No kill policies combined with bad economy fallout have created an animal shelter crisis in area
Eight years ago, John Robinson was brought in as animal services manager in Escambia County, tasked with ending the practice of euthanizing shelter animals as a form of population control.
"At that time they were euthanizing 80% of the animals coming in," he said. "Now our euthanasia rate is probably less than 10%, and most of that is due to medical, injury or behavior issues that have made the animal unadoptable."
While universally applauded as a more humane way to run a shelter, facilities trying to maintain a "no kill" status (90% survival or better) can run into overpopulation issues. Robinson said that while overpopulation had in the past been seasonally cyclical, for the last several months there has been no relief for shelter staff, and presently nearly 190 dogs are being housed in a facility equipped with 105 kennels.
"We're not alone," said Robinson, who is serving as president of the Florida Animal Control Association. "It's happening all over the state."
The overpopulation crisis is a national one, according to Best Friends Animal Society, a national organization that is teaming up with the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare this month to encourage pet adoption.
"Shelters are struggling with higher intake, while live outcomes, such as adoptions, fosters and rescues are not keeping pace," Best Friends Animal Society said in a news release. "This has led to a population imbalance, with more animals in shelters staying for longer periods, and causing increased strain on shelter staff."
Robinson said this year shelters are facing a multitude of challenges that exacerbate the over population problem.
One of those, he said, is tied to the current housing market. Home prices, and particularly rental property prices, have skyrocketed, and renters struggling to keep a roof over their heads can't afford pet deposits. Some landlords are now also charging a monthly pet fee, he said.
"For some pet owners it comes down to dollars and cents," he said.
The COVID pandemic brought challenges associated with spaying or neutering pets, Robinson said, and today opportunities for low cost spay and neutering services have become limited in this region.
"I wouldn't say you can't get it done, but resources are limited, particularly for people of lower incomes," he said.
Among the entities no longer providing spay and neutering services is the Pensacola Humane Society. The Humane Society's website states its spay and neuter clinic is closed "until further notice."
The Escambia County Animal Shelter does continue to work to find ways to provide spay and neuter services to for low-income pet owners, Robinson said. And some local veterinarians have volunteered to "try to fill the need" by providing low cost services.
What Escambia County's Department of Animal Welfare has not been able to provide is reliable animal control service. Robinson said the division is short staffed and can't respond quickly to calls. At the same time, he said, animal control officials do not encourage county residents to pick up strays and bring them to the already overcrowded shelter.
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"If you know someone that's letting a dog run loose, call. We'll go out and talk to the owner," he said.
Santa Rosa County is also experiencing overcrowding, though it is dogs, not cats, that have stretched the kennels beyond their capacity. Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter Director Randy Lambert said at present 78 or 79 dogs are being housed in space built for 70.
"Right now I have a dog in my office," Lambert said last week. "I don't have a kennel to put him in."
This month the Santa Rosa County animal shelter, like Escambia County, is holding a holiday season event in hopes of encouraging adoption.
"We're having several events, one event right after the other, to clear some space," Lambert said.
Between Dec. 5 and 11 the Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter will charge a $5 adoption fee for both dogs and cats, which includes spaying and neutering, as well as microchipping. The shelter is not allowed to adopt out animals who are not spayed or neutered, microchipped and current on all shots. Adopters will be getting a big discount this month, Lambert said, as just microchipping a pet is a $40 to $80 expense.
On Dec. 7, between 2 and 4 p.m. the Santa Rosa County shelter will provide microchips to dogs and cats owned by county residents for $10.
In Escambia County, the Department of Animal Welfare is teaming with Best Friends Animal Society between Dec. 9 and 11 for what is being called a "holiday adoption extravaganza."
Adoption fees will be waived during the weekend-long event.
"We understand that our community is struggling through hardships too, but we also know how supportive this community can be to help when there is an issue," Robinson said in a news release highlighting the holiday event. "The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare needs that help, now more than ever, if we are going to continue the lifesaving work that we have done over the last several years. You can help by adopting, telling others to adopt, fostering or volunteering."
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia Santa Rosa animal shelters full due to economy no kill policy
