Texas Border Business
Edinburg, Texas – Palm Valley Animal Society’s intake is one of the highest in the country, but ongoing efforts at improving outcomes, supported by the local community and national partners, continue to increase save rates at the agency. PVAS saw significant progress in their journey to no-kill in the first quarter of 2020, saving 1,246 more animals than in the first quarter of 2019.
Q1: 2019 Q1: 2020
Adoption 1,062 1,702 +60%
Spay/Neuter/Return-to-Field 0 740 N/A
Euthanized 1,632 428 -73%
Spay/Neuter Surgeries 1233 6,644 +54%
The organization’s save rate in 2019 was 72.3%. Their save rate for the first quarter of 2020 is 89.4%
PVAS is grateful for the support of local and national lifesaving partners in working to save lives in the Rio Grande Valley. Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org) has had a team on-site since July 2018, providing support for operations, as well as funding for supplies, equipment, vehicles, and programs, including PVAS’ Community Cats Program. Maddie’s® Shelter Embed Project in the Rio Grande Valley (maddiesfund.org) provides funding for Best Friend’s work and is the primary resource for PVAS’ efforts since July 2019. Petco Foundation (petcofoundation.org) provided a grant of $1M ($500k/year in 2018-2019) in 2018 that jumpstarted PVAS’ initial efforts toward achieving no-kill.
Donna Casamento, Executive Director, writes: “We’re grateful for the help of our supporters, volunteers, and staff in creating positive lifesaving change in our community. 89.4% is the highest cumulative save rate PVAS has ever achieved, but there’s more work to be done. The entire organization is fully committed to reaching the day when every animal that can be saved is saved in the Rio Grande Valley.”
Palm Valley Animal Society is the shelter of record for Edinburg, Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, La Joya, McAllen, Palmhurst, and Palmview, serving approximately 770,000 residents and 30,000 animals annually. Information on PVAS programs, services, and the impact can be found online at pvastx.org.
