Animal Cruelty and Neglect Complaints in Seattle, Part 3: 2024 Seattle Animal Shelter Numbers by Complaint Resolutions

Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) data shows that in 2024 it received 1,008 animal cruelty/neglect complaints. This is an average of 67 complaints per SAS field officer, of which there are 15 for Seattle. Of those complaints, SAS resolved 972 or an average of 64.8 per SAS field officer. Eighty (80) percent of these resolutions (a total of 777), were for the following complaints:

• Abuse

• Abandonment

• Inadequate Food/Water/Shelter

• Animals in Hot Cars

• Unsanitary Conditions

Data obtained from public disclosure requests shows that the top SAS resolution methods in these 777 complaints were the following:

• Verbal communication (17 percent)

• Cruelty Notice (14 percent)

• Impoundment (13 percent)

In 16 percent of the cases, no violations were observed, while in 11 percent of the cases, officers were unable to locate the animal or person in question  

Primary Resolution Methods

The following table summarizes the top five resolution methods to the 777 animal cruelty/neglect complaints. “Summons to appear in court” do not appear in this table because they constituted less than 5 percent of the 2024 resolutions.

Items of Note:

• Abuse: Over 20 percent of the time, SAS officers cannot locate the animal or person in question.

• Abandonment: An animal reported as abandoned is impounded and taken to SAS 34 percent of the time.

Other Resolution Methods

“Other” methods of resolution are listed below. These methods compose the remaining 231 complaint resolutions for 2024. The largest portion falls under “made contact” although it is unclear what this resolution entails.

Came into compliance: 14

Complaint cancelled: 28

Citation: 1

Doorhanger: 4

Duplicate: 11

Made Contact: 71

Mailed Letter: 25

No Contact Made: 14

Reopened: 2

Summons: 34

Tethering Notification: 2

Transported: 1