Joint Animal Services reports sharp rise in intake; staff blame pandemic-era spay/neuter gaps, housing and veterinary shortages

Joint Animal Services staff reported a substantial increase in shelter intake and field calls during the first quarter of 2025 and urged commissioners to consider longer-term solutions for spay/neuter access, veterinary shortages and housing barriers.

"We've already had almost a 49% increase in dog intake in the first quarter over last year," Executive Director Sarah Hock said, noting that intake is up even excluding an anomalous large-scale cruelty seizure earlier in the year. Hock said the shelter has seen an unusually high number of puppies and that warming months and kitten season could further increase intake.

Staff and outside speakers at the meeting attributed the rise to several interacting factors: reduced spay/neuter availability during the COVID-19 pandemic, an ongoing veterinary workforce shortage, rising veterinary prices and housing restrictions that make keeping pets harder for some residents. "There is a serious access to care issue when it comes to veterinary care ... the lack of spay neuter has set animal welfare back 40 years," Hock said. Dr. Smith, a veterinarian who spoke during the meeting, added that clinic consolidations and higher operating costs have pushed prices up and constrained appointment availability.

Commissioners and staff reviewed existing interventions: vouchers previously distributed by the Thurston County Humane Society and a Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) were discussed, but representatives said the voucher program had been suspended while the Humane Society evaluates more cost-effective approaches. Mike, representing Thurston County Humane Society, said the organization paid up to $300 for dog spay surgeries and $225 for cat spays under the voucher program and is now exploring alternatives that yield higher volume at lower per-animal cost.

Staff suggested options including recruiting a high-volume spay/neuter provider to operate in Thurston County, holding periodic high-throughput "MASH"-style clinics that perform many surgeries in a short period, and reconsidering state rules that limit shelters' ability to provide low-cost veterinary care only to residents who prove low-income status. Hock said state legislative change could remove that income-proof requirement and expand timely treatment during low-cost clinics.

Why it matters: Rising intake increases shelter workload and costs and can reduce live outcomes if capacity is exceeded. Staff framed spay/neuter access, veterinary workforce and housing policy as interconnected drivers requiring both local programs and state-level policy changes.

Next steps: Staff will analyze the costs of establishing or hosting higher-volume spay/neuter services, return to JASCOM with options and estimates, and coordinate with the Thurston County Humane Society and other partners on scalable approaches.