Animal Welfare in

Mount Pleasant TX

Wendy Blount, DVM

Wendy Blount, DVM• Westbury Animal Hospital 1992-1994• TAMU Small Animal Clinic 1994-1997

• Residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine• Connolly Animal Clinic 1998-2009

• Internal Medicine Referrals and General Practice

• 2004 TAVP Clinical Referral and Consultation Award

• Continuing Education Seminars 2007-present

• Eastex Veterinary Clinic 2009-present• Internal Med and GP• 2012 TVMA Companion Animal Practitioner of

the Year

Wendy Blount, DVM• Native American Project – 1990-1992• Volunteer Shelter Vet – 1992-1994

• BARC• Houston Humane Society• Houston SPCA

• HSUS Contract Worker – 2007 - 2009• Compassion fatigue in Shelter Medicine• Duquesne University – Field Instructor

• Medicine and Behavior in the Sheltering Environment

• Duquesne University 2007 - present

Wendy Blount, DVM• Humane Society of Nacogdoches County

2009• City of Nacogdoches – 2009-2012

• Medical Director, SpayNeuterNac• 2011 TACA Bilderback Award

• O’Malley PET (Preventing Euthanasia Together) – 2012 to present

• City of Nacogdoches Health Advisory Committee – 2012-present

Animal Welfare in the Community• Mother Teresa Approach

• I can not help them all, but I can help this one

• Improve problems in your community• Decrease shelter intakes• Decrease euthanasia per capita• Increase the Live release rate• Increase the Save rate• Decrease the euthanasia rate • Decrease animal infectious disease in

the community• Improve zoonosis in the community

Animal Welfare in the Community• Problem Solver or Enabler?• Watch the shelter numbers

• Intakes decrease• EPC decrease• Live release rate increase• Save rate increase• Euthanasia rate decrease

• Set goals• Assess progress yearly• Adjust your approach of not meeting goals

Targeted Spay Neuter• Target those who would not otherwise

have their pets altered• Low income• Low interest

• One or two zip codes, or more or less• Estimate the number of unaltered pets in

the area• Target 35-80% of this number in as short a

period as possible

Estimating Pet Population• Foundations, donors, and elected officials

want statistics and hard data supporting requests for more funding.

• Licensed animals are a small subset of total animals – not a good estimate

• There are formulas to estimate, and then adjust, based on what you know about local demographics

Estimating Pet Population• Step 1 – Determine # of Households

• Local emergency management• City Planning/Zoning Department• County building permit division• Tax appraiser’s office• US Census information – by county

EXAMPLE – 100,000 Households

Estimating Pet Population• Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with

dogs, cats and pet birds

• 39% of US Households own a dog• 39% of US Households own a cat• 6% of US Households own a bird

Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners

Survey.

Estimating Pet Population• Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with

dogs, cats and pet birds

EXAMPLE:• 100,000 households x 0.39 (percent

dog owners) = 39,000 dog-owning households

• 100,000 households x 0.34 (percent cat owners) = 34,000 cat-owning households

• 100,000 households x 0.06 (percent bird owners) = 6,000 bird-owning households

Estimating Pet Population• Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and

pet birds

• Average 1.7 dogs per household• Average 2.3 cats per household• Average 2.5 birds per household

Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners

Survey.

Estimating Pet Population• Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and

pet birds

EXAMPLE:• 39,000 dog-owning households x 1.7

(average dogs per household) = 66,300 dogs

• 34,000 cat-owning households x 2.3 (average cats per household) = 78,200 cats

• 6,000 bird-owning households x 2.5 (average birds per household) = 15,000 pet birds

Estimating Minimum Surgeries per YearPetSmart Charities:• 80% of pets owned by those of financial

means are spayed or neutered• 80% of pets owned by those who live

below the poverty standard are not surgically sterilized

• Need to sterilize 35-80% of the animals in any given area per year in order to impact pet numbers

www.census.gov• Population of the area – 66,034• Percent living in poverty – 24.1%• Average household size – 2.52 personsAVMA• 37% of households own dogs• 32% of households own catsAPPMA• Average 1.7 dogs per household• Average 2.3 cats per household

Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year

#1 Calculate Households in poverty with dogs and cats

• Population of the area – 66,034• Average household size – 2.52 persons• Households in area – 66,034/2.52 = 26,204• Percent living in poverty – 24.1%• Households in poverty – 26,204 x 24.1% = 6315• 37% of households own dogs• 32% of households own cats• Households with dogs in poverty – 6315 x 37% =

2337• Households with cats in poverty – 6315 x 32% =

2021

Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year

#2 Calculate Dogs and Cats in Poverty• Households with dogs in poverty – 2337• Households with cats in poverty – 2021• Average 1.7 dogs per household• Average 2.3 cats per household• Cats in poverty – 2021 x 2.3 = 4648• Dogs in poverty – 2337 x 1.7 = 3973

Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year

#3 Calculate Dogs and Cats not in poverty• Households in area – 26,204• Households in poverty – 6315• 37% of households have 1.7 each• 32% of households have 2.3 cats each• Households not in poverty – 26,204 – 6315

= 19,889• Cats not in poverty = 19,889 x 32% x 2.3 =

14,638• Dogs not in poverty = 19,889 x 37% x 1.7 =

12,510

Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year

#4 Calculate Unsterilized Dogs and Cats• Cats in poverty – 4648• Dogs in poverty – 3973• Cats not in poverty – 14,638• Dogs not in poverty – 12,510• Unsterilized dogs in poverty = 3973 x 80% = 3178• Unsterilized cats in poverty = 4648 x 80% = 3718• Unsterilized dogs not in poverty = 12,510 x 20% =

2502• Unsterilized cats not in poverty = 14,638 x 20% = 2928• Unsterilized dogs = 3178 + 2502 = 5680• Unsterilized Cats = 3718 + 2928 = 6646

Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year

#5 Calculate minimum surgeries needed per year

• Unsterilized dogs in poverty = 3178• Unsterilized cats in poverty = 3718• Unsterilized dogs not in poverty = 2502• Unsterilized cats not in poverty = 2928• Unsterilized dogs = 5680• Unsterilized Cats = 6646• To impact dogs in poverty = 3178 x 35% = 1112• To impact cats in poverty = 3718 3 35% = 1301• To impact dog community = 5680 x 35% = 1988• To impact cat community = 6646 x 35% = 2326

Estimating Minimum Surgeries per Year

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Do We really have a pet overpopulation

problem in East Texas?• “Euthanasias per capita” are used to

assess pet overpopulation in an area• Euthanasia = humanely killing pets at

animal shelters• Because they are not adoptable• Because there are no available homes

• In the Northeast where pet population is ideal, euthanasias are 5 per 1,000 capita (5 EPC)• Pet Transports• Rescue Waggin’

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Do We really have a pet overpopulation

problem in East Texas?• TX, Southern CA and FL have the highest

EPC in the US, per PetSmart Charities.• San Antonio is at 40 EPC

• Over the past 3 decades on Nac County, 2,000-4,000 unwanted pets have been euthanized at our shelter each year• population has grown from 47,000 to

66,000 during that time• EPC have remained 40-50 during this

time, with no trend downwardOur Pet Overpopulation Problem is as bad

as is gets in the United States

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Arguments Against• There are already a dozen veterinarians in

this county who do spays and neuters• Program will harm the financial well being

of local veterinarians• Program will only cannibalize local

business without solving the pet overpopulation problem

• Low cost spay-neuter usually means low quality health care services for pets

• It’s too expensive, we can’t afford it

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Program will harm the financial well being

of local veterinarians• Maddie’s Fund Study (Frank et al)

• Low cost SNC screen for financial need• Increase total number of spays and

neuters done in an area• Do not cannibalize full service surgeries• 85% of the pets/owners served do not

have/seek regular veterinary care

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Low Cost services are not necessary• Chu et al, JAVMA, 2009

• Family income is the strongest predictor as to whether cats in a household are spayed or neutered

• 50% of cats in households with income <$35K are not spayed or neutered

• Median income for our county is $35K• 26,204 households• 13,102 households below $35K• 13,102 x 32% x 1.7 = 7127 cats• 50% = 3564 unsterilized cats• 3564 x 35% = 1247 cat spays needed

Persons in household

Household income – 2013Free Services Low Cost Services

1 $11,170 $22,310

2 $15,130 $30,014

3 $19,090 $37,719

4 $23,050 $45,423

5 $27,010 $53,127

6 $30,970 $60,832

7 $34,930 $68,536

8 $38,890 $76,241

For families > 8 + $3,960 per person + $7,704 per person

Source HHS Poverty Standard State Aid Programs

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Low Cost services are not necessary6646 unsterilized cats

THAT’S A LOT OF CAT LOVIN’!!!

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Low Cost services are not necessary5680 unsterilized dogs

THAT’S A PUP-U-LATIONEXPLOSION!!!

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Low Cost services are not necessary• We are counting only euthanasias at our

shelter• Hundreds to thousands more occur at

veterinary clinics• Untold numbers of dogs and cats killed at

the hands of our citizens, or left to die of exposure• Drowned, Shot• Connected to car exhaust• “Knocked on the head”

• THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THE DEATHS IS TO PREVENT THE BIRTHS

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?Low cost spay-neuter usually means low

quality health care services for pets• Humane Alliance• Association of Shelter Veterinarians• American Animal Hospital Association

• Each pet gets a pre-operative exam• Prepped in the prep room, and then

brought into the surgical suite• Surgeon wears mask, cap and gown• Pain meds not optional• Written anesthesia and surgery reports• IV fluids and bloodwork as indicated• Monitored every step of the way

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?It costs too much• It costs taxpayers as much as $176 to

impound, house, and destroy a homeless pet through the shelter system.

• $40-80 will spay or neuter the same pet• Cat neuter as little as $25• Large dog spay as much as $75• These are subsidized costs

• Donations• Volunteer labor• 2 part time clinic employees

• Average cost per surgery is $65.• Client Fees set at cost minus grants

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?How do we keep costs down?• $65 per surgery is way less than cost at a

full service clinic• We staff the clinic with 7-10 trained

volunteers each week• Veterinary technicians• nurse practitioners, pharmacists• social workers• business owners• shelter directors• professors and teachers• massage therapists, rescue workers• Housewives

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?How do we keep costs down?• Donations - $180K this year

• ~$20K from local benefactors and fundraisers

• ~$10K/yr website labor donated• building purchased by a benefactor,

budget pays utilities only• ~$50K in veterinary labor donated

• Grants - $65K this year• $4.8K ASPCA • $35K Montgomery Humane Trust• $15.65K Texas DSHS• $10K PetSmart Charities

Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?The Bottom Line• If EPC in the area are >5-10, YES!!

How many surgeries are needed in your community to make an impact?

• How many are being done by local vets?• How many more need to be done?• Can your program meet that need?

Monitor Shelter intakes and euthanasias yearly

If numbers are not improving, increase surgery numbers

How Do We Know it Will Work?• It’s a numbers game• If we do enough surgeries, euthanasia and

shelter intake numbers will come down• If we don’t, they won’t• Our goal is to do 1000 surgeries per year• Average 20 a week

• Surgery one day a week

How Do We Know it Will Work?There many examples of similar programs

which have been successful• Knoxville, TN - Linda Chassy, DVM• Low cost spay-neuter began in 2007• 20,000 surgeries done in 4 years• County population 436,000• 2009 – euthanasias down by 2000• 2010 – euthanasias down by 2500 more

• Down 4500 total from 2007• Puppy intake dropping steadily for 24

months in a row• Now <700 animals away from adopting

out all healthy pets in the shelter

How Do We Know it Will Work?There many examples of similar programs

which have been successful• Indianapolis, IN• County population 890,000• 13,000 surgeries in 2010• 130,000 surgeries since 1999• Euthanasias dropped from 22,000 per

year to 10,000 per year since 1999

Our Story• 2005 – Humane Society of Nacogdoches

County met with local vets• 2007 – Proposal by local vet to purchase

equipment for SN clinic at the shelter• 2009 – HSNC asked me to purchase set-

up equipment and supplies and do surgery, secured permission from City• $40,000

• Jan 2010 – HSNC petitioned City to administer the clinic

• March 2010 – began training volunteers, did 23 surgeries during the training period

• June 2010 – HSNC agreed to pay surgical fees for animals owned by people living in poverty

Our Story• August 17, 2010 – City of Nacogdoches

voted to hire 1 full time employee, pay professional labor, replenish supplies and administer the project• $98,000 budget, break even

• August 23, 2010 – clinic opened to shelter animals

• January 2011 – clinic opened to the public• January 2011 – St. Francis Rescue of

Nacogdoches agrees to pay medical costs for all pit bulls owned by family who qualify for low cost fees.

Our Story• February 2011 – local benefactor agrees

to pay surgery fees for all animals leaving the shelter to go to rescue• 50 animals in 2011

• April, 2011 – DSHS grant makes all surgeries on animals not adopted from the shelter free to owners• $34,000

• May 2011 – HS donates $5000 to expand OR to 2 surgery tables

• September, 2011 – local benefactor donates serology machine, diagnostic sets and ultrasonic instrument cleaner• $13,000

Our Story• March 2012 – PetSmart Charities Grant

$57K for 700 surgeries in 75964• April 2012 – City Closes SpayNeuterNac

Clinic – 1241 surgeries done• Joint Project by HSNC and local vets to

fund 700 surgeries by local vets• December 2012 – 214 surgeries done• O’Malley PET Founded– purchased clinic

equipment from HS• February 2013 – O’Malley PET Opens• Currently doing 20 surgeries every other

Thursday

Who Do We Serve?• SNN served those who adopted from the shelter, regardless

of financial need (SNN 54%)• OMPET no longer does this (OMPET 14%)

• Those who live below federal poverty line• Free services for $10 co-pay• SNN – 36%; OMPET – 93%

• Those who qualify for various state aid• Low cost services, $25-$75• SNN – 7%; OMPET – 7%

Pebbles – spayed 2-2011 and now in her new home

About USJennifer Bryant

• Veterinary Technician• The glue that holds us together• Responsible for absolutely everything• Since 2013

Jennifer and family

About USMichele Sprague – “Huckleberry”

• Director of Volunteers & Treasurer• Property Manager• Amazing powers of persuasion

Michele tells us how she really feels about dogs

who reproduce indiscriminantly

About USBrenda Hayter – “Brendita”

• Anesthetic Induction and Patient Prep• Volunteer

About USJudy Mahoney – “Feral Human Helper”

• Client Care & Patient Recovery• Volunteer

About USJudy Mahoney

• Client Care & Patient Recovery• Volunteer

Lola enjoys a “JuMo spa recovery”

About USBetty Yuracko – “Chart Nazi”

• Medical Records• Volunteer

About USDr. Maggie Forbes – “Detail Devil”

• Pre-anesthetic exams, data entry, vaccination visits

• Volunteer

About USLauren Gaudette and Jane Austin– “Pack Rats”

• Instrument Pack Preparation• Volunteers

About USNancy Hinds – “Nants”

• Laundress• Volunteer

About USWanda Jorgensen– “Secret Weapon”

• Executive Chef• Volunteer

About USSome of our many other volunteers

How Can You Help??• Volunteer

• Michele Sprague - mdstx77019@yahoo.com

• Director of Volunteers• Donate Funds

• www.omalleypet.org