Animal Services Reports Successful 2016 with Increased Adoptions

From Loudoun County Animal Services: Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) is celebrating a successful 2016 having saved more than 2,100 animals – more than in any other year in the agency’s history. Department of Animal Services Director Nina Stively credits policy and programmatic changes that helped increase adoptions and improved the health and welfare of shelter pets.

“While the results of the internal policy changes have been dramatic in terms of the number of adoptions in 2016, all the changes in the world could not have helped us save 2,132 animals if the people of Loudoun weren’t on board,” said Stively, who has been director of LCAS since September of 2015. “Volunteering, fostering, donating, adopting; lifesaving takes a village- or in this case a county- and we are so fortunate to be surrounded by a community of compassion.”

Other notable successes in 2016 include:

• 1,551 pets were adopted, an increase of 525 from 2015
• 89% live release rate, up from 72% in 2015
• Euthanasia dropped by 50%
• 438 lost pets were returned to their owners
• LCAS hosted a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic, helping 112 additional pets receive the vaccination
• LCAS volunteers donated service hours valued at $91,137
• Volunteer foster homes provided temporary housing and care for 303 pets and donated 9,537 hours of in-home care
• The Pet Pantry, a partnership between LCAS, the Humane Society of Loudoun County, and Loudoun Hunger Relief, collected 12,877 pounds of dog and cat food, and made 2,069 animal care kits for Loudoun families in need.

Stively says the agency expects to continue to expand outreach, adoption and inter-shelter partnerships over the next year, and hopes to see continued success in saving the lives of animals in 2017. To learn more about Loudoun County Animal Services, including volunteer and donation opportunities, animal adoptions and dog licensing, visit here.

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