Animal adoptions are up 5 percent during the past year in Sumter County, two years after the county’s Animal Management Department and the SPCA/Humane Society of Sumter County teamed up to boost the number of adoptions and reduce the number of animals euthanized.
Sumter County commissioners received a report at their meeting Tuesday night about the higher adoption rate and other system improvements.
A memo from Assistant County Administrator Richard Baier attributed the higher adoption rate to the addition of two open hours on Saturday.
“These additional hours are scheduled for customers whose work schedule prohibits weekday visits for the adoption of pets,” Baier wrote.
More than 1,200 animals were adopted during the first 18 months of the partnership.
Baier said the Humane Society also has refurbished its cat area to provide space for viewing more adoptable cats. Cats now are kept 10 days for adoption.
All animals are vaccinated and de-wormed. Dogs are tested for heartworm and parvovirus.
The county added two animal control officers in this year’s budget to help deal with strays during non-business hours.
Bill Gottschalk, former Humane Society president who helped establish the partnership with the county, is retiring this month from his society post.
The county’s animal shelter also received a clean bill of health after a recent inspection by the state Department of Health Investigative Services.
The inspection determined that the county maintains separate purchase records for controlled substances and is properly handling medications and chemicals used to euthanize animals.
