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Shelter reports surge in animal intake, higher medical costs and staff strain
Summary
Joint Animal Services reported a year‑to‑date intake increase and related rises in medical costs, field calls and staff strain; staff said many medical procedures are now done in-house and that shelter operations have been stretched by high, sustained intake.
Joint Animal Services Executive Director Sarah Hawk and staff told the committee the shelter has seen a strong year‑over‑year increase in animal intake and related service demand through Sept. 30, 2025.
"August, we saw a record number of 400 animals come into the shelter," Hawk said. She reported that intake has remained elevated into September and that year‑to‑date intake has already exceeded last year’s full‑year total: "As of September 30, we were at 3,322 animals that we have taken into the system versus last year... 3,305 animals, and that was through December."
Staff provided species and jurisdiction breakdowns: cat intake is up roughly 30% year‑to‑date while dog intake is up just under 16% compared with the prior year; by jurisdiction Thurston County…
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