the community’s growing needs but also outdated.
For example, the rows of kennels where dogs are kept for adoption face each other and each time potential pet owners arrive to look at them the experience is usually extremely loud and smelly, as the dogs bark and beg to be noticed.
Robinson said modern shelters have a different set up that allows for a better browser experience where people can view the animals behind glass. It’s less chaotic for all and there’s a better chance an animal will be adopted.
He said high-tech ventilation is also needed to prevent the spread of disease along with other amenities like more kennel space and new equipment.
Although it’s only being proposed, Escambia County had some preliminary designs done of a new 60,000-square foot Animal Welfare Department facility.
Robinson said it’s about twice the size of the current facility and the estimated cost is around $30 million.
He said a larger facility could also help the department provide more public outreach and expand programs like working with non-profits to provide food and other necessities for pet owners who can’t afford it, as well as education about handling behavior problems or other issues that would lead an owner to give up their pet.
If you’d like to learn more about adopting a pet from Escambia County Animal Welfare or any other services, visit the county’s website at https://myescambia.com/our-services/animal-welfare/animal-shelter.
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