In 2004, leaders from animal-welfare organizations across the nation gathered at the Asilomar Conference Center in California to address the unfortunate historical friction between groups with differing philosophies.

The conferees agreed on common principles and goals, consistent language and standards for the classification and collection of animal statistics.

Metro Denver Shelter Alliance www.mdsalliance.org member organizations have been keeping Asilomar Statistics for the metro area shelters since 2000.  An organization called Maddie’s Fund, has assisted local shelters and humane societies in Colorado with grants to assist with coalition building with the overall goal to reduce the euthanasia of healthy animals in shelters.

Using this data, shelters are able to calculate a “Live Release Rate” – the percentage of cats and dogs that leave a shelter alive. The Live-Release Rate helps shelters measure their annual progress in saving animals.  We are ecstatic and proud to report our overall Live Release Rate for 2010 and 2011 was an incredible 95%!  Our Live Release Rate for dogs for the last two years was an amazing 99% for both years and 89% and 88% for cats.  Our Live Release Rate for cats and dogs categorized as Healthy for both years was an astonishing 100%.

Open-Admission shelters such as HSSPV, which take every animal without regard to age, health, breed or any other factor, typically have lower Live-Release Rates. “Limited-Admission” shelters and sanctuaries often report higher Live Release Rate numbers because they accept limited numbers of animals and often only those likely to be adopted.  See www.maddiesfund.org for more information about Live Release Rate.

For more information on the Asilomar Accords, visit www.asilomaraccords.org