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Animal Welfare in Mount Pleasant TX

Wendy Blount, DVM shares insights on improving animal welfare & reducing euthanasia rates in communities through targeted spay/neuter programs and estimating pet populations. Learn valuable strategies to enhance animal welfare in your area.

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Animal Welfare in Mount Pleasant TX

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  1. Animal Welfare inMount Pleasant TX Wendy Blount, DVM

  2. Wendy Blount, DVM • Westbury Animal Hospital 1992-1994 • TAMU Small Animal Clinic 1994-1997 • Residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine • Connolly Animal Clinic 1998-2009 • Internal Medicine Referrals and General Practice • 2004 TAVP Clinical Referral and Consultation Award • Continuing Education Seminars 2007-present • Eastex Veterinary Clinic 2009-present • Internal Med and GP • 2012 TVMA Companion Animal Practitioner of the Year

  3. Wendy Blount, DVM • Native American Project – 1990-1992 • Volunteer Shelter Vet – 1992-1994 • BARC • Houston Humane Society • Houston SPCA • HSUS Contract Worker – 2007 - 2009 • Compassion fatigue in Shelter Medicine • Duquesne University – Field Instructor • Medicine and Behavior in the Sheltering Environment • Duquesne University 2007 - present

  4. Wendy Blount, DVM • Humane Society of Nacogdoches County 2009 • City of Nacogdoches – 2009-2012 • Medical Director, SpayNeuterNac • 2011 TACA Bilderback Award • O’Malley PET (Preventing Euthanasia Together) – 2012 to present • City of Nacogdoches Health Advisory Committee – 2012-present

  5. Animal Welfare in the Community • Mother Teresa Approach • I can not help them all, but I can help this one • Improve problems in your community • Decrease shelter intakes • Decrease euthanasia per capita • Increase the Live release rate • Increase the Save rate • Decrease the euthanasia rate • Decrease animal infectious disease in the community • Improve zoonosis in the community

  6. Animal Welfare in the Community • Problem Solver or Enabler? • Watch the shelter numbers • Intakes decrease • EPC decrease • Live release rate increase • Save rate increase • Euthanasia rate decrease • Set goals • Assess progress yearly • Adjust your approach of not meeting goals

  7. Targeted Spay Neuter • Target those who would not otherwise have their pets altered • Low income • Low interest • One or two zip codes, or more or less • Estimate the number of unaltered pets in the area • Target 35-80% of this number in as short a period as possible

  8. Estimating Pet Population • Foundations, donors, and elected officials want statistics and hard data supporting requests for more funding. • Licensed animals are a small subset of total animals – not a good estimate • There are formulas to estimate, and then adjust, based on what you know about local demographics

  9. Estimating Pet Population • Step 1 – Determine # of Households • Local emergency management • City Planning/Zoning Department • County building permit division • Tax appraiser’s office • US Census information – by county EXAMPLE – 100,000 Households

  10. Estimating Pet Population • Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with dogs, cats and pet birds • 39% of US Households own a dog • 39% of US Households own a cat • 6% of US Households own a bird Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners Survey.

  11. Estimating Pet Population • Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with dogs, cats and pet birds EXAMPLE: • 100,000 households x 0.39 (percent dog owners) = 39,000 dog-owning households • 100,000 households x 0.34 (percent cat owners) = 34,000 cat-owning households • 100,000 households x 0.06 (percent bird owners) = 6,000 bird-owning households

  12. Estimating Pet Population • Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and pet birds • Average 1.7 dogs per household • Average 2.3 cats per household • Average 2.5 birds per household Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners Survey.

  13. Estimating Pet Population • Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and pet birds EXAMPLE: • 39,000 dog-owning households x 1.7 (average dogs per household) = 66,300 dogs • 34,000 cat-owning households x 2.3 (average cats per household) = 78,200 cats • 6,000 bird-owning households x 2.5 (average birds per household) = 15,000 pet birds

  14. Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year PetSmart Charities: • 80% of pets owned by those of financial means are spayed or neutered • 80% of pets owned by those who live below the poverty standard are not surgically sterilized • Need to sterilize 35-80% of the animals in any given area per year in order to impact pet numbers

  15. Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year www.census.gov • Population of the area – 66,034 • Percent living in poverty – 24.1% • Average household size – 2.52 persons AVMA • 37% of households own dogs • 32% of households own cats APPMA • Average 1.7 dogs per household • Average 2.3 cats per household

  16. Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year #1 Calculate Households in poverty with dogs and cats • Population of the area – 66,034 • Average household size – 2.52 persons • Households in area – 66,034/2.52 = 26,204 • Percent living in poverty – 24.1% • Households in poverty – 26,204 x 24.1% = 6315 • 37% of households own dogs • 32% of households own cats • Households with dogs in poverty – 6315 x 37% = 2337 • Households with cats in poverty – 6315 x 32% = 2021

  17. Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year #2 Calculate Dogs and Cats in Poverty • Households with dogs in poverty – 2337 • Households with cats in poverty – 2021 • Average 1.7 dogs per household • Average 2.3 cats per household • Cats in poverty – 2021 x 2.3 = 4648 • Dogs in poverty – 2337 x 1.7 = 3973

  18. Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year #3 Calculate Dogs and Cats not in poverty • Households in area – 26,204 • Households in poverty – 6315 • 37% of households have 1.7 each • 32% of households have 2.3 cats each • Households not in poverty – 26,204 – 6315 = 19,889 • Cats not in poverty = 19,889 x 32% x 2.3 = 14,638 • Dogs not in poverty = 19,889 x 37% x 1.7 = 12,510

  19. Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year #4 Calculate Unsterilized Dogs and Cats • Cats in poverty – 4648 • Dogs in poverty – 3973 • Cats not in poverty – 14,638 • Dogs not in poverty – 12,510 • Unsterilized dogs in poverty = 3973 x 80% = 3178 • Unsterilized cats in poverty = 4648 x 80% = 3718 • Unsterilized dogs not in poverty = 12,510 x 20% = 2502 • Unsterilized cats not in poverty = 14,638 x 20% = 2928 • Unsterilized dogs = 3178 + 2502 = 5680 • Unsterilized Cats = 3718 + 2928 = 6646

  20. Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year #5 Calculate minimum surgeries needed per year • Unsterilized dogs in poverty = 3178 • Unsterilized cats in poverty = 3718 • Unsterilized dogs not in poverty = 2502 • Unsterilized cats not in poverty = 2928 • Unsterilized dogs = 5680 • Unsterilized Cats = 6646 • To impact dogs in poverty = 3178 x 35% = 1112 • To impact cats in poverty = 3718 3 35% = 1301 • To impact dog community = 5680 x 35% = 1988 • To impact cat community = 6646 x 35% = 2326

  21. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Do We really have a pet overpopulation problem in East Texas? • “Euthanasias per capita” are used to assess pet overpopulation in an area • Euthanasia = humanely killing pets at animal shelters • Because they are not adoptable • Because there are no available homes • In the Northeast where pet population is ideal, euthanasias are 5 per 1,000 capita (5 EPC) • Pet Transports • Rescue Waggin’

  22. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Do We really have a pet overpopulation problem in East Texas? • TX, Southern CA and FL have the highest EPC in the US, per PetSmart Charities. • San Antonio is at 40 EPC • Over the past 3 decades on Nac County, 2,000-4,000 unwanted pets have been euthanized at our shelter each year • population has grown from 47,000 to 66,000 during that time • EPC have remained 40-50 during this time, with no trend downward Our Pet Overpopulation Problem is as bad as is gets in the United States

  23. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Arguments Against • There are already a dozen veterinarians in this county who do spays and neuters • Program will harm the financial well being of local veterinarians • Program will only cannibalize local business without solving the pet overpopulation problem • Low cost spay-neuter usually means low quality health care services for pets • It’s too expensive, we can’t afford it

  24. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Program will harm the financial well being of local veterinarians • Maddie’s Fund Study (Frank et al) • Low cost SNC screen for financial need • Increase total number of spays and neuters done in an area • Do not cannibalize full service surgeries • 85% of the pets/owners served do not have/seek regular veterinary care

  25. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary • Chu et al, JAVMA, 2009 • Family income is the strongest predictor as to whether cats in a household are spayed or neutered • 50% of cats in households with income <$35K are not spayed or neutered • Median income for our county is $35K • 26,204 households • 13,102 households below $35K • 13,102 x 32% x 1.7 = 7127 cats • 50% = 3564 unsterilized cats • 3564 x 35% = 1247 cat spays needed

  26. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?

  27. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary 6646 unsterilized cats THAT’S A LOT OF CAT LOVIN’!!!

  28. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary 5680 unsterilized dogs THAT’S A PUP-U-LATION EXPLOSION!!!

  29. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary • We are counting only euthanasias at our shelter • Hundreds to thousands more occur at veterinary clinics • Untold numbers of dogs and cats killed at the hands of our citizens, or left to die of exposure • Drowned, Shot • Connected to car exhaust • “Knocked on the head” • THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THE DEATHS IS TO PREVENT THE BIRTHS

  30. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low cost spay-neuter usually means low quality health care services for pets • Humane Alliance • Association of Shelter Veterinarians • American Animal Hospital Association • Each pet gets a pre-operative exam • Prepped in the prep room, and then brought into the surgical suite • Surgeon wears mask, cap and gown • Pain meds not optional • Written anesthesia and surgery reports • IV fluids and bloodwork as indicated • Monitored every step of the way

  31. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? It costs too much • It costs taxpayers as much as $176 to impound, house, and destroy a homeless pet through the shelter system. • $40-80 will spay or neuter the same pet • Cat neuter as little as $25 • Large dog spay as much as $75 • These are subsidized costs • Donations • Volunteer labor • 2 part time clinic employees • Average cost per surgery is $65. • Client Fees set at cost minus grants

  32. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? How do we keep costs down? • $65 per surgery is way less than cost at a full service clinic • We staff the clinic with 7-10 trained volunteers each week • Veterinary technicians • nurse practitioners, pharmacists • social workers • business owners • shelter directors • professors and teachers • massage therapists, rescue workers • Housewives

  33. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? How do we keep costs down? • Donations - $180K this year • ~$20K from local benefactors and fundraisers • ~$10K/yr website labor donated • building purchased by a benefactor, budget pays utilities only • ~$50K in veterinary labor donated • Grants - $65K this year • $4.8K ASPCA • $35K Montgomery Humane Trust • $15.65K Texas DSHS • $10K PetSmart Charities

  34. Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? The Bottom Line • If EPC in the area are >5-10, YES!! How many surgeries are needed in your community to make an impact? • How many are being done by local vets? • How many more need to be done? • Can your program meet that need? Monitor Shelter intakes and euthanasias yearly If numbers are not improving, increase surgery numbers

  35. How Do We Know it Will Work? • It’s a numbers game • If we do enough surgeries, euthanasia and shelter intake numbers will come down • If we don’t, they won’t • Our goal is to do 1000 surgeries per year • Average 20 a week • Surgery one day a week

  36. How Do We Know it Will Work? There many examples of similar programs which have been successful • Knoxville, TN - Linda Chassy, DVM • Low cost spay-neuter began in 2007 • 20,000 surgeries done in 4 years • County population 436,000 • 2009 – euthanasias down by 2000 • 2010 – euthanasias down by 2500 more • Down 4500 total from 2007 • Puppy intake dropping steadily for 24 months in a row • Now <700 animals away from adopting out all healthy pets in the shelter

  37. How Do We Know it Will Work? There many examples of similar programs which have been successful • Indianapolis, IN • County population 890,000 • 13,000 surgeries in 2010 • 130,000 surgeries since 1999 • Euthanasias dropped from 22,000 per year to 10,000 per year since 1999

  38. Our Story • 2005 – Humane Society of Nacogdoches County met with local vets • 2007 – Proposal by local vet to purchase equipment for SN clinic at the shelter • 2009 – HSNC asked me to purchase set-up equipment and supplies and do surgery, secured permission from City • $40,000 • Jan 2010 – HSNC petitioned City to administer the clinic • March 2010 – began training volunteers, did 23 surgeries during the training period • June 2010 – HSNC agreed to pay surgical fees for animals owned by people living in poverty

  39. Our Story • August 17, 2010 – City of Nacogdoches voted to hire 1 full time employee, pay professional labor, replenish supplies and administer the project • $98,000 budget, break even • August 23, 2010 – clinic opened to shelter animals • January 2011 – clinic opened to the public • January 2011 – St. Francis Rescue of Nacogdoches agrees to pay medical costs for all pit bulls owned by family who qualify for low cost fees.

  40. Our Story • February 2011 – local benefactor agrees to pay surgery fees for all animals leaving the shelter to go to rescue • 50 animals in 2011 • April, 2011 – DSHS grant makes all surgeries on animals not adopted from the shelter free to owners • $34,000 • May 2011 – HS donates $5000 to expand OR to 2 surgery tables • September, 2011 – local benefactor donates serology machine, diagnostic sets and ultrasonic instrument cleaner • $13,000

  41. Our Story • March 2012 – PetSmart Charities Grant $57K for 700 surgeries in 75964 • April 2012 – City Closes SpayNeuterNac Clinic – 1241 surgeries done • Joint Project by HSNC and local vets to fund 700 surgeries by local vets • December 2012 – 214 surgeries done • O’Malley PET Founded– purchased clinic equipment from HS • February 2013 – O’Malley PET Opens • Currently doing 20 surgeries every other Thursday

  42. Who Do We Serve? • SNN served those who adopted from the shelter, regardless of financial need (SNN 54%) • OMPET no longer does this (OMPET 14%) • Those who live below federal poverty line • Free services for $10 co-pay • SNN – 36%; OMPET – 93% • Those who qualify for various state aid • Low cost services, $25-$75 • SNN – 7%; OMPET – 7% Pebbles – spayed 2-2011 and now in her new home

  43. About US Jennifer Bryant • Veterinary Technician • The glue that holds us together • Responsible for absolutely everything • Since 2013 Jennifer and family

  44. About US Michele Sprague – “Huckleberry” • Director of Volunteers & Treasurer • Property Manager • Amazing powers of persuasion Michele tells us how she really feels about dogs who reproduce indiscriminantly

  45. About US Brenda Hayter – “Brendita” • Anesthetic Induction and Patient Prep • Volunteer

  46. About US Judy Mahoney – “Feral Human Helper” • Client Care & Patient Recovery • Volunteer

  47. About US Judy Mahoney • Client Care & Patient Recovery • Volunteer Lola enjoys a “JuMo spa recovery”

  48. About US Betty Yuracko – “Chart Nazi” • Medical Records • Volunteer

  49. About US Dr. Maggie Forbes – “Detail Devil” • Pre-anesthetic exams, data entry, vaccination visits • Volunteer

  50. About US Lauren Gaudette and Jane Austin– “Pack Rats” • Instrument Pack Preparation • Volunteers

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