The Alachua County Humane Society is getting closer to its goal of zero euthanasia by the end of 2015.
The facility quadrupled in size over the last year to make adoption more efficient.
In 2011, Alachua County Animal Services euthanized about 2,500 animals. In 2000, that number was closer to 8,000, said Eric Van Ness, executive director of Alachua County Humane Society.
"We made progress, but there is still a while to go," Van Ness said.
Veterinary technician Zach Toundas said the center receives about seven animals each week.
"Dogs go fast, but adult cats go slow," Toundas said.
Though it is independent, ACHS works with other animal rescue centers in Alachua County.
There isn't any competition among them, Van Ness said. The centers work together toward the same goal.
While adoption has become more efficient because of a bigger facility, problems with funding and volunteers present obstacles to eliminating euthanasia.
After quadrupling in size, ACHS cut half its staff because of lack of funding, Toundas said.
Without funding, volunteers or both, Van Ness said if none of the partner rescue groups can take animals in, Animal Services will be forced to euthanize because there is no room.
ACHS classifies animals in different categories of health: healthy, treatable re-habitable, treatable-manageable and unhealthy-untreatable, Van Ness said.
"Healthy is a narrow definition," he said.
Ear mites, for example, are considered treatable re-habitable, he said.
"There have been animals that were euthanized which were treatable re-habitable because there wasn't enough room," he said.
Alachua County Animal Services takes strays and abused pets, creating a constant influx of pets that need adopting, he said. ACHS takes some of them and places them for adoption.
Operation Catnip, a nonprofit organization that works out of ACHS's facility, helps with the overpopulation of stray cats.
Van Ness said the organization sterilizes cats and puts them back in the community.
The cats also get a microchip before being released.
