February 2021 Monthly Report

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

Summary

During February 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

59

2

33

7

9

55

165

Owner Surrenders

11

0

8

0

0

1

20

Other Intakes

25

1

10

1

4

8

49

Total Live Intake

95

3

51

8

13

64

234


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

They provided 804 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

278

87

294

45

100

804

Spay & Neuter Surgeries

23

7

48

4

3

85

Medications Administered

19

6

482

7

0

514

Tests & Diagnostics

17

3

5

1

1

27

Vaccinations

294

36

446

34

0

810

Other Vet Treatments

177

90

225

44

26

562

Total Services

808

229

1,500

135

130

2,802


Fostered Animals

In February 2021, thirty-five (35) animals entered foster care, joining the existing one-hundred-and-twenty-nine (129) animals already in care at the beginning of the month. The majority of animals in foster care were adult cats and kittens. MCAS foster volunteers cared for a total of one-hundred-and-sixty-four (164) 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

18

38

56

Kittens

5

48

53

Dogs

4

22

26

Puppies

0

17

17

Other

8

4

12

Total

35

129

164


Animal Outcomes

Seventy-nine animals (37.1%) were reclaimed by their owners. The majority of animals represented in these outcomes were dogs. In February 2021, fifty-five animals (25.8%) 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.

Thirty-eight (17.8%) were transferred to another agency, including Oregon Humane Society, and Cat Adoption Team.

Forty animals (18.8%) 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.

No animals in care were returned to the field in February. One wildlife case (0.5%) had an unassisted death while in care.

Outcome Type

Dog

Puppy

Cat

Kitten

Wildlife

Other

Total

Adopted

23

2

19

6

0

5

55

Reclaimed/returned to owner

63

1

11

1

0

3

79

Transferred to another agency

13

0

14

3

5

3

38

Euthanized

11

1

10

0

8

10

40

Return to field

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Unassisted death

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

Other outcomes

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

110

4

54

10

14

21

213


Volunteers

With in-shelter volunteer activities suspended due to COVID-19, all volunteer hours in February were recorded by foster and transport 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

3,744

Foster: Dogs and Puppies

3,216

Foster: Other

336

Transport

13

Total

7,309


Online Resources

Many services provided by MCAS are accessible online, at multcopets.org. Here, pet owners can search for lost pets, try to find the owners of found pets, search for adoptable companions, 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

48,456

Lost & Found Pets

28,549

Home Page Visits

26,695

Licensing Resources

15,934

News & Updates

2,196

Low-Cost Services

3,054

Kitten Resources

549

Field Services

2,641

Volunteering

1,295

Other Pages

13,071

Total

142,440


Field Services

Field Services officers responded to 444 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

70

16%

Stray Animal

53

12%

Suspected Cruelty / Neglect

101

23%

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

51

11%

Bite Investigation

48

11%

Loose nuisance animal

20

5%

Injured Animal

25

6%

Abandoned Animal

17

4%

Animal Placed in Protective Custody

24

5%

Other

35

8%

Total

444

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 3,429 total licenses in February.

License Type

Cats

Dogs

Total

New Licenses

1,118

2,076

3,194

Renewed Licenses

49

186

235

Total

1,167

2,262

3,429

Tags
Monthly Report
Missy, a cat adopted in February 2021
Missy, a cat adopted in February 2021
Graph of animal intakes in February 2021 by animal type and intake circumstance
Graph of animal intakes in February 2021 by animal type and intake circumstance
Graph of animals in foster care in February 2021
Graph of animals in foster care in February 2021
Total animal outcome percentages for February 2021
Total animal outcome percentages for February 2021
Animal outcomes by animal type and circumstances for February 2021
Animal outcomes by animal type and circumstances for February 2021