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Charlottesville, VA Reno, NV

 

Success Stories

Charlottesville, VA

Historically, the Charlottesville SPCA was the subject of relentless public criticism for what many in the rescue community saw as poor customer service, inadequate care of animals, and unnecessary killing. In 2005, all that changed. A new director embraced our philosophy and programs, asked us to help train their staff and make recommendations on policies. And in 2006, she achieved more by saving 92 percent overall at an open admission animal control facility, better than any other community in the nation.

Reno, NV

Virtually overnight, and with our support and guidance, Washoe County (Reno) NV under the leadership of the Nevada Humane Society (NHS) is saving over nine out of ten dogs and almost eight out of ten cats.

Despite taking in nearly 16,000 dogs and cats, in 2007 (compared to 2006):

• The kill rate for dogs dropped 51%
• The kill rate for cats has dropped 52%

At the same time:

• The adoption rate for dogs increased 53%
• The adoption rate for cats increased 85%

The county-wide save rate (including animal control) for dogs was 92% and the save rate for cats was 78%.

By way of comparison, the County has a per capita intake rate over three times that of the City of Los Angeles, over four times that of San Francisco, and over two times the national average, but did a better job saving animals than all of them. Washoe County now joins only a very small handful of communities in the entire nation with a better than 90% save rate for dogs and is among the tops in the nation with cats.

But NHS is not satisfied: "Our goal is to make Washoe County the safest community for homeless dogs and cats in the United States."

To read "How We Did It" click here.

 

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