April 2021 Monthly Report

View the April 2021 monthly report of animal intakes, outcomes, and other key metrics of services offered at Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS).


Summary

During April 2021, all but essential services offered to the public remained suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Modifications are reflected in reporting metrics including adoption outcomes, volunteer hours, total spay & neuter surgeries performed, and licensing.


Animal Intake

MCAS continued to accept stray pets from members of the public, and officers also picked up stray or lost animals. Owner surrendered animals were accepted on a case by case basis, depending on urgent circumstances. Other intakes most commonly represent animals placed into protective custody by Animal Services officers.

Intake Type

Dog

Puppy

Cat

Kitten

Wildlife

Other

Total

Stray or at large

73

5

70

55

20

11

234

Owner Surrenders

22

0

9

0

0

0

31

Other Intakes

21

4

8

5

4

23

65

Total Live Intake

116

9

87

60

24

34

330


Veterinary Care Provided

Animal Health and Animal Care staff provided a wide range of veterinary services to animals in care. 

To keep animals healthy, Animal Health staff, and partner veterinarians in the community administered 998 vaccinations, including rabies, DA2PP and Bordetella for dogs and puppies, and FVRCP for cats and kittens.

They provided 1,100 health exams and consultations, including routine exams, wound checks, pre-surgery checkups, behavior assessments, and reviewing test results or diagnoses with foster volunteers.

Veterinary Service

Cats

Kittens

Dogs

Puppies

Other

Total

Health Exams & Consults

385

190

391

54

80

1,100

Spay & Neuter Surgeries

23

16

16

2

4

61

Medications Administered

33

13

17

6

1

70

Tests & Diagnostics

12

2

9

6

3

32

Vaccinations

362

49

566

21

0

998

Other Vet Treatments

194

301

263

49

40

847

Total Services

1,009

571

1,262

138

128

3,108


Fostered Animals

In April 2021, seventy-nine (79) animals entered foster care, joining the existing one-hundred-and-forty-five (145) animals already in care at the beginning of the month. The majority of animals in foster care were kittens and adult cats. MCAS foster volunteers cared for a total of two-hundred-and-twenty-four (224) foster animals. Many of these animals left foster care for other outcomes over the course of the month, so the total number does not represent the maximum number of animals in care at one time.

Animal type

Entered care

Previously in care

Total in foster care

Cats

19

48

67

Kittens

46

43

89

Dogs

6

27

33

Puppies

6

14

20

Other

2

13

15

Total

79

145

224


Animal Outcomes

In April 2021, sixty-nine animals (24.3%) were adopted. At the end of September 2020, MCAS launched a virtual adoptions process allowing for online animal selection, application submissions, and remote adoption interviews. A low-contact process was also developed for animal pickup. Adoptions were also performed from community adoption partners, and foster homes.

Eighty-two animals (28.9%) were reclaimed by their owners. The majority of animals represented in these outcomes were dogs.

Eighty-eight animals (31%) were transferred to another agency, including Oregon Humane Society, and Cat Adoption Team.

Thirty-six animals (12.7%) were humanely euthanized, including cases of injured wildlife, injured or severely sick cats, and other domestic animals at the recommendation of a veterinarian, or for behavioral issues which would make an animal unsafe to place back into the community. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, cat intake is officially limited to cases where the cat is sick or injured, or in immediate danger due to cruelty, neglect, and similar circumstances. There is decreased intake volume for cats, and an increased percentage of veterinary-recommended euthanasia for adult cats due to these intake conditions.

One cat (0.4%) was returned to the field in April. Eight animals (2.8%) had an unassisted death while in care.

 

Outcome Type

Dog

Puppy

Cat

Kitten

Wildlife

Other

Total

Adopted

27

1

16

12

0

13

69

Reclaimed/returned to owner

66

2

14

0

0

0

82

Transferred to another agency

10

2

37

2

11

26

88

Euthanized

4

0

14

2

14

2

36

Return to field

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

Unassisted death

1

1

0

4

1

1

8

Other outcomes

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

108

6

82

20

26

42

284


Volunteers

With in-shelter volunteer activities suspended due to COVID-19, all volunteer hours in April were recorded by foster volunteers.

*The total hourly contribution for all foster volunteers is estimated to be three (3) hours per day, per foster home. Setting an hourly rate for all foster homes regardless of number or type of animals is considered an industry standard by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and has been in practice at MCAS for many years.

Volunteer Role

Hours

Foster: Cats and Kittens

4,755

Foster: Dogs and Puppies

3,138

Foster: Other

540

Transport

13

Total

8,446


Online Resources

Many services provided by MCAS are accessible online, at multcopets.org. Here, members of the public can search for adoptable companions, pet owners can search for lost pets, try to find the owners of found pets, license their animals, and learn about other resources available to them, such as information about caring for kittens, low cost services, emergency response and other field services, volunteer opportunities, and regional news.

Page Category

Page Views

Adoptable Pets

40,163

Lost & Found Pets

32,409

Home Page Visits

24,094

Licensing Resources

17,604

News & Updates

2,637

Low-Cost Services

2,836

Kitten Resources

3,768

Field Services

4,213

Volunteering

1,027

Other Pages

15,354

Total

144,105


Field Services

Field Services officers responded to 617 urgent needs of community members and their pets, investigated cases of potential cruelty or neglect, and picked up stray, injured, potentially dangerous, or deceased animals.

 

Dispatch Category

Count

Percentage

Deceased Animal Pickup

127

21%

Stray Animal

62

10%

Suspected Cruelty / Neglect

92

15%

Loose aggressive animal (Animals actively charging, attacking, or chasing people or animals)

83

13%

Bite Investigation

81

13%

Loose nuisance animal

16

3%

Injured Animal

46

7%

Abandoned Animal

24

4%

Animal Placed in Protective Custody

22

4%

Other

64

10%

Total

617

100%


Pet Licensing

While there is an ongoing amnesty period for pet licensing requirements due to COVID-19 related hardships, and physical distancing requirements, MCAS issued 3,011 total licenses in April.

Type

Cats

Dogs

Total

Licenses Issued

1,054

1,957

3,011

Tags
Monthly Report
Reports
Eclectus, a parrot adopted in April 2021
Eclectus, a parrot adopted in April 2021
Animal Intakes
Animal Intakes
Animals in foster care
Animals in foster care
Total animal outcomes
Total animal outcomes
Animal Outcomes by Type and Circumstance
Animal Outcomes by Type and Circumstance