We have previously posted statistics for voluntary owner/guardian surrenders and spay/neuter clinic procedures. This month we look at all Seattle Animal Shelter intakes (SAS) from 2016 to 2022. Once again, the numbers reflect the post-COVID crisis that is affecting all overburdened shelters across the country.
We will update this post with 2023 data once they are available.
Decline in Overall Intakes
SAS has experienced a 50 percent drop in all intakes from 2016 to 2022. At its height in 2016, SAS accepted 5,342 animals. At its low point during the pandemic, it accepted 2,520. It exceeded that intake total by only 114 animals in 2022.
Spay and Neuter Clinic and Owner/Guardian Surrenders Had Greatest Impacts
We can see that the greatest drop in intakes occurred with the temporary closure to the public of the Spay and Neuter Clinic due to the pandemic and staffing shortages. There were 1,615 fewer spay and neuter intakes in 2022 than in 2016. The Clinic reopened in 2023.
Note: These numbers are lower than the prior reported spay and neuter numbers. These numbers are for public intakes only whereas prior numbers referred to all surgeries, including in-shelter animals. The Clinic was only closed to the public; it did not cease internal operations.
We also see that voluntary owner/guardian surrenders had the second greatest decrease in intakes. We’ve already discussed in prior articles that animal shelters across the country are overcrowded with animals due to economic and housing conditions. When there is no room due to overcrowding, shelters cannot accept more animals. As a result, animals may be placed on a wait list. If there is a long delay due to lack of space, the wait-listed owner may need to resort to other options. There is no way to really know what happened to the animal.
Inter-shelter transfers serve to move animals from overcrowded locations to less-crowded organizations. Transfers also benefit animals awaiting adoptions for a long time; transfers allow exposure to a different pool of potential adopters. While the decrease is much smaller than the other decreases, we see that SAS itself has accepted 60 fewer intakes from other shelters in 2022 as compared to 2016.
It is important to remember that SAS has limited space and not all animals can be sent into foster care. Sometimes an animal has behavioral or medical issues requiring it to remain onsite. There may not be a suitable foster home available at the time for their needs. Shelter space is important.
Wildlife and stray intakes have also decreased significantly and rank third on the list. At this point, it is unclear whether these are due to space issues or increased park patrol responsibilities for enforcement officers.