 National animal welfare data shows Pima Animal Care is national leader in saving lives
PIMA COUNTY, Oct. 19, 2023 – Best Friends Animal Society is recognizing Pima Animal Care Center for its 93% live-saving rate for cats and dogs in its care, which it calls tops in the nation among comparably sized municipal animal shelters.
The Utah-based animal welfare group cited PACC for “achieving no-kill status during calendar year 2022 by exceeding a 90% save rate for cats and dogs.” PACC’s Director of Animal Services, Monica Dangler, says that the shelter is on track to meet this benchmark in 2023 as well.
Best Friends calculated PACC’s live release rate through a new platform called Shelter Pet Data Alliance, which is designed to give shelter professionals insight into local and national trends and compare shelter data. PACC achieved the highest life-saving rate compared to 18 shelters and rescues across the United States that are:
- Government-run or have a municipal contract,
- Take in at least 10,000 pets annually and
- Are in a high-density urban environment with a high social vulnerability index.
The Best Friends data also pointed to PACC’s 64% adoption rate, far higher than the 39% rate for comparable shelters. Dangler credits those numbers to the investment the shelter has made to increase staffing focused on adoptions, foster, and return-to-home efforts. A large private bequest, in addition to strong community support, aided those staffing efforts.
“Pima County steps up for pets in need time and time again,” said Dangler. “This data is proof that we have an extraordinarily caring community who values shelter pets.”
Dangler said that PACC’s approach to in-shelter euthanasia contributes heavily to its life-saving rate. While many shelters routinely euthanize animals for space, PACC first gives the public and the rescue community an opportunity to adopt or foster.
“Many shelters throughout the country do not provide this level of community transparency, and I am certain that sharing the need with our Pima County residents and allowing them to be part of the solution plays a huge role in our ability to send so many animals into new homes every year.”
PACC needs fosters and adopters to help continue the positive trends. Those interested in fostering or adopting a pet may come to PACC’s facility at 4000 N Silverbell Road during operating hours. PACC is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from noon to 7 p.m., on Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All adopted pets come up to date on vaccinations, a microchip, and a spay or neuter surgery.
To see available pets and services, visit pima.gov/animalcare.
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