The craft of spin

Regular readers will know I love a good numbers crunch, so when on SBS’s Insight the other night Steve Coleman, RSPCA NSW CEO, said;

I was delighted. And as it turns out, it wasn’t that that difficult.

So first we look at the number of intakes killed;

RSPCA NSW – Number of intakes killed

Cats are holding steady after a large increase – at around 13,000 killed each year.

In 2006/07 (five years ago as claimed) the number of dogs killed was 8,597. In the latest figures (2010/11) 8,209 dogs were killed. Yes, that’s less – 388 less. However the figures fluctuated up to 9,738 at its highest, so the claim the numbers for dogs have been coming down for the last five years?

False.

But, lets give them the benefit of the doubt and look at percentages of intakes killed.

NSW RSPCA Percentage of intakes killed

The percentage of dog intakes that are killed was 39% in 2006/07 and is 39% in 2010/11.

The percentage of cat intakes that are killed was 62% in 2006/07 and is 63% in 2010/11.

Has the percentage of intakes that are killed been reducing over the last five years?

False.

So what about the claim that less animals are being impounded overall?

RSPCA NSW – Overall Intakes

So for dogs intakes were 22,077 in 2006/07, and in 2010/11 it is 20,959. That is a reduction of 1,118.

For cats, intakes were 15,867 in 2006/07, and in 2010/11 it is 20,703. That is an increase of 4,836.

So the idea that intakes are on the decrease is

partially true.

But what do these figures really tell us?

If we accept Steve Coleman’s claim that his organisation is improving at an acceptable rate – and if we choose to permit the continuation of the current management strategy, using the current tools and thinking, killing can be expected to reduce at a rate of around  <1% per year for dogs and (nil) for cats.

If we want to see a No Kill future for our pets, we can expect that to happen – not in one year, not in five years, or even ten, but in the year,

2050

We can expect a continued reduction in dog euthanasia, at a rate of about 200 animals year. In that time,

More than 100,000 dogs will have lost their lives unnecessarily

While we wait for the change.

Cats – there is set to be no improvement based on current rates. So in 2050, we’ll likely still be killing at the same rate, and

250,000 cats will have lost their lives unnecessarily

If you agree that this is completely acceptable, then there’s nothing extra you need do. But if you are sick of the excuses, sick of the spin and sick of the killing…

Join us.

Stats from the RSPCA National Reports

Intakes Dogs Killed % of Intakes Killed
2006/07 22,077 8,597 39
2007/08 22,676 9,738 43
2008/09 22,378 9,286 41
2009/10 21,328 8,361 39
2010/11 20,959 8,209 39

Intakes Cats Killed % of Intakes Killed
2006/07 15,867 9,773 62
2007/08 19,871 13,267 67
2008/09 19,537 12,477 64
2009/10 20,303 13,084 64
2010/11 20,703 13,031 63