Life, Death and Adoption: Newark Animal Shelter Reports 2015 Statistics

NEWARK, NJ — What were the fates of the dogs and cats who entered the Associated Humane Societies’ Newark facility last year?

In July, New Jersey officials released county-by-county data from the 2015 Animal Intake and Disposition Survey, a voluntary survey of the Garden State’s licensed animal shelters that collects data such as intake, adoption and euthanasia numbers.

Local animal welfare group NJ Animal Observer recently obtained the 2015 surveys for each individual animal shelter via an Open Public Records Act request, which can be seen here.

As of 2015, the Associated Humane Societies’ Newark facility contracted to provide services to Newark, Maplewood, Orange, Belleville, Fairfield, Irvington, Linden, Clark, Roselle, Rahway, Fanwood, Windfield Park, Plainfield, Mountainside, Longhill, Hillside, and Carteret.

According to NJ Animal Observer, here are last year’s statistics for the shelter:

• Capacity – 300 dogs, 400 cats
• Total Received – 2,314 dogs, 3,349 cats
• Adopted – 535 dogs, 645 cats
• Euthanized – 561 dogs, 1,410 cats
• Reclaimed – 428 dogs, 19 cats
• Transferred – 701 dogs, 1,001 cats
• Other (Died, Escaped, Etc.) – 18 dogs, 174 cats

ESSEX COUNTY STATS

More dogs were killed in Essex County animal shelters than anywhere else in New Jersey last year, according to state statistics. According to the state data, Essex County shelters euthanized 614 dogs in 2015, almost twice the number of canines than the next-highest county, Mercer, which euthanized 328.

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

In addition, Essex County shelters euthanized 1,524 cats, the second-highest total in the state next to Gloucester County, which euthanized 1,784.

See the county-by-county totals for New Jersey here.

Other stats for Essex County included:

• 2,911 dogs and 4,250 cats impounded
• 779 dogs and 1,172 cats adopted
• 644 dogs and 48 cats redeemed

ANALYZING THE DATA

According to Alan Rosenberg of NJ Animal Observer, some of the most notable statewide statistics are the “very high death rates for dogs and cats as well as the death rate for dogs not reclaimed by owners at some shelters.”

“New Jersey’s animal shelters continue to fail the state’s animals,” NJ Animal Observer stated in an Aug. 16 blog. “Despite New Jersey shelters impounding a fraction of the animals other no-kill communities take in on a per capita basis, the state’s animal control facilities continue to kill and allow animals to die under their care. Even worse, many of these shelters can’t even properly keep track of how many animals leave their facilities dead or alive. Our state’s animals deserve far better treatment than this.”

Commenting on the state’s annual survey effort in 2013, Colin Campbell, a public health veterinarian with the New Jersey Department of Health told NorthJersey.com that the data can give important insights to animal welfare activists seeking information about their local shelters.

However, Campbell added that it's important to remember that some facilities have contracts with other towns or counties, and that the stats aren't always truly reflective of an area's per capita animal intake numbers.

In addition, facilities have different policies for the intake or disposition of animals, added Campbell. 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.

The 2015 Animal Intake and Disposition Surveys also don’t include statistics from “animal rescue” organizations, unlike its licensed shelters. A list of licensed “animal rescue organizations” in New Jersey can be seen here.

Photo: Flickr Commons

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