Animals getting a break in Kane Co.

Of the 631 animals taken in by the Kane County Animal Control facility in its first 10 months of operation, 61 percent were either reunited with their owners or placed into new homes.

Animal Control Administrator Mary Lawrie outlined those numbers as part of the facility's first calendar year report at Tuesday's meeting of the Kane County Board's public health committee. The 8,200-square-foot animal care and control facility opened a year ago in Geneva.

Lawrie, who was hired in November, said she was pleased with being able to find homes for nearly two-thirds of the animals admitted to the shelter.

"Our goal is to absolutely reunite and place any animal we have come in here," said Lawrie, adding that she didn't outline a specific goal for placing animals nor did she determine a benchmark for 2008. "We just want to keep doing a better job year by year."

One of those success stories is that of Benson, a 6- to 8-month-old American bulldog mix with special needs. Benson was picked up as a stray on Dec. 18. Shelter officials soon discovered he had a flaky skin condition that makes him prone to infections.

Despite a friendly disposition, his condition -- which is treatable with antibiotics and over-the-counter shampoos -- had kept Benson from finding a new home. But after reaching out to the public, Lawrie announced that Benson will be adopted by a Geneva family today.

Thirty-five percent of animals admitted to the shelter in 2007 were euthanized. That includes 121 dogs, 94 cats and five other animals. The "other" category comprises rabbits, birds, mice and ferrets.

Eighty-three percent of the euthanized dogs and 56 percent of the euthanized cats were aggressive or exhibited other behavior problems. Thirty-seven percent of the euthanized cats were seriously injured or afflicted with incurable diseases.

The shelter is now home to 12 dogs and 10 cats. It can house 70 animals.