Important Definitions

• Dead at Kennel - Died at the kennel without human intervention. This includes stillborn animals and those who pass while being transported to the shelter or vet.
• Dead on Arrival - Animal has died before being taken into the care of animal services.
• Reclaimed - Owner picked animal up after the animal has been impounded at the animal services facility.
• Returned to Owner - Animal is returned to owner prior to being impounded at the animal services facility (usually in the field).
• Live Release Rate - Calculated by the following formula (adopted + reclaimed + returned to owner + transferred to rescue groups) / (euthanized + dead at kennel + adopted + reclaimed + returned to owner + transferred to rescue groups)

Animals still at the shelter awaiting placement as well as those that were already deceased before coming into the shelter’s care are omitted from this calculation. Escaped animals are also omitted.

Please note that the “euthanized” number is largely composed of animals who were euthanized due to severe injury or illness (such as cats hit by cars and puppies with parvovirus) and those with severe behavioral issues. However, due to the subjective nature of what is and is not deemed adoptable, the calculation includes all euthanized animals, regardless of the reason for euthanasia.