A review of 2024 statistics began at 1:36pm. Julie Johnson responded to an earlier public comment section, stated front line staff may label an animal as treatable upon intake, but the asilomar is not always updated after medical examinations, and owner requested euthanasia may impact numbers. These are data entry issues that are being addressed. Melissa Moomaw asked what category return-to-field falls under, Julie responded outgoing transfers. Julie Levy stated Shelter Animals Count has shown surprising trends and asked if ACAR was a part of this count, Julie Johnson responded yes, and the statistics are automatically posted on their website. Julie Johnson stated they do not calculate a live release or save rate, and Julie Levy responded this committee could determine their own live release definition. Julie Levy explained shelters may take in more difficult cases, making achieving 90% no-kill challenging. There are varying calculations shelters can use: live outcomes over live intakes or live outcomes over all outcomes and various versions. Julie Levy stated unless a shelter is accumulating animals, these numbers should be similar, and the shelter can also start looking at numbers per thousand of the population. Florida will have bigger numbers due to total population but is doing less euthanasia comparatively. Julie Levy suggested a task force for this committee to review the statistics. Julie Johnson continued the conversation regarding no-kill shelters and explained many shelter workers she knows are receiving backlash over not hitting the 90% mark, but they do not have control over the animals they take in, and rural shelters may have more feral or unadoptable animals entering the system that cannot be placed in homes. The backlash can result in burnout and more staff quitting, creating divisive rhetoric. Julie Johnson stated every shelter is doing good work with the resources available and is thankful for the resources ACAR has in this community. Julie Johnson asked the committee to notify staff if there is a way they would prefer the statistics presented.
Kristen Young asked how the adoption rate has changed. Sarah Gilley responded the adoption rate has gone up, and in 2024 ACAR processed more than 1,800 adoptions. More dog adoptions were processed than cat adoptions, even though national trends are showing cat adoptions are on the rise. The total adoption number was the second most adoptions ACAR had ever processed and the most since COVID-19. Kristen Young responded it is helpful seeing statistics pre and post-COVID-19, and Julie Johnson responded the statistics are available on the website. Kristen Young asked what has assisted in the adoption number rising, and Sarah Gilley responded a focus of the staff has been collecting in-home behavior notes and presenting adopters with a better idea of what to expect outside of the shelter environment. ACAR had two successful pleas for fosters during the hurricanes, resulting in every dog returning to the shelter with in-home behavior notes, and the staff is continuing to push for short-term fosters. Julie Levy stated Summer Lovin' was also successful, and the tentative date for the event this year is August 9th. Julie Levy asked if there has been follow-up on the post-adoption support website, Petszel, and Julie Johnson responded she reached out again recently but has been in communication. Julie Levy is on the advisory board and stated this sends out surveys the staff can review and provides adopters with continuous support.
Julie Levy stated she is concerned about the future with the housing crisis, waves of layoffs, deportation on the horizon, and we should be proactive in hardening the community to service the pets. Melissa Moomaw stated the statistics are amazing, and we can be doing more to strengthen community partnerships. Julie Johnson stated despite the statistics being what they are that ACAR has remained full. Chelsea Bower suggested looking into partnerships with human service organizations to provide pet owners with available resources. Melissa Moomaw asked if ACAR has a relationship with an emergency clinic, Julie Johnson responded yes, with CCVS and Blue Pearl, though Blue Pearl was in the process of closing. Julie has been made aware that CCVS is working towards being available 24 hours. Melissa Moomaw shared a recent story of ACAR and Operation Catnip working together to save a community cat with a jar stuck on its head. Multiple caregivers and officers worked to catch this cat, and ACAR facilitated getting the cat to Blue Pearl to get the jar off, and Operation Catnip performed the cat's spay.
Julie Johnson stated there have been many cases the shelter is working on thanks to the community being responsive and reporting situations to us, but there are times when staff has been working on a case, and discussion on social media can result in a case being wiped out. Julie explained we do not speak publicly on cases for the safety of the animals and everyone involved. People will believe everything they read on social media, this can spiral and set a case back significantly. People involved in cruelty cases may watch social media and move animals before the officers arrive, and these social media posts may spiral before our staff is made aware of posts. The goal is to get animals out of these situations permanently. There have been 7 cases the shelter is working on prosecuting currently, and the last 4 cases have been won. The shelter will not rush to judgment in these cases, the staff wants to ensure the owner is not someone who just needs help or resources and is not intentionally cruel. Julie stated the staff will look into a campaign to encourage reporting of cruelty situations without speaking publicly online. Kristen Young stated it is worth educating volunteers to have supporters assist in squashing online conversations about cases. Perry Koon stated his response to inquiries on cases is typically that it is an active investigation, and more information cannot be provided at this time. Perry stated he is more involved with large animal and livestock cases, but it can be a difficult balance keeping a complainant satisfied while not jeopardizing a case while evidence is being properly gathered. Perry explained there has to be enough evidence, so if the owner attempts to get custody of the animal back, a solid enough case will have been built. Perry also stated he will do everything is done correctly the first time and give owners an opportunity to fix things. Chelsea Bower responded trust is big, and animal control agencies across the nation have been resented for years because people expect instant gratification when reporting cases. Perry Koon offered to sidebar with Julie Johnson and discuss responding to these complaints at a later time, but all that can be done is showing the community their passion is appreciated, and staff can acknowledge they are also passionate but know the rules the general public may not. Julie Johnson stated the staff wants to ensure both humans and animals do not suffer again.
Julie Levy made a motion to establish a work group to review options for shelter data and metrics, seconded by Kristen Young. Unanimous approval, motion carried. Melissa Moomaw, Chelsea Bower, and Julie Levy volunteered to be in the work group with Julie Johnson. A meeting date will be established and posted after mid-March. Kristen Young asked if the reason for relinquishing animals could be a reviewed statistic, and Julie Johnson responded it can be difficult to categorize, but we can have that conversation.