Op-Ed: Wake County Models Lifesaving Animal Sheltering
Wake County’s progressive choice to partner with community members and rescue organizations for rehoming pets reflects a commitment to implement forward-thinking policies.
North Carolina is ranked third in the country for the killing of dogs and cats in animal shelters. In 2022, almost 208,500 animals entered the shelter system in North Carolina, and 30,848 of those pets were killed.
One of the animal shelters performing exceptionally well was Wake County Animal Services. In 2022, 7,339 dogs and cats entered their shelter and 6,474 left alive. Their save rate for 2022 was 88 percent. For context, a 90 percent or higher save rate (pets leaving a shelter alive) is considered the benchmark for no-kill.
Credit: Photo from Unsplash
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Jennifer Federico, Wake County Animal Services has long been committed to implementing proven practices for pet lifesaving, recognizing the community’s desire for prioritizing live outcomes for the dogs and cats in Wake County. What is even more laudable is they are working with a shelter built for a population of 200,000 residents that has grown to about 1 million people.
Wake County’s progressive choice to partner with community members and rescue organizations for rehoming pets outside the shelter reflects a commitment to implement forward-thinking policies that limit intake services to pets genuinely in need.
The county leadership’s decision prompts some critical considerations. What purpose in the community do animal shelters serve? Which dogs and cats should be in an animal shelter? Is it the responsibility of the city or county government to accept pets that are not in crisis or harm’s way?
Throughout the pandemic, animal shelters nationwide transitioned to a model that significantly lowered intake to emergency services only. Consequently, dogs and cats being killed across the country declined from 618,000 in 2019 to just 302,000 in 2020, a reduction of more than 50 percent.
This shift led to historic highs in lifesaving as animal shelters saw a reduction in their pet populations. The community adjusted to this new model during the pandemic, shifting their expectations accordingly.
Shelters bolstered their support programs, empowering people to rehome pets independently. Importantly, there was no surge in stray animals nor was public safety compromised. The lesson learned was clear: animal services can be strategically implemented ensuring both public safety and reducing the killing of dogs and cats.
In today’s context applying the lesson learned, not every pet in need of a new home necessitates traditional shelter services. It is both just and appropriate for the people of Wake County to actively participate in rehoming, utilizing the services provided by Wake County Animal Services.
If we were to envision and design animal shelters anew, without historical influences and barriers, they would likely resemble the model Wake County Animal Services is striving to establish—a model that encourages community involvement and engaged pet ownership.
Op-Ed: Wake County Models Lifesaving Animal Sheltering
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North Carolina is ranked third in the country for the killing of dogs and cats in animal shelters. In 2022, almost 208,500 animals entered the shelter system in North Carolina, and 30,848 of those pets were killed.
One of the animal shelters performing exceptionally well was Wake County Animal Services. In 2022, 7,339 dogs and cats entered their shelter and 6,474 left alive. Their save rate for 2022 was 88 percent. For context, a 90 percent or higher save rate (pets leaving a shelter alive) is considered the benchmark for no-kill.
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Jennifer Federico, Wake County Animal Services has long been committed to implementing proven practices for pet lifesaving, recognizing the community’s desire for prioritizing live outcomes for the dogs and cats in Wake County. What is even more laudable is they are working with a shelter built for a population of 200,000 residents that has grown to about 1 million people.
Wake County’s progressive choice to partner with community members and rescue organizations for rehoming pets outside the shelter reflects a commitment to implement forward-thinking policies that limit intake services to pets genuinely in need.
The county leadership’s decision prompts some critical considerations. What purpose in the community do animal shelters serve? Which dogs and cats should be in an animal shelter? Is it the responsibility of the city or county government to accept pets that are not in crisis or harm’s way?
Throughout the pandemic, animal shelters nationwide transitioned to a model that significantly lowered intake to emergency services only. Consequently, dogs and cats being killed across the country declined from 618,000 in 2019 to just 302,000 in 2020, a reduction of more than 50 percent.
This shift led to historic highs in lifesaving as animal shelters saw a reduction in their pet populations. The community adjusted to this new model during the pandemic, shifting their expectations accordingly.
Shelters bolstered their support programs, empowering people to rehome pets independently. Importantly, there was no surge in stray animals nor was public safety compromised. The lesson learned was clear: animal services can be strategically implemented ensuring both public safety and reducing the killing of dogs and cats.
In today’s context applying the lesson learned, not every pet in need of a new home necessitates traditional shelter services. It is both just and appropriate for the people of Wake County to actively participate in rehoming, utilizing the services provided by Wake County Animal Services.
If we were to envision and design animal shelters anew, without historical influences and barriers, they would likely resemble the model Wake County Animal Services is striving to establish—a model that encourages community involvement and engaged pet ownership.
Tawny Hammond is the director of no-kill advancement at Best Friends Animal Society.
Comment on this story at backtalk@indyweek.com.
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