Rowan County attitudes about unwanted pets have truly transformed over the past seven years, all to the good. Fewer animals are being abandoned, more are being adopted, and the county is no longer responsible for killing thousands of animals each year.

For this you can credit animal advocates, county commissioners, the Rowan County Animal Shelter and its many volunteers and supporters.

The number of dogs and cats euthanized at the Rowan County Animal Shelter each year has been on a steady decline, according to the state’s annual public animal shelter reports:

2010: 5,563

2011: 5,248

2012: 3,292

2013: 2,023

2014: 683

2015: 394

2016: 386

In a column in Sunday’s Post, Bob Pendergrass reported that the decrease continued last year, with 238 animals — 56 dogs and 182 cats — euthanized in 2017. Pendergrass is animal services director for the county at a time when concern for animals may be at an all-time high. In February 2016, shelter supporters cut the ribbon on a new $1.1 million cat wing, funded by Winston-Salem philanthropist Christine Morykwas.

With the help of generous donors and the Shelter Guardians support organization, a new surgery and intake room at the shelter was dedicated in early 2017.

On top of that, Shelter Guardians’ fundraising drive for a $1.4 million dog adoption center passed the halfway mark in the fall and is making steady progress. Plans are for the center to include 42 large dog kennels, four larger dog kennels, private adoption rooms and other amenities.

Meanwhile, county funding to operate the shelter has also grown, by necessity.

It has been said that a society’s moral progress may be judged by the way its animals are treated. If that is so, Rowan County is on the right track.