JASCOM: shelter intake still elevated; cats and 'other' animals driving increases

Joint Animal Services staff told commissioners on Nov. 10 that shelter intake remains elevated compared with last year and that positive outcomes (adoptions and transfers) have also increased.

Executive Director Sarah Hawk reported the shelter had taken in more than 1,700 cats year-to-date — roughly 500 more than at the same point last year — and said overall intake had already exceeded the entirety of last year by several hundred animals. Hawk noted dog intake growth has slowed from earlier months (now roughly 11–12 percent) while cat intake has been consistently high throughout the year.

Staff said Thurston County accounted for the largest share of intake (58 percent), followed by Olympia (21 percent), Lacey (14 percent) and Tumwater (7 percent). Field calls remain above last year by about 300 calls for the year-to-date period, representing almost a 15 percent increase in calls overall.

Commissioners asked about a large number in the shelter’s "other" category. Staff explained that spike was largely attributable to a major cruelty case earlier in the year: a cockfighting/large-scale cruelty investigation that produced more than 500 animals (mostly roosters/chickens). Of those animals, staff said 60 were initially processed as seized evidence on a warrant and the remainder were processed as owner surrenders because of court-imposed no-animal orders for the suspects.

Staff also updated the commission on outcomes: adoptions were up (staff cited roughly 200 more adoptions than last year), rescue transfers were up (92 transfers reported as of Oct. 24), and return-to-owner numbers held steady despite higher intake. The shelter emphasized partnerships (rescue partners, Best Friends Animal Society grant support, Petco Love and community caregivers for TNR) as reasons for some positive trends.