Images courtesy of Long Beach Animal Care Services.

The Animal Care Services Bureau (ACS) saved a record number of animals in 2015, with 2016 shaping up to be even better, according to a mid-year report released by the City of Long Beach Tuesday.

“This is the best year ever for Long Beach Animal Care Services, and I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done to find loving homes for our stray animals,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement. “There is still a lot more work to do, and I’m committed to ensuring these positive trends continue.”

The statistics below, provided by the city, show the best numbers reported for the first six months of any year, and show increasing progress being made at the animal shelter in 2016, compared to the first six months of last year:

• A 15 percent reduction in the number of cats and dogs impounded at the shelter, from 3,783 to 3,219.
• A 37 percent reduction in the number of cats and dogs euthanized, from 1,156 to 725.
• Live Release Rates (the percentage of animals that come to the shelter and leave with a positive outcome, such as return to owner, adoption or transfer to a rescue group) of 89 percent for dogs and 63 percent for cats, compared to 85 percent and 54 percent, respectively.

Statistics are for January through June for all years.

“We continue to look for new partnerships, programs and innovative ways to help save lives, such as our smartphone app to help increase adoptions and the recently launched Twitter feed #LBLostFoundPets to help reunite lost pets with their owners,” stated Ted Stevens, manager of Animal Care Services (ACS).

Visit Animal Care Services at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village to adopt, volunteer, donate, license your pet or obtain resources regarding low cost vaccination and spay/neuter clinics throughout Long Beach. The village is open Wednesday through Friday, 10:00AM to 5:30PM and Saturday and Sunday 10:00AM to 4:00PM, and is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays.

LBACS is located at 7700 East Spring Street in Long Beach.

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