What it all comes down to is animals, people and the facility itself. Your animal shelter should be looking at priorities in all three areas:
Animal Care
- Humane Living Conditions
- No “Warehousing” or Overcrowding
- Humane Euthanasia by Injection
- Aggressive Spay/Neuter Policies and Programs
- Mandatory Sterilization of Animals Leaving Shelter
- Medical Standard Operating Procedures, Comprehensive Animal Health Care
- Shelter Disease Prevention and Control
- Kenneling Capability According to Community Needs, Staffing Limitations
- Preventing Animal Suffering
- Reducing Stress of Animals by Grooming, Exercise, Enrichment, Species Separation
- Animal Behavioral Assessments
- No Free Adoptions
- Customized, Quality Adoption Programs
People Care
- Humane Education on Care of Companion Animals, Behavior Issues, Overpopulation
- Standard Operating Procedures for Working with Rescue Groups
- Employee Training and Professional Development
- Board of Directors or Public Entity Oversight
- Transparency and Accountability
- Professional Public Service and Accessibility
- Community Visibility and Partnerships
- Volunteer Opportunities and Training
- Good Relationships with animal control officers
- Good Relationships with City and County Management
Facility Care
- Maintenance and Growth Issues
- Budgeting and Fundraising
- Addressing Capital Improvement Needs
