Essex County Shelters Euthanized Most Dogs In New Jersey: DOH

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — For the fifth year in a row, Essex County’s animal shelters and pounds euthanized the most dogs in New Jersey, according to state statistics.

Every year, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) conducts a voluntary survey among the state’s licensed animal shelters and pounds. This document – the “Shelter/Pound Annual Report” – includes the numbers of intakes, adoptions and euthanasias performed at each facility that year.

See the full county-by-county list for 2017 here.

According to the 2017 report, 427 dogs met their end in Essex County facilities last year… the most of any New Jersey county. The next-highest totals came from Mercer County (254), Camden County (184) and Morris County (169).

Essex County shelters took in 2,470 dogs last year, a kill rate of 17.2 percent. That rate was down from 2016, when the county’s shelters took in 2,425 dogs and euthanized 613… a 25 percent kill rate.

Essex County’s 2017 dog euthanasia totals were also down from 2015, when the county's shelters killed 614 canines. And last year’s total was a huge drop from 2014, when the county’s facilities reported euthanizing a staggering 913 dogs.

• See related article: Essex County Animal Shelters Had Most Dog Euthanasias In NJ (Again)

In addition to the high number of dog euthanasias, 546 cats were euthanized in Essex County last year with 2,668 total intakes, a kill rate of 20 percent. Gloucester County led the state in cat euthanasias with 1,305, followed by Ocean County (1,258), Atlantic County (945) and Burlington County (941).

However, despite Essex County’s grim euthanasia totals, significantly more animals were adopted or reunited with their owners, according to state statistics.

Essex County’s shelters adopted 763 dogs (30 percent) and “redeemed” 667 dogs (27 percent). The county adopted 655 cats (24 percent) and redeemed 35 (about 1 percent).

• See related article: Pit Bull With 'Half A Face' Takes Next Step To Forever Home
• See related article: Dozens Of Dogs, Cats Adopted At Montclair 'Clear The Shelters'
• See related article: 10 Heartwarming Animal Adoption Photos In New Jersey

The NJDOH includes the following disclaimer about the yearly survey:

"Facilities may contract with municipalities in more than one county; therefore, individual county statistics on this report may not accurately reflect impoundment rates within that county… This is a voluntary survey of impoundment facilities and may not include responses from all such facilities in New Jersey. Facilities that were operating during the survey year but did not report to the Department of Health are listed with zero animals impounded."

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