Here's How Many Dogs, Cats Were Euthanized In Somerset County In 2016

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A total of 122 dogs and 463 cats were euthanized by Somerset County animal shelters in 2016, a new report by the state Department of Health (DOH) shows.

The DOH released its annual Animal Intake and Disposition Survey for 2016 this week, a voluntary effort from the state's licensed animal shelters that chronicles important data, including intakes, euthanasias, adoptions and redemptions.

Essex County had the highest number of euthanizations with 613 dogs and 1,601 cats.

Although about 50 percent of all impounded dogs and cats were adopted into new homes, about 19 percent of them were euthanized last year, the DOH reported.

In Somerset County, 1,7811 dogs and 2,282 cats were impounded. Of those, 1,176 dogs and 1,447 cats were adopted, the report shows.

Somerset was among eight counties where more than 1,000 animals were adopted. Camden had the most with 3,281 dogs and 3,720 cats.

The DOH cautions that individual county statistics on this report “may not accurately reflect impound rates” because some facilities contract with municipalities in more than one county. Such is the case at the Associated Humane Societies in Newark, which contracts with several towns in Essex and Union counties.

Colin Campbell, a public health veterinarian with the New Jersey Department of Health, previously told a NorthJersey.com reporter that it’s important to remember facilities have different policies for the intake or disposition of animals.

“For example, many urban facilities will offer compassionate euthanasia services while their suburban counterparts may refer euthanasia cases to local veterinarians or animal hospitals, disproportionately affecting kill rates,” Campbell said. “And some shelters will only accept animals that they consider ‘adoptable,’ increasing their adoption rates in comparison to other facilities which accept any animal that comes through their doors.”

Click here to read the full report.

(Image via Morguefile)

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