August 2023 Monthly Report

View the August 2023 monthly report of animal intakes, outcomes, and other key metrics for Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS).

Summary

The August 2023 monthly report includes updated metrics including return to owner (RTO) rates for found animals, average length of stay (LOS), in addition to live-release-rates. These are key industry measures for the effectiveness of shelter operations to reunite or find placements for animals. There are also updates for the number of volunteers in each role, in addition to contributed hours.

Animal Intake

MCAS accepted stray dogs, sick, injured or at-risk adult cats and kittens from the public. 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 commonly represent animals placed into protective custody by Animal Services officers, injured wildlife, or other Field-Services circumstances.

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 administered 624 vaccinations, including rabies, DA2PP and Bordetella for dogs and puppies, and FVRCP for cats and kittens.

They provided 960 health exams and consultations, including routine exams, wound checks, pre-surgery checkups, behavior assessments, and reviewing test results or diagnoses with foster volunteers. Due to veterinary staff availability, spay and neuter surgeries for shelter animals were limited, and many adopters were issued vouchers to complete surgeries and rabies vaccination at contracted veterinary clinics, including Oregon Humane Society.

Fostered Animals

The majority of animals in foster care were kittens, cats, dogs, rabbits, and puppies. Many animals entered and left foster care over the course of the month, so the total number does not represent the maximum number of animals in care at one time.

Animal Outcomes

*RTO is calculated only for reclaimed animals with a stray intake circumstance.
 

206 or 38.9% of animals were adopted.

118 or 22.3% of animals were reclaimed by their owners. The majority of animals represented in these outcomes were dogs with a license and/or microchip for owner-contact. 

146 or 27.5% of animals were transferred to another agency.

51 or 9.6% of animals were humanely euthanized, including cases of injured wildlife, injured or severely sick cats and kittens, 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. 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, and kittens over six weeks old. There is decreased intake volume for cats, and an increased percentage of veterinary-recommended euthanasia for adult cats due to these intake conditions.

2 cats, or 0.4% of animals were returned to field at the location where they were found. 7 animals or 1.3% of animals died in care, including 5 kittens, and 2 wildlife.
 

Transfers

MCAS transferred 26.9% of shelter animals to other shelters and rescues for adoption placement. Thank you to our community partners for your lifesaving work.

• Cat Adoption Team
• Oregon Humane Society
• Pets On Broadway
• Indigo Rescue Inc.
• Furfriends Animal Rescue, Inc
• Portland Audubon
• Harmony New Beginnings
• Animal Aid
• Stumptown Strays
• Silver Linings Rescue Ranch Dog Rescue
• Lancaster Four Dog Rescue
• One Tail at a Time Dog Rescue, LLC
• Humane Society Of Southwest Washington
• Bulldog Haven NW

Volunteers

Foster volunteer hours increased for kitten season, and increased support for long-term resident dogs to provide respite from shelter kennels. Volunteers supported an adoption outreach event.

*Unique volunteers - many volunteers serve in multiple roles.

Online Resources

Many services provided by MCAS are accessible online, at multcopets.org. Members of the public can search for adoptable or lost / found pets, license their pets, and learn about other resources and news. MCAS website pages are translated into four languages.

Field Services

Field Services officers responded to 767 urgent needs of community members and their pets, investigated cases of potential cruelty or neglect, loose-aggressive animals, bites, and picked up stray, injured, abandoned, potentially dangerous, or deceased animals. Officers also responded to non-urgent calls such as barking dogs, animal trespass, and other community issues.

Pet Licensing

MCAS issued 2,805 total new or renewed licenses.