Mary Cummins Wildlife Rehabilitation Animal Advocates News Los Angeles California: euthanasia

Showing posts with label euthanasia. Show all posts

Thursday, August 24, 2023

P22 Necropsy Report Released in State Information Act Request by Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

p22, necropsy, report, mary cummins,animal advocates, los angeles, california, fish and wildlife,fish & wildlife, mountain lion, puma,cougar,euthanasia, animaladvocates.us

P22 mountain lion necropsy report final and full.This is the result of a state information act I made immediately after P22 was euthanized. There are a lot more documents I'm downloading now so check back. There are also a lot of trail cam and security cam videos. Below is one of P22 washing his face.

Here's another video of P22 with a raccoon. Video is not gross though he probably killed and ate it later.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OZxhHzuXP3Q

https://animaladvocates.us/p22%20necropsy.pdf

Here is the blog article from when they first posted a brief summary.

https://animaladvocatesmarycummins.blogspot.com/2023/06/mountain-lion-p-22-died-from-car.html

From the report released 08/24/2023

Necropsy Case Report Report End Date

14/Mar/2023

4004903 | Puma / Puma concolor | TCW22-34902 Individual

Sex: Male Birth Date: 01/Jan/2010 +/- 1 year Age at Submission Date: 12Y,11M,16D +/- 1

Case Info

Case Number

0069554

Necropsy Submission

Death Date Date Submitted Date Discovered Manner of Death Carcass Weight Death Location

17/Dec/2022 17/Dec/2022 - Euthanasia - NC99100 Harter

Enclosure Group

Recent History/Observations

Mountain Lion from the LA area, P-22. Age estimated around 12 years old. Free-ranging but was losing body condition, changing behavior. Immobilized in the field by CDFW and brought to LA Zoo for diagnostics. Then brought to Safari Park for further evaluation. CT and various other diagnostic testing

revealed diaphragmatic hernia with herniated liver parenchyma and omentum. Renal insufficiency also suspected, along with possible myocardial disease.

Diffuse ectoparasitism with Demodex gatoi also identified. Euthanasia was pursued at the decision of CDFW, and was performed with IV pentobarbital.

After euthanasia, testicles were removed for gamete recovery.

Death Numbers

Death Number Effective Date

0069554 17/Dec/2022

Gross Necropsy

Necropsy Date Carcass Condition Necropsy Location

17/Dec/2022 Fresh SANDIEGOZ NECROPSY LAB

Report Date

17/Dec/2022

Sex: Male Birth Date: 01/Jan/2010 +/- 1 year Age at Submission Date: 12Y,11M,16D +/- 1

Printed: 14/Mar/2023 17:05

Species360 ZIMS version 2.25.5

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Page: 2 of 4

Received is a 44 kg, adult male mountain lion (puma) in fresh postmortem and good to fair body condition with mild generalized muscle atrophy and small to

moderate fat stores. There is patchy alopecia and poor hair coat along the ventral neck, face, ears, distal tail (distal 25 cm), and distal limbs and feet. Two

black, hairless, soft, pedunculated skin nodules are present on the dorsal neck which are 2 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm and 1 x 0.9 x 0.4 cm. A 3.6 x 1.7 cm area of

alopecia caudal to the right eye also has 2 scabs. The right eye has patchy hemorrhage in the dorsal sclera and conjunctiva, and areas of redness overlying

the lateral aspect of the iris within the eye. A small scab is present on the skin over the dorsal aspect of the left eye orbit. Along the right ventral mandible is

a 2 x 0.6 cm crusted ulceration with edema and tan discoloration of the underlying subcutis. Areas of alopecia (~5 x 2 cm) are present over both hips, and

there is a 1 x 0.8 cm abrasion along the lateral metatarsal region of the right hindfoot. Multiple claws are frayed. There is a 0.5 cm diameter skin incision

along the left medial aspect of the stifle (antemortem skin biopsy). Within the right frontal sinus is a small amount of brown clotted blood. The zygomatic

process of the right frontal bone surrounding the right ocular orbit has multiple chip fractures with mild associated hemorrhage.

There is mild hemorrhage in the subcutis and muscle along the lateral aspect of the right shoulder and proximal humerus. Some hemorrhage is also present

around the left jugular venipuncture site in the neck. Fractures of the transverse process of the 7th cervical vertebra and acromion process of the right

scapula noted on CT scan are not readily identified grossly. A thin (<1 mm diameter), approximately 2.5 cm long silver metallic wire foreign body is

embedded along the internal aspect of the caudoventral abdominal midline. The reported metallic pellet in the region of the left hip on CT scan is not found.

Negative pressure is absent in the thorax on opening the abdominal cavity. The lungs are diffusely collapsed and pink. The heart is 218.9 g (0.498% of body

weight), and the mitral valve leaflets are mildly thickened and smoothly nodular. There is a 3 x 2.5 cm hole in the right ventral aspect of the diaphragm

through which a portion of omentum (approximately half) is herniated into the right thoracic cavity. The margin of this diaphragmatic tear is smooth and

rounded with no evidence of hemorrhage. An approximately 1 cm diameter dark red nodule also bulges into this tear which is adjacent to a second

approximately 5 cm diameter tear centrally in the diaphragm. This tear also has smooth edges, and through it bulges into the thoracic cavity a roughly 9 cm

diameter x 4 cm thick section of liver which is discolored and mottled shades of tan, orange and red. There are tight adhesions between the left crus of the

diaphragm and the left lateral lobe of the liver. Pleura and connective tissue is tightly adhered to and encapsulates the intrathoracic herniated portion of liver,

which appears to be a portion of the left medial lobe or papillary process of the caudate lobe. The cystic duct of the gallbladder is sigmoid in shape. The liver

is 1.4 kg (3.2% of body weight), subjectively enlarged with rounded lobe margins, and is diffusely dark tan with a moderately enhanced reticular pattern.

A perihepatic lymph node is mildly enlarged at 7 x 1.5 x 0.7 cm, and the mesenteric lymph nodes are similarly prominent. The spleen is diffusely enlarged,

dark red, and congested (presumed euthanasia artifact). The medullae of both kidneys have mild pale tan streaking to the renal crests. Numerous long

cestodes are present throughout the small intestine. In the dorsal peripheral aspect of the left thyroid gland is a soft, brown, 0.9 x 0.8 x 0.7 cystic nodule

filled with brown cloudy fluid.

crown-rump: 110 cm

subcutaneous fat amount: small

pericardial fat amount: small

abdominal fat amount: moderate

digestive system content:

stomach: full of soft digesta containing abundant fur and some fragments of bone and pieces of hay

small intestine: thick pale yellow fluid and small boluses of fur and hay with numerous long (>20 cm) cestodes

cecum: pasty brown feces containing abundant fur

large intestine: formed feces containing abundant fur

lymph nodes examined: mandibular, axillary, tracheobronchial, mesenteric, perihepatic/peripancreatic

joints examined: atlanto-occipital, right shoulder, left hip, left and right stifles

Preliminary dx:

1. Euthanasia

2. Right eye: mild intra- and peri-ocular hemorrhage

3. Bone, zygomatic process of right frontal bone: multiple chip fractures

4. Right frontal sinus: mild hemorrhage

5. Subcutis and muscle, right shoulder: mild hemorrhage

6. Liver, diaphragm and thoracic cavity: chronic diaphragmatic tears (2) with intrathoracic liver and omentum herniation and entrapment

7. Liver: enhanced reticular pattern

8. Skin, multiple sites (head, neck, distal limbs, distal tail): patchy alopecia and poor hair coat with multiple abrasions, crusts and ulcerations (left and right

orbits, right ventral mandible, right foot)

9. Skin, dorsal neck: pigmented skin tags (2)

10. Kidneys: mild medullary streaking

11. Small intestine: cestodiasis, moderate

12. Left thyroid gland: focal cyst

13. Abdominal body wall: foreign body (metallic wire)

14. Good to fair body condition

Histopathology

Histopathology Report

Histologic dx:

1. Bone, right orbit (zygomatic process of frontal bone): subacute to chronic comminuted fracture with hemorrhage, necrosis, and fibrosis

2. Skin, whole body: 1) mild to moderate epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis with mild multifocal lymphocytic mural folliculitis and perifollicular

dermatitis, follicular atrophy and loss, and myriad intrafollicular mites (demodicosis, Demodex sp.) and dermatophyte hyphae and spores (dermatophytosis);

2) minimal multifocal granulomatous dermatitis with intralesional fungal elements (pseudomycetoma)

3. Skin and subcutis, right mandible: focally extensive, chronic, ulceration and draining tract with granulation tissue, pyogranulomatous dermatitis and

panniculitis, furunculosis, and intralesional hair shafts

4. Skin, dorsal neck: polyp with multiple cystic follicles

5. Stomach, pylorus: moderate, subacute, regional, neutrophilic and lymphohistiocytic gastritis with glandular microabscesses and intraglandular spiral

bacteria (consistent with Helicobacter sp.)

6. Liver, herniated region: chronic passive congestion with centrilobular atrophy, perivenous and portal fibrosis, focally extensive lipidosis, and capsular

mesothelial hypertrophy

7. Liver: acute diffuse centrilobular congestion, lipogranulomas, and mild Ito cell hyperplasia

8. Pulmonary vein, lung: subacute luminal thrombus

9. Heart, left atrioventricular valve: mild myxomatous degeneration (endocardiosis)

10. Arteries and arterioles, heart and kidney: mild multifocal arteriosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis with medial hypertrophy, subintimal fibrosis and

amphophilic hyaline material deposition

11. Kidney: mild multifocal proliferative glomerulonephritis with glomerulosclerosis, periglomerular fibrosis, hypertrophy of Bowman's capsule epithelium,

and minimal multifocal lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis

12. Lung: mild multifocal alveolar histiocytosis

13. Peripheral blood, whole body: circulating neutrophilia

14. Bone marrow: mild myeloid hyperplasia

15. Tonsil and lymph node (left axillary): minimal multifocal granulomatous tonsillitis and lymphadenitis with intralesional fungal elements

16. Lymph node, mesenteric: minimal to mild multifocal pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis

17. Small intestine: luminal cestodes, numerous

ADDENDUM DATED 2023/01/19:

Ancillary test and results:

CAHFS Accession #D2217781 Toxicology results: FINAL

Dx:

Exposure to multiple anticoagulant rodenticides

Exposure to bromethalin

Anticoagulants Screen - Quantitated, Liver

Analyte Result (ppb) Rep. Limit (ppb)

Brodifacoum, 96, 50

Bromadiolone, 530, 50

Chlorophacinone, 87, 50

Coumachlor, Not Detected, 20

Difethialone, 220, 50

Diphacinone, 960, 50

Warfarin, Not Detected, 20

Difenacoum, Not Detected, 20

Bromethalin, Adipose Tissue

Analyte Result (ppb) Rep. Limit (ppb)

Desmethylbromethalin, Trace, 1.0

Final Summary

The many lesions identified in this wild mountain lion on postmortem examination are consistent with the extensive clinical work up, history of recent and

previous trauma, and reported deteriorating condition. Supporting the diagnosis of recent trauma (hit by car 6 days prior to euthanasia) was the histologic

appearance of the right orbital fracture and gross evidence of hemorrhage in the adjacent frontal sinus and right eye. The suspected intraocular hemorrhage

was not present in the examined histologic section of this eye, however, which appeared within normal limits. An inflamed tract/wound along the right

mandible could also have been related to this traumatic event, though it could also have been more chronic. The diaphragmatic tears, through which

omentum and a portion of liver were herniated into the thoracic cavity, appeared to be of much longer duration with smooth margins, mature fibrous

adhesions, and chronic changes in the affected liver lobe. These were presumably the result of previous trauma, the exact timing of which cannot be

determined from the gross or histologic appearance. Although there was evidence of a degree of chronic vascular compromise to the herniated lobe, the

remaining majority of the liver was unaffected and relatively normal histologically.

A presumed major contributor to the deteriorating condition was skin disease. Heavy colonization of hair follicles with dermatophytes and Demodex sp.

mites was seen in all examined sections of skin (face, neck, hip, foot). These combined infections account for the poor condition of the hair coat and

probably some of the systemic inflammatory response evident in the bloodwork and histologically as myeloid hyperplasia and circulating neutrophilia. The

intrafollicular location of the Demodex mites is more consistent with D. cati or the third feline Demodex sp. as opposed to D. gatoi, which colonizes the

stratum corneum. Generalized D. cati infections suggest underlying immunosuppression or other disease. A Microsporum canis species was identified from

antemortem hair samples and is consistent with the fungal/dermatophyte lesions seen, which included both extensive hair colonization and rare microscopic

pseudomycetomas in skin, tonsil, and axillary lymph node. The latter finding is interesting evidence of lymphatic spread of the M. canis infection beyond the

skin, although the lesions were few and small.

Consistent with the advancing age of this animal, there were a variety of relatively mild, non-specific, age-related changes, including valvular endocardiosis,

arteriosclerosis, and renal disease. The renal changes seen primarily involved glomeruli and could be related to chronic inflammation (such as from the skin

disease) or cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension. Glomerular injury accounts for the reported proteinuria. Findings of undetermined cause and

significance included regional gastritis and a small pulmonary venous thrombus. The gastric inflammation involved the pylorus (or possibly the cardia) and

was neutrophilic and damaging to the glands, some of which contained Helicobacter-type spiral bacteria. No other parasites were seen in the stomach. A

specific cause was therefore not identified, but recent stress and Helicobacter could have been involved. In the small intestine, moderate numbers of

cestodes were probably incidental.

Toxicologic analysis of a liver sample for rodenticides (performed by CAHFS) found 5 anticoagulant rodenticides at varying concentrations as well as a trace

amount of bromethalin. Despite exposure to multiple compounds, two at relatively high levels (diphacinone and bromadiolone), there was no evidence of

abnormal hemorrhage that would suggest a coagulopathy due to toxicosis. Bromethalin does not typically result in histologic lesions, but no clinical

(neurologic) signs of bromethalin toxicosis were reported antemortem.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Monday, February 6, 2017

Evanger's recalls Hunk of Beef because of Pentobarbital in a batch of food - Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

Evanger's hunk of beef, cat, dog, food cva fda voluntary recall pentobarbital euthanasia drug

Evanger’s Voluntarily Recalls Hunk of Beef Because Of Pentobarbital Exposure in one Batch of Food

Animal Advocates' note: Pentobarbital is used to euthanize cats, dogs, pet animals. Cows are killed by captive bolt gun. No one would ever use pentobarbital to kill a cow as it has a long half life. It can cause major health problems for anyone or any animal who eats the cow. I don't believe someone killed a cow with pentobarbital. I personally believe that the supplier either fed his cows cats, dogs from a rendering plant or the supplier added some rendered cats, dogs from a rendering plant to the ground meat they sold to Evanger's. Euthanized cats, dogs are boiled at high temperatures so separate the fat from the protein. The fat an protein are sold as fishmeal.

Evanger's buys their beef from a supplier. I don't think Evanger's would knowingly buy meat which had pentobarbital in it. It's possible that the rendered animals made their way into the cows through the feed supplier. It is illegal to feed rendered animals to animals in the US. It's illegal to use it in pet or human food. It can only be sold to a non-US company. Generally it's sold to Asian shrimp farmers. Then the US buys the shrimp. I hope the beef supplier does not buy feed from China. That could be how it got in there.

Below is the release.

"For Immediate Release February 3, 2017 Evangers Dog & Cat Food Co
1-847-537-0102

Out of an abundance of caution, Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food of Wheeling, IL is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Hunk of Beef product because of a potential contaminant Pentobarbital, which was detected in one lot of Hunk of Beef Au Jus. Pentobarbital can affect animals that ingest it, and possibly cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, or nausea, or in extreme cases, possibly death.

The specifically-identified lot numbers (as detailed below) of cans of 12-oz Hunk of Beef being voluntarily recalled were distributed to retail locations and sold online in the following States: Washington, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and were manufactured the week of June 6 – June 13, 2016.

Although pentobarbital was detected in a single lot, Evangers is voluntarily recalling Hunk of Beef products that were manufactured the same week, with lot numbers that start with 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, and 1816E13HB, and have an expiration date of June 2020. The second half of the barcode reads 20109, which can be found on the back of the product label.

The subject recall affects 5 lots of food that were produced from its supplier’s lot of beef, which is specifically used for the Hunk of Beef product and no other products. To date, it has been reported that five dogs became ill and 1 of the five dogs passed away after consuming the product with lot number 1816E06HB13. Evanger’s is proactively issuing a recall voluntarily so as not to risk potential exposure to pentobarbital in the product.

All Evanger’s suppliers of meat products are USDA approved. This beef supplier provides us with beef chunks from cows that are slaughtered in a USDA facility. We continue to investigate how this substance entered our raw material supply.

Because we source from suppliers of meat products that are USDA approved, and no other products have had any reported problems, we are not extending the recall to other supplier lots. This is the first recall for Evanger’s in its 82 years of manufacturing. Although it has been verified that little or no product remains on store shelves, if consumers still have cans with the aforementioned lot numbers, he or she should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-847-537-0102 between 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Central Time, Monday - Friday."

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http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm539900.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Nathan Winograd the misinformation machine. No Kill Advocacy, book Redemption

Nathan Winograd, No Kill Advocacy, book Redemption, All American Vegan, PETA, HSUS, ASPCA, Best Friends, SFSPCA, Tompkins SPCA

Here are some lies Nathan Winograd likes to tell about PETA. Notice, 99% of everything Nathan says is "HSUS, PETA, ASPCA are evil!!!. They enjoy killing animals. They want to kill all animals. They kill animals they get their hands on." This is of course false. He spends 99% of the time ONLY attacking other groups instead of trying to end pet euthanasia. Nathan Winograd does this so people will give him money, buy his books, pay for his seminars, watch his movie... Nathan Winograd attacks these groups for money. He's also very jealous that they are large, successful groups who are positively lobbying for animals while he can't make a living.

Below are just a few of the many lies he says about PETA. PETA's responses are also shared by HSUS, ASPCA, Best Friends and other main stream group. Nathan Winograd attacks, harasses, stalks, defames everyone in his blog here while claiming he has freedom of speech http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?page_id=166 . What's ironic is he threatens to sue anyone who merely disagrees with him. He has freedom of speech but they don't. If they are public figures, then so is Nathan. He still cannot intentionally make up lies about them yet he does.

1. PETA wants to kill all pitbulls. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/blog/peta-position-pit-bulls/

2. PETA kills all cats, dogs, pets. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/blog/euthanasia-wont-run-needs-done/

3. PETA wants all cats killed. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/overpopulation/feral-cats/great-outdoors-cats/

4. PETA is against saving shelter animals and want them all killed. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/features/deadly-consequences-no-kill-policies/

http://www.peta.org/blog/kill-excuse-hoarding-solution-birth/

5. Why Nathan Winograd attacks PETA.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/nathan-winograds-redemption-kill-clue/

6. Nathan Winograd says there is no pet overpopulation. Wrong.

Here is PeTA's response.
http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/overpopulation/

I have known Nathan Winograd since 2005. I have known him to be a nasty, pathological liar, plagiarist and someone who is willing to work with ADL and ALF to terrorize government officials. He bragged to me in email that he will get "his" activists, i.e. ADL, ALF, to force the then Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa to hire him for a month for $20K/shelter. We had six shelters and an annex at that time. Yes, he wanted $140,000 for a month of work.

Nathan Winograd admitted he was offered the GM position at Los Angeles for $155K/yr but he said no. He only wanted to consult. Why? If he could make any shelter nokill over night like he says, why wouldn't he want to make LA nokill and show the world what he can do? Because he has not and cannot make any shelter nokill. He likes to just criticize a shelter then when they are still euthanizing animals he attacks and blames them for their failure. If I could show, tell LA how to be nokill, I would do it for free. Who would not want to save all the animals? Nathan Winograd knows he cannot make a shelter nokill. That's why he lies about his "accomplishments" all the time.

I've written and reposted a few blogs about Nathan Winograd in this blog. Some articles I wrote years ago and just reposted here. Go to top left and search his last name. I posted his entire history with dates so you can see that he does not tell the truth. He says he was the "Director" of SFSPCA. He was the director for nine days, quit, breached his contract and was fired. Nathan Winograd does not work well with others. That's why he works for himself and basically has been living off his wife's parents. He admitted to me again in email that he mortgaged his home in 2005 or so then was forced to sell it because he couldn't make any money consulting. All he does is write and talk. That's it.

I will end this post with a link to a 100% honest article written about a seminar he gave at the LA Bar Association. I was at this meeting along with some lawyers, city employees, rescuers I know. This did indeed happen. Nathan Winograd said all of these false and outrageous things. He says the exact same things in his book word for word, i.e. cats are more likely to get rabies from us than we are from them, should we get rid of all windows to save birds, should we protect worms from birds, wildlife groups Audubon, ABC...are just like Hitler and the Nazi's, all researchers in the entire world are liars, outdoor cats are good for the environment and wildlife... Nathan Winograd lost this lawsuit.

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/04/14/18644737.php

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Monday, February 14, 2011

Brenda Barnette first six months by the numbers, Los Angeles Animal Services

Some have been singing Brenda Barnette's praises since she arrived. Some are saying things are much better. I thought I'd take a look at the numbers to see what's really happening at Los Angeles Animal Services.

Animals given to New Hope partners has increased. Things seem to have gotten worse in all the other categories. Most seems to be due to the increase in animals being dumped at the shelter. Most of this is due to kittens. I'm only looking at cats and dogs combined. I'm comparing Barnette's first six months (August through the end of January) to the same six months the previous year.

Adoptions are down by 986 animals (-8%), 11,799 verses 12,785.

Animals given to New Hope partners (non-profit animal rescue groups that work with the City) is up a whopping 1,162 (+40%), 4,080 verses 2,918. This is a great improvement, kudos. Unfortunately it's the only improvement based on the numbers.

Animals returned to owners is up 129 (+5%), 2,842 verses 2,743. This is due to the increase in intake. As a percentage of intake 10.54% of animals were returned to their owners in the last six months compared to 10.88% compared to last six months from previous year. The difference is actually negligible.

Animals released has increased by 166 (+35%), 633 verses 467. I've never really understood this category but I still count it as an animal released alive.

Animals that died on their own is down 23 (-6%), 368 verses 375. As a percentage of intake it's the same at 1.3% verses 1.4% year previous.

Animals that were dead on arrival (DOA) at intake increased by 62 (+8%), 827 verses 765. As a percentage of intake it's the same at 3% verses 3%.

Animals that escaped is up by 26 (+92%), 54 verses 28. The numbers involved are negligible but still something to look at.

Animals that were euthanized is up 1,189 (+13%), 10,204 verses 9,015. As a percentage of intake it's 37% verses 36% year previous. Not that much of a difference especially when you consider the increase in intake and fewer adoptions to the public.

Animals leaving the shelter alive is up 476 (+2.5%), 19,408 verses 18,941. As a percentage of intake it is actually down, 72% verses 75%. Barnette's goal is to have 85% of the animals leaving alive within the next five years. If our economy improves and we can do something about all the kittens, I see that happening.

Animals leaving the shelter dead is up 1,244 or (+12%), 11,399 verses 10,155. As a percentage of intake it's 42% verses 40% previous year. As a percentage fewer animals leaving alive, more leaving dead. (Animals leaving dead as % + animals leaving alive as % do not = 100% animals taken in during that time period. It seems more animals left the shelter dead and alive than were taken in. This could be because of the timing of baby season. This also means they are keeping higher numbers in the shelter.)

Animals that were brought into the shelters is up by 1,758 (+7%), 26,956 verses 25,198. This is the real problem. In the past five years animal intake is up 9,545 (+20%), 55,780 verses 46,235 (annual intake last 12 months). Intake had been going down for years until the recession hit. It's been going up ever since. Adoptions were increasing until 2009 when we seem to have hit a wall.

Now to look at an always troubling category, kittens. Neonate kitten intake is up 662 (+22%) over the six months year prior. Kitten intake accounted for 38% of the increase in total cat/dog intake. Neonate kitten euth is caused by people not spaying and neutering their own cats or unowned feral cats. People lie when they dump the kittens saying they are strays so they don't have to pay a fee. You can't really tell where they are coming from.

Kitten euth is up 910 (+47%) over the six months year prior. Almost all (+76%) of the increase in total cat/dog euthanasia is attributed to kitten euth, 910 kittens euth'd verses 1,189 total cats/dogs euth'd.

One problem with neonate kittens is that they legally cannot be adopted out until they are eight weeks old. If they are under eight weeks old, they must be adopted out with a mom cat and all the other siblings or through the foster bottle baby program. Because there are so many kittens eight weeks and older, people would rather not adopt an entire family (very expensive) or bottle feed a baby (time consuming). If you can't feed the neonate kitten or adopt it out, you are forced to euth it which is better than letting it starve to death.

I volunteered at the shelter for many years. We'd call five week old kittens eight weeks if they could eat wet food. We'd put solo nursing babies in with a mom cat with other babies. I'm sure the shelter is doing this already.

I believe some of the increase in adult cat/dog intake and euth is caused by our horrible economy i.e., job losses, foreclosures, people being forced to move from homes into smaller rentals that don't allow pets, people doubling up in homes and people who can't afford to spay or neuter their pets. Obviously Barnette did not cause our horrible economy. Still, it's a challenge she must face.

I think she's done a great job increasing New Hope adoptions. I don't know if she recruited more New Hope partners or just found a way to get them to take more animals. Whatever the cause, whoever deserves credit, kudos. Kudos to the actual New Hope partners as well. That's the only real improvement by the numbers. Without that improvement, things would be much worse.

Adoptions to the public are down but I'd venture to say it's because of the economy. One way to increase adoptions is to find a new source of adopters. Go after people who generally buy cats and dogs from pet stores or breeders.

The biggest problem in the shelter right now is kittens. The only way to deal with it is more spay and neuter targeted toward cats, owned and unowned. It should be cheap or free and targeted to lower income areas. Maybe a little enforcement of the mandatory spay and neuter law would help. All of these suggestions are easier said than done.

For the record I am not saying that Barnette caused the problems in the shelter today. These are just challenges she will have to conquer.

A closing note, if you see a pregnant cat or dog, get it spayed. If your friend has a pregnant cat or dog, tell them to get it spayed. Otherwise those babies will most likely end up in the shelter, dead. You can spay, neuter cats and puppies at eight weeks of age. It's easier on them and cheaper for you. They do not need to go into heat or have a litter before being spayed or neutered. Don't forget about bunnies!

Here are some fantastic charts by Sheltertrak.
http://www.sheltertrak.com/stat_laas002.php

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate

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