2,900 cats and dogs killed in county shelter last year, records show

The Horry County Animal Care Center shelter took in more than 6,600 cats and dogs during the last fiscal year spanning July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. More than 2,400 came from owners who were giving up their pets, and more than 3,900 were strays.

More than 2,900 were euthanized, not counting those put down by owner request, according to data from the shelter.

Forty-two dogs and 8 cats were put down for time and space reasons. More than 870 cats and 207 dogs were euthanized because of their behavior. Overall, 28 percent of cats and 81 percent of dogs were adopted, transferred out or reunited to their owners.

“We strongly believe euthanasia is a last resort,” said shelter director Kelly Bonome in an email, who added that the facility has to take in animals from the entire county.

She said the shelter first posts the animals on Facebook, checks for any identification and will call, email and send letters to the potential owner’s last known address.

Animals with “serious aggression issues” are euthanasia candidates, she said.

Animals are also posted on the shelter’s website. Bonome said they reach out to other rescue groups to see if anyone is willing to take the animal. If not, she said, a decision has to be made based on time and space restrictions with “bully breed” dogs, like pit bulls, and cats being the hardest animals to relocate given the sheer number of cats and dog breed-specific legislation in other states.

Any animals that are candidates for euthanazia are double-checked for microchips and any other identifying marks that may have been missed, she said.

To help with the unwanted pet population, Bonome said people should spay and neuter their animals, and make sure they always have identification such as tags or microchips.

During the month of December, the shelter is offering a half-off deal on adoption. Dogs are $40 and cats are $25 and includes spaying and neutering, vaccines, and 30 days of pet insurance.

Last year, more than 1,400 cats and dogs were adopted, almost 600 were reclaimed by their owner and almost 1,500 were transferred out to other facilities such as animal rescues.

On Thursday, the shelter is waiving the adoption fee for all animals.

On the first Friday and Saturday of every month, adoptions are half-price.

The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 2:23 PM with the headline "2,900 cats and dogs killed in county shelter last year, records show."