Memphis animal shelter have cut the number of dogs and cats killed every year in half since 2009 while at the same time doubling the number of animals being adopted. This is good news for the furry creatures of the Mid-South especially since the adoption rate has also increased by double since 2009.
In 2009 the number of euthanized animals was at 13,255, but since 2014, the Memphis Animal shelter has made strides to drop that number down to 5,853 euthanized animals. While the euthanasia rates have more than decreased the adoption rate of these animals has also increased.
There were only roughly 1500 adoptions in 2009, and in 2014 the number or adoptions rounded up to 3600.
“I’ve saved all my pets,” Sierra Howard, 28 and Cordova pet owner, said. “There’s just so many good animals that are in these shelters that just want to be loved. I would say if you’re looking for a pet, adopt one.”
Howard said that when she adopted her first pet, a chocolate lab named Zoey, it seemed depressed and absent of life, but since she adopted it, the process of seeing her Zoey come back to life has made Howard’s life more fulfilling knowing she helped an animal in need.
Howard also added that these commitments take time, patience and most importantly love to see these animals in a peaceful transition from a shelter to a home.
While it’s good news to see that the euthanasia of animals decrease and adoptions rise both by double, the amount of animals that are taken in by shelters have hardly taken a dent.
“This is good news particularly because making sure these sometimes abused and neglected animals have good homes,” Trudy Hedland, an advocate for animal rights, said.
In 2009 the intake of animals was around 16,256, and in 2014 it rounded off at 11,750.
Numbers have decreased, but for some this is still not as big of a drop as they would have hoped.
Hedland said that the city of Memphis needs to be held accountable for the deaths and should put more effort towards the adoption of shelter animals. To her it’s a crime as close to murder that some of these animals are never given a chance to live outside their cages.
Animals and pets that are not to be put down are also susceptible to a live release. The live release for an animal is simply either an adoption, a return to owner or transfer of that animal to another shelter or non-profit organization that will look after it in hopes to find it a more suitable owner.
The live release rate has also increased in correspondence to the adoption rate. In 2009 there were 2,600 animals scheduled to be transferred or had been returned to their owners. Fast forward five years later, and the rate has increased by double as well to more than 5,200 animals.
Going into 2015, the numbers look promising. The amount of adopted animals in the months of Jan, Feb and March of this year compared to last year have all increased. The amount of euthanized animals of those months compared to last years has also decreased.
Hedland goes on to say that there should be more programs to help these animals find owners and less time locked in cages. She said there should also be more people on staff that only want to help these animals.
All in all, it can be said that the city’s animal services have made big strides in helping out the furry individuals that share our hearts. If there’s one looking to adopt a pet, locate an animal shelter closest to them and save a life.
“All these animals deserve another chance,” Howard said. “It’s up to us to make a difference in these animal’s lives.”
