For the local organization known as Inyo and Mono County Animal Resources and Education, or ICARE, it was a good year.  Organizers, which include Ted and Lisa Schade of Bishop, compared statistics in 2011 with numbers when the program started in 1996.

In those 15 years, the number of cats and dogs impounded dropped by 48%.  Last year 601 pets were placed in the Animal Shelter compared to 1,164 in 1996.  It was in 1998 that ICARE started the low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for over 9100 cats and dogs for a total cost to date of $373,000.  This program, officials note, has a lot to do with the lowered number of pets that end up in the pound.

Pet adoptions have gone up 267% over the past 15 years.  82 animals were adopted in 1996 compared to 301 adopted in 2011.  Officials expressed gratitude to Animal Shelter Manager Julie Laughon and her part-time assistant, Katie Bird, for their “tireless efforts on behalf of our homeless pets.”

ICARE’s main goal is to lower the number of cats and dogs that are euthanized each year at the Inyo County Animal Shelter.  2011 ended with 44 animals being put down compared to 970 in 1996. That’s 35 dogs and 9 cats in 2011, and that’s a 95% reduction over 15 years.

ICARE is a non-profit organization that has no paid employees, no government funds or office space.  All programs happen because of donations. Check out their website at www.ICAREforPets.org.