Placer SPCA – open admission shelter...Placer SPCA – open admission shelter •Annual total...

Placer SPCA – open admission shelter• Annual total intake = ~4000• Annual cat intake = ~2400

For 2012:• Total cat intake = 2411, adoptions = 1558

Average cat LOS:• 2012 = 26.4 days

Overall live release = 81% (81% for cats) 44 condos, 1 cat per condo

Made changes slowly Got staff buy in Got volunteer buy in Established a core group of 14 intake

volunteers • 4 of whom helped establish protocols along side

key staff Developed a Fast Track scoring system

2 volunteers for 1-2 hours per day keep cats moving efficiently

On line Cat Tracker Spreadsheet Spreadsheet is printed each day Highlighted and given to staff

Staff does what is needed for each cat based on spreadsheet

No additional staff hours • In fact cat staff hours are given to the dogs

Start during a period of decreased intake When a cat is adopted, move up a fast track cat

• Change from moving up the next cat in line based on intake date

Keep doing this until all fast track cats are in adoption Then move over slow track cats

• The longest a slow track cat had to wait for a spot in adoption was 2 weeks

Within 1 month all cats had a place on the adoption floor Moved to ADC gradually Have held to ADC of 23 cats

Intake/Adoptions:• 2012 cat intake = 2411, adoptions = 1558• 2013 cat intake = 2146 (11% decrease) ,

adoptions = 1531 (1.7% decrease) Average LOS:

• 2012 = 26.4 days• 2013 = 20 days (24% decrease)

No change in:• policies regarding intake or adoption • adoption promotions • the foster program• staff hours

Cats on medication for URI ↓ 40% 2013 LRR = 86% (87% for cats!)

Located in Madison, WI Open Admission “7 day” stray hold (really 8 days) No hold for surrendered animals Maddie’s Community Collaborative leader Contracts from in and out of county Reclaim rate for dogs is very high (usually within

the first 3 days) Reclaim rate for cats is high compared to many

communities (about 16-18%); low compared to dogs

Increased well-being Decreased daily population More space More attention for each animal Less time in the shelter Decreased illness Increased efficiency Decreased average Length of Stay

Sound Familiar?

Offer visibility to most pre-adoption animals

Let the public (citizens and rescue groups) help select who is “adoptable”

Identify priority animals for needed pre-adoption processing

Designate restricted area for animals considered dangerous, legal holds, treatment

Hillsborough County Animal Services, Tampa, Florida

To make the best of a really long stray holding period

Evaluate average LOS for stray animals, especially if highly adoptable

Evaluate redemption rate for stray animals Consider break down of space- how much space is

non-public ? Stage or status for animals who will be available for

pre-selection but still in a stray holding period Priority system for selection: (example)

CitizensRescuesVolunteersStaff

Establish a stage or status for pre-selected animals Evaluate spay/neuter capacity Establish a system for prioritizing surgery Consider adoption processing capacity Establish a system to ensure efficient adoptions Train staff to perform a thorough physical exam,

assess behavior and perform intake treatments Establish medical/behavioral criteria for OS

candidacy Write a protocol Train staff to coordinate departments and

implement protocols

Check microchips, ID tags and lost reports to provide every stray animal the best chance of being returned to an owner.

If no evidence of owners / guardians are evident, make the animal available for Open Selection if health and behavior criteria are met.

Move Open Selection candidates to the adoption area Database and paper records should make it clear that

the animal is still a stray and may be reclaimed by owner within the legal holding period.

Perform daily rounds to account for the status of each animal in the shelter each day

“Adoptable” Area• Double-compartment caged

housing• Room housing for 1- 3 cat

groups

Pre-Adoptable Area • Can be opened to

the public

2 Isolation Areas Quarantine Area

Admitting staff are trained to evaluate cats at intake

Evaluation includes:

• Vaccination• Physical exam• Wood’s lamp exam• Oral exam• Scan for microchip

If OS candidate:FeLV / FIV testing completed at intake

Medically and behaviorally healthy cats are moved straight to “adoptable” areas – OS cats

Stage is set to “Available - pending stray”

Pre-selection for adoption while cats are waiting through their legal hold

Allowed to meet and interact with the public

Adoption holds can be placed.

Potential adopters are educated on limitations of OS Adoption hold

If selected :• Adoption hold placed• Spay/Neuter hold placed

(if needed)

If an owner comes to reclaim their lost pet, Hooray!

If not….

Animal is given priority for spay/neuter surgery (as

needed) and sent home the

its stray period expires

Moved to Pre-Adoptable• Cage covers for public side• Medical needs addressed• Behavioral needs addressed

If resolved during stray hold OS candidate

Small numbers of:• Non-adoption track• Candidates for transfer – feral

or fearful cats• Euthanasia choices

Intake about 3000 cats/year• About 60% “stray” cats

Adoptions May - May• 1776 in 2010 -11• 1903 in 2011 -12• 1881 in 2012 -13• 1970 in 2013-2014 (May not included)

Overall Feline LR as a % of intake • 79% in 2011• 84% in 2012 • 85% in 2013• 85% in 2014 (to date)

Average Length of Stay• 27.8 days in 2009-2010• 25.3 days in 2010-11• 21.7 days in 2011-12• 18.2 days in 2012 -13• 16.8 days in 2013-14

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Year 2010

Year 2013

Daily Population at DCHS

Shelter staff reported “no kitten season” in 2012

Why do you think they thought that?

Set your bar for quality of care Determine your target length of stay Use multiple strategies to decrease LOS Monitor and celebrate success!

Create a positive cycle of: decreased length of stay better care lower costsmore resources to create positive outcomes community programs which reduce intake

….which means lower costs, healthier shelters, happy staff and happy cats!!

Katie Kuehl, DVMkkuehl@giveshelter.org608-838-0413 ext. 105

Laura Birdsalllaurab@placerspca.org916-782-7722 ext. 114