Pet adoptions up 19% but length of stay in shelter also increases
The Humane Society of Harford County (HSHC) today released its 2024 annual impact report, and while the news is good for cats and other animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and farm animals, Harford County’s only municipal animal shelter saw a decline in dog adoptions and an increased length of stay for its canine residents.
“Overall, adoptions increased by 19% with 144 more cats adopted last year over the previous year and a dramatic increase in the number of farm and exotic animals adopted, which doubled from 206 adoptions in 2023 to 414 last year,” said Amanda Hickman, HSHC’s executive director. “Dog adoptions declined by 8.4% last year, which seems to be the trend nationally and is being attributed to the economy and the lack of affordable housing.”
According to Shelter Animals Count, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on animal sheltering across the U.S. and Canada, dogs are staying in shelters longer. At HSHC in 2023, the average length of stay for a dog was 21 days, but last year, that number went up to 31.9 days. On top of that, animals transferred out of HSHC and into rescue programs declined by 31.9%, which mirrors what is happening nationally.
Last year HSHC took steps to combat longer stays and slower adoptions with fostering, reducing barriers to adopt, and behavior and enrichment programs. Furthermore, client services representatives are spending more time with people and pets before they enter the shelter, building relationships and addressing potential issues.
3,400 new arrivals in 2024
The average number of new animals coming into the shelter each day last year was 9.3. While HSHC’s overall intakes increased just 3% last year, cat intakes shot up 13% between 2023 and 2024, from 1,499 to 1,693 cats.
Animals brought to HSHC by the public, whether surrendered or found as strays, decreased by 7%, but animals brought by Animal Control increased 34% over 2023. Specifically, intakes of farm and exotic animals through Animal Control increased a whopping 167%. There was a 26% increase in owners surrendering their pets through Animal Control, and a 65% increase in animals seized by Animal Control officers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Harford County’s population has grown from an estimated 260,924 people in 2020 to 265,514 residents in 2024. More residents equals more pets and more demand for pet-related services. Visits to HSHC’s pet food pantry surged 53%, and over 1,700 bags of pet food were distributed to help keep pets in their homes where they belong.
Additionally, 1,160 pets were served at three public vaccination & microchipping clinics held first in February at the Fallston Fire Company, then in September at the Whiteford Fire Company, and in November at the Joppa-Magnolia Fire House. Cats, dogs and ferrets were vaccinated for rabies, distemper and Bordetella and offered microchips, nail trims and de-wormer.
The people behind the animals
Volunteers are an integral part of HSHC, and work side-by-side with shelter staff to help improve the quality of life for the animals at the shelter. Just over 250 volunteers gave 10,895 hours of service, which is valued at $364,884, according to Independent Sector. This number does not include the thousands of hours that foster parents provided round-the-clock care for animals in need.
Foster programs have become an essential component of HSHC’s lifesaving strategy and not only help to reduce overcrowding in the shelter, but also give animals the chance to thrive in a home environment. When fostering for HSHC, all medical care and the vast majority of supplies are provided.
In 2024, HSHC’s foster program saw 340 pets benefit from the care and attention of its compassionate foster families. These folks provided care and love to animals that needed extra attention while they waited for homes, especially for the shelter’s most vulnerable residents like young kittens and puppies.
HSHC attended dozens of outreach and pet adoption events to increase community awareness, including a booth at the World of Pets Expo in Timonium and a partnership with Subaru of America at the Maryland Auto Show inside the Baltimore Convention Center. HSHC also partnered with national organizations, including NBC Universal’s Clear the Shelters and Bissell Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters reduced-fee adoption events.
Medical team
HSHC’s medical team performed 1,264 surgical procedures last year or an average of 24.3 each week. Most procedures were spay and neuter surgeries, but also included dental work, amputations, mass removals, and hernia repairs – all ways that improve the quality of life for the animals.
The team also administered 5,493 vaccinations and did 1,078 diagnostic tests such as bloodwork and urinalyses. Microchips were implanted in 873 animals, and HSHC always offers free microchips to owners whose pets go missing and end up at the shelter.
Expanded Services Lead to Positive Outcomes
“We have enhanced our service model to include a comprehensive animal behavior program for both dogs and cats,” Hickman added. “The shelter now offers behavioral assessments, training, and enrichment programs, reducing the number of long-term shelter stays, minimizing behavioral issues that lead to surrenders, and ensuring that more animals are successfully placed into permanent homes.”
Additionally, as part of their onboarding process, staff members complete the Fear Free Shelter Pets program. This online self-paced course teaches key strategies and techniques designed to reduce the negative emotional states that are commonly experienced by shelter animals (fear, anxiety, stress and frustration) to improve the experiences of animals by educating caretakers about the animals’ emotional needs.
Moving forward, the team at HSHC is thinking outside of the box and creating a path to increase its impact. The foster program is one area in which HSHC is investing more resources. By growing this program, HSHC anticipates expanding its reach in the community, encouraging new foster parents to join the cause, and ultimately creating a positive impact for the animals in its care.
To be a part of HSHC’s lifesaving mission, there are many ways to get involved including volunteering and fostering, donating supplies, lending financial support to cover expenses, sponsoring and attending events, and making pet adoption a priority.
The shelter’s 2024 impact report and most recent audited financials can be found online at https://www.harfordshelter.org/about/shelter-statistics.
About the Humane Society of Harford County
The Humane Society of Harford County, Inc., is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to the welfare and well-being of the approximately 3,400 animals that come in each year. HSHC promotes the kind treatment of homeless, stray and abandoned animals by providing shelter, care, adoptions, and community education. HSHC is not a county agency nor is it affiliated with any national or regional organization. Tax-deductible donations, bequests, and proceeds from events are crucial to HSHC’s life-saving efforts on behalf of the animals in the community.
