MIDLAND ANIMAL SERVICES REPORTS LIVE RELEASE RATE CLIMBS OVER 80% IN FEBRUARY

(March 6, 2026)

MIDLAND, TEXAS -- Midland Animal Services showed an 82% live release rate for dogs and cats during the month of February. It is the highest live release rate for February we have seen in the last four years.

Rescue partners continue to show up for Midland Animal Services attributing 126 transfers during the month, helping Animal Services deal with 311 intakes (264 of those intakes being strays). Midland Animal Services also reported 75 adoptions in February.

Of the 49 animals euthanized in February, only seven were due to space issues.

The number of adoptions, transfers and the eight return-to-owners in February helped Midland Animal Services record the 82% live release rate and an average length-of-stay of 6.36 days -- the lowest average length of stay for one month in the past four years.

For February 2026 

Adoptions (Dog/Cat Only) 

YTD: 169

MTD: 75

Outcomes (Dog/Cat Only) 

Adoption: 75

Return to Owner: 8

Transfers: 126

Euth: 49

Intakes (Dog/Cat Only) 

YTD: 680

MTD: 311

Stray: 264

Owner Surrender: 40

Seized: 7

Returns: 0 

Transfer In: 0

Transfers

YTD: 236

MTD: 126

Top Partners

Fix West Texas: 105

MASA: 8

Midland Humane Coalition: 5

Sassy's Dog Rescue: 4

Lonestar Doberman Rescue: 2

Grand Companions: 1

Austin Boxer Rescue: 1

Average length of Stay

Total Feb: 6.36 Days 

Dog: 5.3 Days  

Puppy: 5.2 Days   

Cat: 8.7 Days   

Kitten: 6.2 Days   

Live Release Rate 

YTD: 79%

MTD: 82%

Euthanasia Reasons

Medical: 32

Quality of Life: 1

Behavior: 9

Space: 7

Source: City of Midland