Vets step in to reduce shelter's kill rate

A group of local veterinarians is stepping up to help Pasco County Animal Services reduce the kill rate at its animal shelter.

Jenifer Chatfield, president of the Pasco Hernando Veterinary Medical Association, said members are already volunteering to perform surgeries and provide supplies for the cash-strapped agency. But that's just the beginning.

The association met with county leaders in November to discuss low-cost ways to help the animal services department improve its adoption rate. Chatfield called the shelter's kill rates - highest in the region - alarming.

In the past fiscal year, Pasco County euthanized 5,386 cats - 85 percent of the cats brought to the shelter. Nearly 60 percent of 4,314 dogs brought to the shelter were euthanized during the same time period.

Chatfield said the association has provided free shelter management software to Animal Services, and volunteers are entering data to help keep more detailed records of animals that are brought to the shelter.

"This allows for more detailed tracking of the animal after it is put into the system," she said.

The association also plans to apply for a $20,000 grant to implement a plan for trapping, neutering and vaccinating feral cats. Chatfield says the key to reducing the county's feral cat population is to spay and neuter entire colonies at the same time.

"We'll provide the traps," she said. "We're going to fix them, and then we're going to let them go. If you do it aggressively, you will affect the overall population."

Assistant County Administrator Michele Baker said she needed more information about the tracking software to determine how it would benefit the department and to ensure there isn't a duplication of services.

"It's going to require close coordination to be effective," she said.

Baker expressed some reservations about the grant proposal, saying she wanted to make sure the department wouldn't be required to provide matching funds.

"We are open to any suggestion that could help us reduce the feral cat population," she said. "If there's no match required, then yay. We're happy to work with them - we need the help."

The veterinarians also have offered to hold off-site adoption events for shelter animals and urged the county to participate in the next Pet Adoption Expo at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

"Each time they have one of those expos, hundreds of animals get adopted," Chatfield said. "Pasco County has never participated because they can't send a staff member for the day. Hillsborough County uses volunteers, and we can help with that."