HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – January 17, 2020– Hollister Police Animal Care and Services is releasing its shelter statistics from 2019, which show a large improvement throughout the recent years.
The Hollister Animal Shelter is the only all intake animal shelter for the city of Hollister and unincorporated San Benito County, responsible for taking in stray animals, dangerous animal investigations, owner surrenders, owner requested euthanasia, deceased animals, and cruelty and neglect investigations.
According to Hollister Police Animal Care and Services, 1,696 live animals passed through the Hollister Animal Shelter in 2019. These animals included dogs, cats, rabbits, large and small livestock, poultry, wildlife, and even reptiles from the city of Hollister and San Benito County.
According to Hollister Animal Shelter data, 729 animals were adopted or sent to rescue and another 391 animals were reunited with their owners in 2019. Aside from sheltering services, Animal Control Officers from Hollister Police Animal Care and Services responded to 1,018 field calls in the city and county last year.
Every year, Hollister Police Animal Care and Services calculates its live release rate by dividing the amount of live outcomes by all outcomes, with the exception of owner requested euthanasia and animals brought to the shelter as deceased.
In 2019 the Hollister Animal Shelter reported a live release rate of 70%. The live release rate has steadily increased in recent years from 46% in 2016.
Hollister Police Animal Care and Services believes the increase in save rates may be a result of better spay and neuter procedures, increased pet adoption fairs, education through social media, expanding relationships with rescue organizations, additional volunteers, and responsible pet ownership. An additional factor is staff often keeping animals longer than the required time limits. This extra time allows staff to work with the animal to make it more adoptable or to move on to a rescue group to continue developing.
“In the years to come, we look forward to continuing to improve our animal sheltering services as we grow with our community”, said Animal Care and Services Supervisor Kara Ells.
Additional statistics from the Hollister Animal Shelter can be found on the city of Hollister website. Anyone interested in volunteering with Hollister Police Animal Care and Services is asked to contact the shelter at 831-636-4320.
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Approved by: Carlos Reynoso, Acting Chief of Police
