Page 260 - NRH FY20 Approved Budget

DEPARTMENT / DIVISION FUND
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES - ANIMAL SERVICES GENERAL
PROGRAM NAME
ANIMAL ADOPTION AND RESCUE
DESCRIPTION / MISSION
Animal Services is responsible for responding to animal related calls for service to include companion pets, small wildlife, and
certain situations involving livestock and exotics; actively investigating all cruelty allegations toward animals; enforcing all City and
State laws pertaining to animals; handling nuisance calls concerning stray animals; excessive barking; nuisance by odor;
responding to animal bite complaints; supervising quarantine procedures as set forth in State law; providing adoption services
both at the Animal Adoption and Rescue Center and through off-site adoption events; providing education and public relations
programs to the community; and promoting responsible pet ownership through low cost spay/neuter, vaccination and
microchipping programs.
GOALS
• To ensure animals are treated humanely but are not a nuisance or a safety risk to the public. (Safety and Security)
• To provide a safe, healthy and humane shelter for stray animals. (Efficient and Effective Delivery of City Services)
• To reduce the number of animals euthanized solely for a treatable illness, injury or lack of space by returning pets to owners and
increasing adoptions. (Efficient and Effective Delivery of City Services)
• To educate citizens to services provided by the North Richland Hills Animal Adoption & Rescue Center. (Positive City Image)
• To promote good will in the community, encourage responsible pet ownership and encourage financial support for the NRH
AARC. (Positive City Image)

OBJECTIVES
• Continue to respond to emergency calls (Priority 1 – Human in Danger, Priority 2 – Animal in danger) within 60 minutes of call
dispatched.
• Continue to strive to reduce the number of animals entering the shelter per year by promoting city registration and microchips,
educate the public on responsible pet ownership, and ensure neighborhoods are safe through enforcement measures.
• Continue our efforts to reduce euthanasia of adoptable dogs and cats, by maintaining a live release rate of between 85%-90%.
• Increase public awareness of responsible pet ownership & shelter events.
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
PERFORMANCE MEASURES ACTUAL REVISED ESTIMATED
Goal: Safety and Security
# Of responses to calls for services 3,250 2,705 3,000
# Of emergency calls (respond with in 60 min.) 112 148 125
Average response time to priority calls (in minutes) 12 12 12
Goal: Efficient and Effective Delivery of City Services
# Of deceased animal calls 530 325 420
# Of wildlife calls 508 668 575
# Of barking calls 212 168 185
# Of total animals handled 1 2,306 1,915 2,000
# Of live adoptable dogs & cats handled 1,753 1,495 1,600
# Of online requests through CivicPlus 196 123 160
# Of pet registrations 2,192 2,163 2,400
% Dogs & cats adopted 48.00% 78.00% 60.00%
% Dogs & cats returned to owner 21.00% 22.00% 24.00%
% Adoptable dogs and cats not euthanized (Live Release Rate) 89.00% 88.00% 85.00%
% Of people polled that frequently/sometimes saw dead animals in
the roadway 3 N/A N/A N/A
% Of people polled that frequently/sometimes saw stray animals in
the city 3 N/A N/A N/A

1. Includes all live and dead animals, livestock, pocket pets, reptiles, etc.
2. The Citizen Survey is not performed annually. 2013/14 avail..

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