Intake and outcome data between 2013-2023 from the PAWsome Animal Shelter was analyzed. The goal was to look for trends in animal intakes/outcomes over time, targeting the following questions.

• How many total animals were taken in over the ten-year period?
• Have the number of intakes changed over time?
• Are there certain months during the year that intakes increase?
• What kinds of animals and breeds are the most common at the shelter?
• What is the average age of an intake?
• How long do animals usually stay at the shelter?
• How many animals really get adopted?
• What are the factors that make an animal more likely to get adopted?

Total animal intakes exceeded 136K over 10 years, with stray animals accounting for over 65%

2019 has the highest number of intakes over the 10-year period. HOWEVER, intakes declined by nearly 50% during 2020. Could this be because animals weren't being surrendered as much or was it due to financial limitations of the shelter itself to take in animals?

May has the highest number of overall intakes, followed by June.

Dogs had the highest percent intakes across all domestic intake types. Pit bulls were the most common.

The average age of a dog at intake is 2.6 years old, which on average is higher than any other animal. Shy-boy was 24-year-old stray when he was taken in.

The oldest animal, however, was a Macaw at 30 years old and was surrendered by their owner

Dogs also, unfortunately, remain on average at the shelter the longest, with an average of 3 years. The longest a dog has been at the shelter is over 9 years, which was Millie, a Jack Russell Terrier.

Cats are close behind at an average of 2 years at the shelter, with Marguerite, Domestic Short Hair stray that remained at the shelter for over 9 years.

Overall, nearly 50% of the animal intakes are adopted, 25% are transferred to another location, and 20% are returned to their owners.

More good news is that the majority of stray animals and animals that are surrendered are adopted.

Recommendations & Next steps:

• Include data for sick animals, to determine how often animals with health conditions get adopted.
• Include data for costs of animal care and intake expenses to track which animal types cost the most.
• Invest in multiple animal adoption promotions per year if not already scheduled, to help increase the visibility of the number of animals that are cared for in shelters, with the end goal of increasing adoptions.
• Collect data on the number of people that visit animal shelters to adopt and why they choose to adopt or look elsewhere.