Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) significantly increased live release rates, and also reached all-time lows for the number of intakes and euthanized animals in 2014, city officials announced today.

In 2014 compared to 2013, the number of cats and dogs euthanized decreased more than 21%, or 1,100 fewer animals euthanized.

The live release rate, including the number of animals adopted from shelters, returned to an owner or transfered to another non-profit agency, also increased this year. The live release rate for dogs climbed to more than 75% this year, compared to 72% in 2013. As well, the live release rate for cats increased to more than 46% in 2014 from only 26% in 2013.

Existing relationships with groups like spcaLA, Friends of Long Beach Animals and Fix Long Beach were also strengthened this year, ACS said, adding that it also began partnerships with Found Animals, Stray Cat Alliance, Bark Avenue Foundation, Wings of Rescue, Shelter Me, ASPCA, Jason Heigl Foundation, Zazzy Cats, Helen Sanders Cat Paws and West Coast Animal Rescue, which all helped increase live release rates.

“Long Beach Animal Care Services made terrific progress this year, thanks to increased community engagement, proactive enforcement, and the commitment of staff and volunteers” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement. “All their hard work is making Long Beach an even better city for animals.”

In 2015, the ACS hopes to hire a full-time adoption coordinator.

ACS invites the public to learn more about these accomplishments and future plans by attending the annual ACS open house on Jan. 24 at 10:00AM at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, located at 7700 East Spring Street.