A tail-wagging success

Here's some good news worth barking about: Fewer dogs are finding their way to the Pasco Animal Services shelter in Land O'Lakes. Don't worry, they're not getting lost or abandoned elsewhere. More likely, the animals are living with responsible pet owners intent on reducing indiscriminate breeding.

The decline in the sheltered canine population is more remarkable because it coincides with an increasing human population in Pasco County.

Pasco County Animal Services, formerly known as Animal Control, can take credit here for, among other things, tailoring its message about responsible ownership and humane treatment of animals to audiences at schools and neighborhood associations. The Internet and the county's government television channel aid the information effort as well.

Animal Services also has offered $40 rebates toward the cost of spaying or neutering dogs; started a neighborhood dog watch program that encourages enforcement of leash and licensing ordinances; partners with animal rescue groups; and retained its own veterinarian to ensure spaying and neutering procedures are done in a timely fashion so pets can be adopted more quickly. That was a key change. Previously, the county was reluctant to invest in the sterilization procedures until it knew an animal was to be adopted from its shelter.

The numbers indicate the programs are working. In 1998, Animal Services sheltered 6,518 dogs. Last year, the number fell to 4,978, a 17-year low.

Over the same eight-year period from 1998-2006, the county's population increased by more than 105,000 people.

Do the math: The number of dogs at the county shelter dropped 24 percent at the same time the human population increased 31 percent.

There is still plenty of work to be done, particularly on an expanding feral cat population. But the progress on collaring the canine problem is worthy of kudos.

[Last modified November 4, 2007, 20:39:35]