Orange County Animal Services Closes Out Year 2019 with Increased Adoptions

Orange County, Fla. –  Reflecting on fiscal year 2019, Orange County Animal Services reaches record-breaking numbers in adoptions, live release rates, and rescue transfers. More than 95,000 guests visited the shelter located near the Mall at Millenia and approximately 400 volunteers logged in more than 24,000 hours, which helped facilitate 8,858 adoptions. Eighty-two percent of animals brought into the shelter were either adopted, transferred to rescue partners or returned to their owners. This 82% live release rate increased from the 78% achieved in fiscal year 2018. Animal Services is the county’s only open admission shelter, meaning no animal in need is turned away, regardless of their individual health or temperament challenges. As a result, the shelter receives approximately 17,000 pets annually.

“Each and every adoption is a life saved and we are truly thankful to witness this number grow year after year,” said Diane Summers, manager of Orange County Animal Services, who stepped into the role in August 2019 after previously managing the communications team, which oversees many of the live release programs. “When I think back to where we were at during the start of this decade, compared to now, I’m in awe of how our community support has grown and how so many have stepped up to help the shelter pets in a variety of ways – including adopting, sponsoring heartworm disease treatment for available dogs, volunteering and fostering pets in need.”

Orange County Animal Services is kicking off the new year with new executive team members and is looking forward to what the year 2020 brings to the division. Diane Summers now serves as the new manager and Peggy Meeks was recently promoted to the new assistant manager. These two individuals bring more than 30 years of experience in the animal welfare field to the table and will continue to work alongside the management team to have a successful fiscal year 2020.

“As much as I appreciate taking a moment to celebrate these successes, I want to ask our community to continue to focus on the pet overpopulation problem present in our area,” added Summers. “We still have nearly 50 animals coming into our shelter each day. Education, responsible pet ownership and awareness of this issue is key to help bringing resolve and reducing the exorbitant number of homeless animals in need year after year.”

Adoptions Outcomes

Rescue Transfers

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