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Hardin County animal control: adoptions down year-to-date but shelter close to 'no-kill' threshold
Summary
Animal-control director Mike McNutt told the fiscal court that November brought 41 adoptions and a shelter live-release rate of 88 percent (90 percent is classification threshold); the shelter's census was 123 with staff shortages and flu among animals affecting operations.
Mike McNutt, who presented the animal-control report at the Dec. 9 meeting, said the shelter recorded 41 adoptions in November, returned 17 animals to owners and sent five to rescue organizations. He reported year-to-date adoptions of 230, which he said is down 28 from the previous year.
McNutt described operational strain: the shelter census was 123 the morning of the meeting, with four staff members calling out sick that day. He said the shelter’s “sweet spot” is 60 to 80 animals given staffing and size differences among animals.
The shelter’s live-release rate for the year-to-date was 88 percent; McNutt noted the facility needs a 90 percent live-release rate to be classified as a ‘no-kill’ facility and said, “We still have time to make it up for the year, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can do it.”
Additional details: McNutt said dog adoptions YTD were at 49 percent, rescues were rising to about 12 percent, dogs returned to owners were 27 percent, and fiscal-year complaints totaled 841 (down from last year). The shelter hosted a discounted rabies clinic in November that saw 221 animals, with 189 rabies vaccinations given, 31 microchips implanted and 72 dog licenses issued.
Why it matters: The live-release rate, shelter census and staffing levels affect public-safety, animal-welfare outcomes and the county’s service demands. The court received this operational report but did not vote on shelter policy or funding at the Dec. 9 meeting.
Quote: “When we started this morning, we had a 123 animals to care for ... We still have time to make it up for the year, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can do it,” Mike McNutt said.
