Study of the effect on shelter cat intakes and euthanasia from a shelter neuter return project of 10,080 cats from March 2010 to June 2014

Abstract

Cat impoundments were increasing at the municipal San Jose animal shelter in 2009, despite long-term successful low cost sterilization programs and attempts to lower the euthanasia rate of treatable-rehabilitatable impounds beginning in 2008. San Jose Animal Care and Services implemented a new strategy designed to control overall feral cat reproduction by altering and returning feral cats entering the shelter system, rather than euthanizing the cats. The purpose of this case study was to determine how the program affected the shelter cat intakes over time. In just over four years, 10,080 individual healthy adult feral cats, out of 11,423 impounded at the shelter during this time frame, were altered and returned to their site of capture. Included in the 11,423 cats were 862 cats impounded from one to four additional times for a total of 958 (9.5%) recaptures of the previously altered 10,080 cats. The remaining 385 healthy feral cats were euthanized at the shelter from March 2010 to June 2014. Four years into the program, researchers observed cat and kitten impounds decreased 29.1%; euthanasia decreased from over 70% of intakes in 2009, to 23% in 2014. Euthanasia in the shelter for Upper Respiratory Disease decreased 99%; dead cat pick up off the streets declined 20%. Dog impounds did not similarly decline over the four years. No other laws or program changes were implemented since the beginning of the program.

Surrendered and Stray Dogs in Australia—Estimation of Numbers Entering Municipal Pounds, Shelters and Rescue Groups and Their Outcomes

“…Low cost and free desexing programs targeted to locations and breeds contributing to high intake have been a major focus in the USA, and although conflicting results are reported, there is some evidence these programs decrease intake and numbers euthanized [ 27 , 37 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. These strategies reduce both owner-surrendered [ 49 ] and stray (i.e., owned dogs that became lost) intake [ 50 ].…”

Characteristics and Outcomes of Dogs Admitted into Queensland RSPCA Shelters

“…Studies have found significant declines in shelter intakes of cats occurred when subsidized desexing or trap neuter return programs were implemented [ 39 , 40 ], but the effectiveness of subsidized desexing programs has had a variable impact on shelter intake of dogs. A study conducted in 2011 in San Jose, California identified Chihuahuas as a significant contributor to shelter intake, and implemented a free desexing program targeted at Chihuahuas and Chihuahua crosses [ 40 ]. As a result, overall dog admissions decreased from seven dogs per 1000 humans to 6.1 in two years [ 40 ].…”

“…A study conducted in 2011 in San Jose, California identified Chihuahuas as a significant contributor to shelter intake, and implemented a free desexing program targeted at Chihuahuas and Chihuahua crosses [ 40 ]. As a result, overall dog admissions decreased from seven dogs per 1000 humans to 6.1 in two years [ 40 ]. Similarly, a free desexing program in Austin, Texas targeted to zip codes with high shelter intake, low average income and scarcity of veterinary facilities slowed the increase in dog admissions, compared to intakes from other zip codes [ 39 ].…”

“…Additionally, a US study [ 42 ] found that crossbreds were at a greater risk of relinquishment. A free desexing program targeting the most prevalent breed entering shelters in San Jose, California resulted in an overall decrease in shelter admissions [ 40 ]. A similarly targeted subsidized desexing program focusing on Staffordshire Bull Terriers and their mixes (20% of admissions) in postcodes overrepresented by admissions may reduce dog admissions, and be cost-effective.…”

Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea

“…Therefore, it is necessary to modify the strategy to sterilize more cats within the limited budget. Several countries have modified the TNR strategy to focus on specific areas with larger feline populations, and implemented intensive sterilization with the goal of expanding TNR programs into surrounding areas (Nutter, 2006;Mendes-de Almeida et al, 2011;Johnson & Cicirelli, 2014;Spehar & Wolf, 2018;Zito et al, 2018). This targeted, high-impact TNR intervention is more effective than sporadic TNR in reducing the community cat population (Kortis, 2014;Levy, Isaza & Scott, 2014;Kilgour et al, 2017).…”