665 Animals Lost Their Lives at Milwaukee Animal Control in August

Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control (MADACC) has killed 3,498 animals so far this year. (This does not include those that died in their kennel, were dead on arrival, or were owner-requested euthanasia).

Five birds, 2,205 cats, 1,239 dogs, and 49 other animals died at MADACC.  The charts below show comparisons from last year to this year and also the breakdown of the August statistics. As you can see, in August alone, MADACC killed 665 animals.

MADACC's August statistics showed some improvement over last August but other cities in America are saving over 90% of the animals in their care. Click here to read more.

Thank you to the staff at MADACC for beginning to post their statistics in a timely fashion. The key to solving a problem is to know that there is a problem. Transparency in government organizations is key, so that citizens can evaluate how their tax dollars are being spent. If you live in one of the 19 municipalities of Milwaukee County that MADACC serves, you are paying for this problem.

July and August are typically the highest intake months for shelter animals  for a few reasons. First, it is the height of kitten and puppy season. Second, the weather is warmer and pets are outside more. Third, thunderstorms and fireworks displays cause many pets to bolt in panic. The week after July 4th is the busiest week of the year nationwide for animal shelters. Approximately 50-70% of all animals in America's shelters are lost pets. 

Yet, very few people in Milwaukee know that MADACC exists. They don't know where or how to go about looking for their lost pet. 

Many people believe that it costs more money to save more lives when in fact, it usually costs less. Taxpayers are already shouldering the burden of handling, housing, euthanizing, and disposing of animals. This is very costly. Other cities are realizing increased cost savings by returning more lost pets to their owners, preventing surrenders, transferring animals to rescue partners and adopting out others. Trap, neutering and returning feral cats reduces their population in a more humane and cost effective manner than the traditional "catch and kill' method that is used now.

Here is an excellent booklet called "Dollars and Sense" to download and share if you are interested in learning how to save tax dollars with more effective and humane animal control. http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/econbenefits.pdf