The city of Rockwall is the county seat of Rockwall County, which is part of the Dallas metro area. The city has about 37,000 residents.
In 2011, a non-profit volunteer organization called Rockwall Pets was formed for the purpose of increasing the live release rate of the city shelter, which was at about 60%. Rockwall Pets brought the live release rate of the shelter up to well over 90%, but the city employees who managed the shelter were not completely on board with the effort.
The Rockwall city council voted in August 2012 to contract out the operation of the city shelter to the Collin County Humane Society (CCHS), a non-profit organization, and retain only animal control duties. The contract price was 15% less than the amount the city had paid to run the shelter previously. CCHS accepts owner surrenders from Rockwall and the city of Heath.
Rockwall Pets has posted statistics for the Rockwall shelter from 2008 through 2013. The live release rate for 2012 was 97%, with a total intake of 2086 animals. The shelter had a 70% adoption rate and 18% return-to-owner rate. In 2013, the first full year of operation under CCHS, the shelter reported a 96% live release rate. Total intake was 2189, with 14% of animals returned to their owners and 68% adopted. I am listing this community as 90% Reported because I was not able to locate or obtain a full listing of statistics online as required for the right sidebar.
Rockwall Pets has moved on to other initiatives in their area. Michael Kitkoski, one of the founders of Rockwall Pets, told me that they are now focusing on the cities of Royse, Rowlett, and Dallas.
Rockwall, TX, is counted in the Running Totals as a 90%+ community.
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