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Diana Chua Kim Hoon, 5th yr student, School of Veterinary Science, UQ
Professor Jacquie Rand, Director, Centre of Companion Animal Health, UQ
Dr. Miranda Mortlock, School of Agriculture & Food Sciences/ UQ
The Unwanted Dog and Cat Problem
in Australia
An estimation of pound and shelter admissions and outcomes
Aim of research study
To determine on a state and
national basis,
dog and cat intake
Subsequent outcomes –
live release & euthanasia
Based on data obtained from state and
animal welfare agencies.
Most recent, publically available data
Annual reports, websites,
published government reports &
journal articles
Contact of individual councils or
state government agencies and
animal welfare agencies via email,
and by phone
Methods & Materials
Dogs
NSW
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Dept of
Local Govt
48,427
41.2 10.3 17.4 18.9 70.3 28.2
2010-
11
NSW Dept of
Premier &
Cabinet
RSPCA
11,989
7.5 41.0 44.4 5.1 53.6 40.6 2011-
12
RSPCA NAT
Stats
Animal
Welfare
League 1816 0.0 55.8 55.8 4.7 60.5 39.5
2010-
11
Companion
Animals
Taskforce
Discussion Paper
May 2012
Lost Dogs
Home
Wingecarribee
445 63.8 21.8 60.2 0.2 85.8 14.2 2011-
12
LDH Annual
Total
62,677
33.7 17.6 26.5 15.7 66.9 30.8
No. /1000
human
pop
8.53 2.87 1.50 1.34 2.63
VIC
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanased
%
Year data
collected
Dept of
Local Govt
39,672
58.9 15.0 36.4 0.7 74.6 14.0 2012-13
Websites
RSPCA
15,460
53.1 27.5 58.6 0.0 80.6 14.9
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Lost Dogs
Homes
(
Campaspe
, N
Melbourne &
Cranbourne)
14,944
59.7 17.8 44.3 0.6 78.1 21.9 2011-
12
LDH Annual
LORT
SMITH
ANIMAL
HOSPITAL
( AWL )
242 0.0 52.5 52.5 38.8 91.3 8.7
2013
LORTSMITH
Total
70,318
57.6 18.5 43.5 0.7 76.7 15.9
No. /1000
human pop
12.38 7.13 2.28 0.08 1.96
SA
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
SA Dog &
Cat
Manage
mt
Board
20,628
51.7 8.6 17.8 0.4 60.7 15.5
2011-
12
Dog & cat
managemt
Board
Annual
RSPCA
(4284)
(47.7)
(22.1)
(42.2)
(7.5) (77.3)
(21.00)
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Animal
Welfare
League
Declined
to
provide
data
Total
20,628
51.7 8.6 17.8 0.4 60.7 15.5
No. /1000
human
pop
12.41
6.42
1.07 0.05 1.93
ACT
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Domestic
Animal
Services
( DLG )
1453 94.0 94.0
2011
-
12
TAMS
Annual
RSPCA
1807 53.5 19.8 42.6 13.6 86.9 6.5
2011
-
12
RSPCA
AUS Nat
Stats
Total 3260 71.6 11.0 38.6 7.5 90.1 3.6
No.
/1000
human
pop
8.59 6.15 0.94 0.65 0.31
QLD
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanased
%
Year data
collected
Councils
14,764
59.6 12.9 31.8 12.8 85.2 6.8
2012-
13
Council
Stats
Animal
Welfare
League
QLD
5810 44.0 44.5 79.4 0.0 88.5 10.2
2009-
10
AWLQ
Stats
Lost Dogs
Home
( Wirra &
Willawong)
2510 64.7 11.3 32.1 1.7 77.7 22.3
2011-
12
LDH
Annual
RSPCA
18,028
28.5 33.2 46.4 4.4 66.1 29.1
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Total
41,112
44.1 26.2 46.8 6.6 76.8 18.0
No. /1000
human pop
8.92 3.93 2.33 0.59 1.60
NT
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Councils
1736 56.6 11.5 26.5 3.2 71.3 26.6
2012-
13
Council
stats
RSPCA
721 19.6 52.1 64.8 71.7 20.8
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Total 2457 45.7 23.4 43.2 2.3 71.4 24.9
No.
/1000
human
pop
10.37 4.74 2.43 0.24 2.58
WA
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Councils
4125 67.4 13.3 40.9 10.7 91.4 5.5
2012-
13
Council
Stats
RSPCA
1434 39.5 31.8 52.5 0.0 71.3 21.5
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Total 5559 60.2 18.1 45.5 7.9 86.2 9.6
No.
/1000
human
pop
2.25 1.35 0.41 0.18 0.22
TAS
DOGS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Councils
2844 65.1 24.1 69.1 89.2 10.9
2012-
13
Council
Stats
Dogs’
Home of
Tas
4066 48.1 33.9 65.4 82.0 11.5
2012-
13
Dogs of Tas
Annual
RSPCA
1840 36.2 37.0 58.0 3.0 76.3 17.8
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Total 8750 51.1 31.4 64.2 0.6 83.2 12.6
No.
/1000
human
pop
17.08 8.73 5.36 0.11 2.15
Cats
NSW
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Dept of
Local Govt
26,477
2.7 8.8 9.0 18.0 29.5 67.9
2010-
11
NSW Dept of
Premier &
Cabinet
RSPCA
16,409
1.5 28.0 28.4 4.5 33.9 58.1 2011-
12
RSPCA NAT
Stats
Animal
Welfare
League 2720 0.0 46.4 46.4 29.9 76.3 23.7
2010-
11
Companion
Animals
Taskforce
Discussion
Paper May 2012
Cat
Protection
Society 1063 1.2 92.7 93.8 0.0 93.9 3.5 2011-
12
Cat Protection
Society Annual
Lost Dogs
Home
Wingecarribee
274 3.6 58.8 61.0 2.2 64.6 35.4 2011-
12
LDH Annual
Total
46,943
2.1 19.9 20.3 13.5 35.4 60.3
No. /1000
human
pop
6.39 0.13 1.27 0.86 3.85
VIC
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
DPI VIC
29,132
7.2 19.0 20.5 0.3 26.5 57.2
2001-2
Benchmarkng:
Bureau of
Animal Welfare
RSPCA
11,782
7.6 41.6 45.0 3.1 52.3 42.0
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Lost Dogs
Home
(
Campaspe
, N
Melbourne &
Cranbourne)
11,902
6.3 17.3 18.5 1.9 25.6 75.1 2011-
12
LDH Annual
Cat
Protection
Society
15,206
0.8 18.8 19.0 0.0 19.6 73.7
2005-
6
Marston LC,
Bennett PC (
Journal Article )
LORT
SMITH
Animal
Hospital
495 0.0 79.8 79.8 9.3 89.1 10.9 2013
LORTSMITH
Total
68,517
5.6 23.0 24.4 1.1 29.7 61.1
No. /1000
human pop
12.06 0.68 2.77 0.13 7.37
SA
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
SA Dog &
Cat
Manage
mt
Board
2011-
12
Dog & cat
managemt
Board
Annual
RSPCA
3942 3.2 36.6 37.8 2.7 42.4 53.9
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Animal
Welfare
League
Total 3,942
3.2 36.6 37.8 2.7 42.4 53.9
No. /1000
human
pop
2.37 0.08 0.87 0.06 1.28
ACT
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Domestic
Animal
Services
( DLG )
0
2011-
12
TAMS
Annual
RSPCA
2400 9.4 51.8 57.2 0.0 61.2 34.3
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Total 2400 9.4 51.8 57.2 0.0 61.2 34.3
No.
/1000
human
pop
6.32 0.60 3.27 0 2.17
QLD
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Councils
6865 13.3 7.1 8.2 28.9 49.3 45.8
2012-
13
Council
Stats
Lost Dogs
Home
( Wirra &
Willawong )
1626 3.5 12.2 12.7 3.9 19.6 80.4
2011-
12
LDH
Annual
RSPCA
13,600
4.3 45.5 47.5 1.3 51.1 41.8
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Animal
Welfare
League Qn
3788 5.4 64.7 68.4 0.0 70.1 23.4
2009-
10
AWLQ
Stats
Total
25,879
6.8 36.0 38.7 8.6 51.4 42.6
No. /1000
human pop
5.61 0.38 2.02 0.48 2.39
NT
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Councils
342 3.5 17.5 18.2 0.0 21.1 78.9
2012-13
Council
Stats
RSPCA
627 2.6 46.1 47.3 0.0 48.6 30.0
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Total 969 2.9 36.0 37.1 0.0 38.9 47.3
No.
/1000
human
pop
4.09 0.12 1.47 0 1.93
WA
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Councils
156 14.1 1.3 1.5 64.7 80.1 15.4
2012-
13
Council
Stats
RSPCA
738 1.2 60.4 61.2 0.0 61.7 32.0
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Cat
Haven
8488 1.4 44.9 45.5 5.9 52.2 41.8
2012
Cat Haven
Total 9382 1.6 45.4 46.1 6.4 53.4 40.6
No.
/1000
human
pop
3.79 0.06 1.72 0.24 1.54
TAS
CATS
Intake
Reclaimed
%
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live
Release %
Euthanised
%
Year data
collected
Councils
2012
-
13
council stats
Hobart
Cat
Centre
2620
3.6
31.2
32.4
0.0
34.8 63.5
2011-
12
Hobart Cat
Centre
RSPCA
2839 2.4 49.0 50.2 1.5 52.9 39.2
2011-
12
RSPCA AUS
Nat Stats
Total 5459 3.0 40.4 41.7 0.8 44.2 50.9
No.
/1000
human
pop
10.65 0.32 4.31 0.09 5.42
Limitations of the study
Data - not available from many councils
(underestimated intake)
Transferred animals – number transferred to
major agencies not estimated (double counted –
overestimated intake) or to rescue and other small
agencies, including breed-specific rescue groups
(not included in data)
Small agencies with intakes of <1000 dogs – not
included unless had larger branches in other states
(underestimated intake)
Limitations of the study
Small percentage of animals not
accounted for in data provided
deceased, fostered or in system at the
start or end of time period
Trapping of feral cats may not be included
in impoundment data (Brisbane City
Council did not include 261 feral cats)
Documented National Statistics
Generated from known data
Dogs
Cats
Intake
Reclaimed %
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live Release
%
Euthanised
%
210,990
47.8 19.1 36.6 6.7 77.1 20.9
Intake
Reclaimed %
Rehomed %
% rehomed
after
reclaimed
Transfer %
Live Release
%
Euthanised
%
163,491
4.5 26.9 28.1 6.1 44.6 55.8
So this means…
Lack of readily accessible data from
agencies
No centralised data ( exception of NSW )
Limited transparency and approachability
Right to Information Act
Outcomes: Dogs versus cats
Marked difference in documented outcomes
between dogs and cats
More than half of cat intake ( 56% ) euthanased
compared to dogs ( 21% )
Generally outcomes better than
previously quoted
Intake & number euthanased
over time
- no improvement for cats
compared to dogs (NSW)
Opportunities for improvement
Variation in agency performance
Individual councils and welfare agencies
performing above the national average while
others underperforming in some areas
opportunity to share successful strategies
And…,
Need for transparency of council pounds
and animal welfare agencies’ performance
Need for a centralised database for
analysis and assessment of pound and
shelter performance on a state and
national level
Need to identify agencies with effective
management strategies to be
acknowledged and be publicly evident so
others can learn improve outcome
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to:
Michelle Rice ( Coordinator/ Centre of
Companion Animal Health/UQ )
Dr. Aline Bomfim Vieira (Centre of
Companion Animal Health/UQ )
All councils and animal welfare agencies
which have responded so promptly