Shepparton Animal Shelter Statistics

Our progress so far…

The following statistics have been collated over a 10 year period.

Dogs

The comparison graph includes those seized as part of serious dog attack investigations, those surrendered for euthanasia, and those found deceased after being hit by a vehicle on local roads.

The implemented strategies have resulted in a continual decrease in the number of dogs euthanased. Since the implementation of the DAMP, the number of dogs rehoused has been higher than the number of dogs euthanased.

With the implementation of the DAMP, the last four years have seen a steady increase in the number of dogs claimed by their owners.

It is important to note that the decline in rehousing experienced in the 2016-2017 year compared to 2015-2016 is due to an increase in the number of dogs seized for serious dog attacks. These dogs have subsequently been euthanased either after being surrendered by their owners or as a result of a successful prosecution.

The Local Laws and Animal Management team continue to investigate and implement new strategies to ensure the Shepparton Animal Shelter rehouses every animal possible.

Some of the dogs euthanased were as a result of dog attack prosecutions or when their owners surrendered them for euthanasia due to aggression, dog attack or life threatening illness.

Officers continue to review options for potential rehabilitation and retraining of some of the behaviour issues identified in an effort to reduce the euthanasia rates further.

Cats

The comparison graph includes feral cats and those found deceased after being hit by a vehicle on local roads. The implemented strategies have resulted in a continual decrease in the number of cat’s euthanased. The 2016-2017 financial year was the first year of the Shepparton Animal Shelter’s records where the number of cats rehoused was significantly higher than the number of cats euthanased.

Over the last two years, the Local Laws and Animal Management department began to work closely with an Animal Shelter in Melbourne, in an attempt to continue to increase adoption rates.

In 2010-2011, the Animal Shelter rehoused 47 cats or 3% of the impounded animals.  Over the last three years, new initiatives and programs have seen a dramatic increase in the number of cats rehoused: 100, 335 and 487 respectively. In 2016-2017 the number of cats rehoused was 697. We continue to work towards increasing the number of animals adopted.

The Shepparton Animal Shelter has seen consistently low rates of owners claiming their cats from the shelter, which is relative to the number of cats being admitted without microchip or registration identification.

The Shepparton Animal Shelter has seen a high volume of cats presenting with cat-flu-like symptoms, which is a highly contagious, often deadly virus, which caused 52% of the cat euthanasia rate.

Prior to the implementation of the DAMP, the Shepparton Animal Shelter consistently had a cat euthanasia rate over 80%. Even with the high incidence of contagious diseases being detected in our cat population, the Shepparton Animal Shelter decreased the euthanasia rate over the last four years.

2016-2017 Statistics

The statistics below relate specifically to the 2016-2017 financial year.

Dog Admissions

Cat Admissions

Over the 2016-2017 period, a total of 697 cats and kittens were rehoused.  The Shepparton Animal Shelter rehoused 239 cats and kittens directly from the shelter with a further 458 cats and kittens being transported to an animal shelter in Melbourne for rehousing.