On March 6th, IV4A exposed the deceptive manner with which the SPCA Tampa Bay manipulated its animal statistics to embellish its “Live Release Rate” reporting.
https://indysvoice4animals.org/2024/03/06/spca-tampa-bay-falsely-inflates-its-live-release-rate/
There was a pause in the SPCATB’s posting its monthly reports until just recently. Now the March, April and May animal statistics are current on the animal statistics page: https://spcatampabay.org/organization-reports/
March: https://spcatampabay.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Stats_March.pdf
April: https://spcatampabay.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Stats_April.pdf
May: https://spcatampabay.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Stats_May.pdf
REVIEW: CALCULATING THE “LIVE RELEASE RATE”
The SPCATB claims to use the ASPCA formula but it clearly does not. The ASPCA formula for calculating a live release rate is “Live Outcomes” divided by “Live Intakes.” on page 4
https://www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/What%20is%20your%20Rate%2010_2013.pdf
The SPCATB misleading formula to produce its inflated “Live Release Rate” is:
“Live Outcomes” divided by (“Live Intakes” minus “Owner Requested Euthanasia”).
The “Owner Requested Euthanasia” is a category of animals who come to the facility alive and the person relinquishing the animal signs a release
(v) In the event OWNER fails to physically reclaim the animal within the forty-eight (48) hour reclamation period, and the animal has been determined to be unadoptable, then SPCA Tampa Bay shall then be authorized to humanly euthanize the animal.
Here are the embellished “Live Release Rate” for categories Canines, Felines and “All”
Month Canines Felines All
March: 87% 79% 68%
April: 84% 53% 41%
May: 86% 65% 61%
Here are the “Live Release Rates” if honestly calculated, reported if using the ASPCA formula. The discrepancy with the SPCATB reporting is in ( ).
Month Canines Felines All
March: 54% (33%) 63% (16%) 50% (11%)
April: 52% ((32%) 42% (11%) 36% (5%)
May: 53% (33%) 57% (8%) 52% (9%)
It is hard to ignore the obfuscation.
As an aside, Miss Boden was posed the question at Purdue’s recent Canine Welfare Science Forum, ‘’As a shelter in Florida that is one of the top five states in killing adoptable animals, how does a shelter with a 50% kill rate square the circle when importing in dogs from out of state?’
Her response began with, “I’m not sure where you’re getting your data but…”
Apparently, Miss Boden is not acquainted with:
- Her own data reporting (see above) and
- Search results of Florida’s standing on this information:
At the Canine Welfare Science Forum. a commercial breeder/presenter emphasized the need to be honest and transparent with record keeping, to which Ms. Boden acknowledged agreement with multiple head nods .