FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2011

Seattle Humane Society, which shelters more than 5,000 homeless pets per year, has achieved one of the highest life-saving rates in the country, according to a new database of shelter statistics.

The Maddie’s Fund database shows that Seattle Humane Society had the third-highest “save rate” in the nation – 91.4 percent -- among shelters placing more than 5,000 animals in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics were compiled.

“This achievement is impressive, especially because we are an open-admission shelter that accepts every animal who comes to us,” said David Loewe, CEO for Seattle Humane. “We are very proud of this milestone, and even prouder that our records show our 2010 save rate is even higher – 94.1 percent.”

Loewe attributes the agency’s high save rate to its commitment to providing medical care and behavioral training to pets in need of rehabilitation, helping them to become wonderful, adoptable family pets. The Seattle Humane Society also has no time limits on a pet’s stay at the shelter, giving them as long as it takes for the agency to find them a loving home.

“This milestone is also a reflection of our community – including our donors, volunteers and staff -- and their commitment to the care and placement of the pets who come to us,” Loewe said. “We could not achieve this significant recognition without the support of our community – especially the more than 1,400 volunteers who donate their time, energy and even their homes for foster care.”

Among animal shelters, the “save rate” is the percentage of surrendered, stray and abandoned animals who leave a shelter alive and are placed into adoptive homes, rescue groups, or returned to their owners.

Maddie’s Fund is a family foundation devoted to creating a nation in which all healthy and treatable pets are guaranteed a loving home, and fewer pets are euthanized. The survey and database are the first large, reliable data sampling of statistics among 474 shelters and 56 communities nationwide, tracking the intake, adoption, and euthanasia of shelter pets and tracking trends and progress.

The shelters ranking 1st and 2nd among agencies which admit more than 5,000 pets per year were Nevada Humane Society in Reno and Oregon Humane Society in Portland.