Sullivan County shelter reports euthanasia rate drop and expanded community programs

The Animal Shelter of Sullivan County reported major shifts in operations and outcomes at the April 16 commission meeting, with Director Brandy Curdy crediting expanded spay-and-neuter clinics, partnerships and community outreach for a dramatic drop in euthanasia.

"In 2019, we had a euthanasia rate of 64% — our euthanasia rate now is below 3%," Curdy told the commission, adding that those outcomes reflect larger vaccination and spay/neuter efforts, a community food program and partnerships with UT, the Bissell Foundation, ASPCA and local rescues.

Curdy described a suite of programs intended to keep animals out of the shelter: vaccine clinics, a community-cat trap-neuter-return initiative, a spay-neuter clinic that expanded to multiple days a week, and a food-assistance program that helps owners keep pets at home. She said the nonprofit arm covers roughly $60,000 for spay/neuter veterinarian services and that buying vaccines through the nonprofit reduces vaccine costs by about 75%.

Dr. Stone, who volunteers at the shelter, described donated time and lower-cost surgical support that helped expand capacity and described the shelter's intake and outcome management. Curdy said the shelter does not permit animals to leave the facility unaltered and that a new "wait-for-eight" foster program helps very young animals receive early care and vaccination before adoption.

Curdy invited commissioners to an open house on May 21 so they could view before-and-after improvements at the facility and hear more detailed operations data. Several commissioners praised the shelter's work and recounted personal success stories about adopted animals.

Speakers quoted: Brandy Curdy; Dr. Stone; commissioners who asked questions and praised the program.

Why it matters: The shift in euthanasia rates is a significant operational and community outcome for county animal services, altering shelter demand and budget priorities. Commissioners asked for background on the facility's funding arrangements and voiced steady support for continued partnership-driven programs.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 857; topfinish SEG 1415.