Most Cats Passing Through City's Animal Shelter Surviving To Become Pets, Director Says
(CBS) -- Chicago's new director of Animal Care and Control says the city department is able to save about 86 percent of the cats that pass through the building. With dogs, it's a different story.
On the job for three months now, Susan Russell tells WBBM she's pleased with the number of cats that have been saved, working with partner agencies.
"Our save rate has been pretty darn good when it comes to cats. We are at about 86 percent right now. But this is the full-out cat season. We were at 90 percent in June, close to 90 percent, which is pretty darn phenomenal," she says.
The dogs are "a little trickier," Russell says, because people have the idea that every dog at the city pound is a pit bull.
Not true, she says.
They're most likely a mix breed -- a solid-looking animal Russell calls "a Chicago dog."
The save rate for dogs at Animal Care and Control is about 70 percent.
The save rate includes adoptions, transfers to animal rescue organizations that partner with CACC and returns to owners.
Susan Russell is the guest on "At Issue" Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. For more information about the department, click here.