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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake County Animal Services has been recognized by American Dog Rescue for increasing adoptions and decreasing deaths of healthy domestic pets at the county's animal shelter.
The agency is slated to receive the national animal welfare organization's 2010 National Animal Welfare and Protection Award during a ceremony in the County Council Chambers today at 4 p.m. Arthur Benjamin, president and founder of American Dog Rescue is scheduled to present the award to Animal Services director Shawni Larrabee.
In 2010, dog adoptions at the county shelter increased 62 percent over the previous year. Cat adoptions increased by more than 45 percent for the same time period. That improvement was largely due to the county eliminating the $65 fee for cat adoptions. The revenue has been recovered by creating a sliding scale for the cost of dog adoptions — younger, high-demand breeds of dogs command higher prices.
In 2010, the shelter euthanized 481 dogs, compared to an average of 1,048 for the years of 2001-09. About 1,400 cats were euthanized, less than half the historical average for the facility.
Salt Lake Mayor Peter Corroon has set a goal to make the shelter a "no kill" facility.
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