March 2023 Monthly Report

View the March 2023 monthly report of animal intakes, outcomes, and other key metrics for Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS).

Summary

During March 2023, MCAS was open for adoptions with the support of volunteers. MCAS waived adoption fees from 3/13/23 to 3/23/23 before resuming standard fees. Volunteer support increased for foster care to support neonatal kittens and large-breed dogs, and to support shelter enrichment and cleaning.

Animal Intake

MCAS accepted stray dogs, sick or injured adult cats and kittens from the public. Officers also picked up stray or lost animals. Owner-surrendered animals were accepted on a case by case basis, depending on urgent circumstances. Other intakes commonly represent animals placed into protective custody by Animal Services officers.

Veterinary Care Provided

Animal Health and Animal Care staff provided a wide range of veterinary services to animals in care. 

To keep animals healthy, Animal Health staff, and partner veterinarians in the community administered 598 vaccinations, including rabies, DA2PP and Bordetella for dogs and puppies, and FVRCP for cats and kittens.

They provided 956 health exams and consultations, including routine exams, wound checks, pre-surgery checkups, behavior assessments, and reviewing test results or diagnoses with foster volunteers. Due to veterinary staff availability, spay and neuter surgeries for shelter animals were limited, and many adopters were issued vouchers to complete surgeries and rabies vaccination at contracted veterinary clinics.

Fostered Animals

The majority of animals in foster care were kittens, cats, dogs, and puppies. Many animals entered and left foster care over the course of the month, so the total number does not represent the maximum number of animals in care at one time.

Animal Outcomes

196 or 43.7% of animals were adopted. MCAS waived adoption fees from 3/13/23 to 3/23/23 before resuming standard fees.

116 or 25.8% of animals were reclaimed by their owners. The majority of animals represented in these outcomes were dogs with a license and/or microchip for owner-contact.

73 or 16.3% of animals were transferred to another agency.

61 or 13.6% of animals were humanely euthanized, including cases of injured wildlife, injured or severely sick cats and kittens, and other domestic animals at the recommendation of a veterinarian, or for behavioral issues which would make an animal unsafe to place back into the community. Cat intake is officially limited to cases where the cat is sick or injured, or in immediate danger due to cruelty, neglect, and similar circumstances, and kittens over six weeks old. There is decreased intake volume for cats, and an increased percentage of veterinary-recommended euthanasia for adult cats due to these intake conditions.

2 or 0.4% of animals were returned to field at the location where they were found, including a cat and a pigeon. 1 or 0.2% of animals died in care, representing a neonatal kitten who died in transport from finder to the shelter.

Transfers

MCAS transferred 16% of shelter animals to other shelters and rescues for adoption placement. Thank you to our community partners for your lifesaving work.

• Oregon Humane Society
• Cat Adoption Team
• Stumptown Strays
• Hiss & Hers Herp Hobbies
• Portland Audubon
• Harmony New Beginnings Animal Rescue
• Pacific Pug Rescue
• Lancasterfour Dog Rescue
• Humane Society Of Southwest Washington
• Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League
• Golden Bond Rescue

Volunteers

Volunteer support increased for dog walking and enrichment, adoption info desk support, and cleaning. Foster hours also increased with the beginning of kitten season, and the first influx of neonatal kittens and mothers, and increasing support for large-breed dogs.

Online Resources

Many services provided by MCAS are accessible online, at multcopets.org. Members of the public can search for adoptable or lost / found pets, license their pets, and learn about other resources and news. MCAS website pages are translated into four languages.

Field Services

Field Services officers responded to 699 urgent needs of community members and their pets, investigated cases of potential cruelty or neglect, bites, and picked up stray, injured, abandoned, potentially dangerous, or deceased animals. Officers also responded to non-urgent calls such as barking dogs, animal trespass, and other community issues.

Pet Licensing

MCAS issued 2,344 total new or renewed licenses.