Essex County Animal Shelters Had Most Dog Euthanasias In NJ (Again)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — There is a disturbing yearly trend developing in Essex County for the local animal population. For the fourth consecutive year, Essex County has euthanized the most dogs in New Jersey, according to state statistics.

That’s the word from the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH), which recently released its annual Animal Intake and Disposition Survey, a voluntary effort from the state’s licensed animal shelters that chronicles important data such as intakes, euthanasias, adoptions and redemptions.

• See related article: These New Jersey Counties Killed The Most Dogs, Cats Last Year

While there was an encouraging aspect of the 2016 survey – about 50 percent of all impounded dogs and cats were adopted to new homes – about 19 percent of the state’s canines and felines ended up being euthanized last year, the DOH reported.

See the full 2016 survey results here

In Essex County, the odds that canines face when they enter a shelter are steep. Last year, the county’s shelters took in 2,425 dogs and euthanized 613… a 25 percent kill rate.

Essex County’s dog euthanasia total was more than double that of the next-highest county, Mercer, which had 310, according to the DOH.

It hasn’t been the first time that Essex County led the state in dog euthanasias. In 2015, the county’s shelters killed 614 canines. And in 2014, the county’s shelters reported a whopping 913 euthanized dogs.

• See related article: Essex County Led N.J. In Euthanized Dogs For 2015

But Essex County’s cats also faced high odds of euthanasia in 2016. According to the survey, the county’s shelters took in 3,022 felines and euthanized 1,601… a 53 percent kill rate.

The county’s cat euthanasia total placed it just behind Gloucester County, which had 1,647.

• See related article: Essex County Rescuers Offer Dog, Cat Adoptions For 'Clear The Shelters' Event
• See related article: Should Bonded Pairs Be Separated? Essex County Shelter Offers Opinion

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

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.”

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