The Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland Inspired by what s been possible, and learning as we go. Prepared for the Best Friends National Conference 1 July 17, 2015 With you today.. 2 Debbie Woods Kristi Brooks Brenda King Director of Animal Services Washington County Director of Operations Cat Adoption Team Director of Operations Oregon Humane Society July 16-19, 2015 1
ASAP coalition area 3 3727 square miles 4 counties Larger than Delaware and Rhode Island 2.1 million people About 350K people below poverty line 996K cats and dogs, plus estimated 101K ferals Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland, founded 2006 Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs Cat Adoption Team Clackamas County Dog Control Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon Humane Society for Southwest Washington Multnomah County Animal Services Oregon Humane Society Washington County Animal Services Portland Veterinary Medical Association SW Washington VMA 4 July 16-19, 2015 2
ASAP Mission 5 to end the euthanasia of social, healthy or treatable dogs and cats in our local shelters by collaborating on spay/neuter programs, educational and outreach efforts and the promotion of humane alternatives for feral cats. Why a Coalition? 6 Let s hear from some ASAP leaders Watch July 16-19, 2015 3
The power of many vs. one Why a Coalition? Different organizations = different strengths Tackling issues collaboratively and regionally for the biggest impact Long-term, meaningful solutions rather than quick fixes 7 Input and support from public and private shelters as well as our local veterinarians ASAP Key Results 8 Total Cats & Dogs 2014 Live Release Rate - 93% - Euthanasia per 1,000 human population <2 (adj total intake 29,626) 2006 Live Release Rate - 62% - Euthanasia per 1,000 human population 8.9 Since 2006 (formation of ASAP): Total euthanasia decreased by 87% No healthy dog/cat euthanized since 2010 2014: No T-R, and 129 T-M euthanasia July 16-19, 2015 4
ASAP Results: 2006-2014 INTAKE ADOPTIONS TRANSFERS EUTHANASIA ASAP Coalition Statistics: Live Release Rate 61.53% 62.78% 67.23% 71.20% 76.55% 78.91% 85.35% 90.66% 93.15% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 July 16-19, 2015 5
A Marathon, not a Sprint 2004 false attempt at a coalition, didn t grow legs.. 2005 tried again. Meet monthly. DATA! Safety net in view. 2006 Catnip Pilot ran 07/ 08 learned a lot 800 cats 2007 Mission, Guiding principles, Focus on Asilomar 2008 Guiding Principles & Commitments Creating the plan, selling the plan 2009 Hired first staff person (Nov) 2010 Spay & Save launched with $100K PCI grant (Feb) 2012 LOTS of cat surgeries 28,094 by now Learning via ASPCA $180K GIS focused grant 2013 Awarded Maddies Lifesaving Grant $1 million 2014 First FULL strategic plan a work in progress. 11 ASAP Initiatives Working together to save lives Community Statistics Asilomar Accords Spay & Save targeted s/n program for cats Transfers between ASAP shelters Collaborative Adoption Promotions Coalition grants 12 July 16-19, 2015 6
Must save more cats! but where to begin? 13 We learned 80% of animals euthanized were cats. Initial goal focused on reducing intake resulting in euthanasia Data analysis; the first big lift 5 different software systems Multiple different categories Spay & Save 14 Income targeted s/n program for owned and feral cats Goal: 10,000 cats a year above 2008 community baseline, sustained over 5 years, 30% drop in intake (75% low income, 25% feral) Years 1-5 Results: > 52,000 cats altered since February 2010. Cat Intake declined 38% from 2010 to 2014 July 16-19, 2015 7
We piloted, then took time to sell the plan 15 Veterinarians Boards Staff Volunteers Donors Spay & Save Unique features Decentralized five surgery locations 16 Centralized scheduling 1-800-345-SPAY schedules for all four locations serving owned cats Resource hotline for the community average of 1,500 calls/month Custom-built database for scheduling, tracking & reporting July 16-19, 2015 8
Spay & Save What works Infrastructure & resources provided by biggest coalition partner (OHS) 17 Two full-time employees supporting the program Dedicated and welltrained volunteer base Spay & Save Phone Bank Spay & Save What works Grass-roots marketing: Allied service providers Social services Food banks, homeless projects Craigslist Flyers Facebook Agency Websites Cat Advocates 18 #1 way clients hear about us? Word of mouth! Spay Patrol through high-intake neighborhoods July 16-19, 2015 9
Spay & Save Promotions Elect to Spay 19 Door hangers Client Referral incentive 20 July 16-19, 2015 10
Maybe lured by $$, but stayed for power ASILOMAR!!!! Initial grants from Maddies 21 Power of a common language and ability to track progress Early practice in collaboration Lifesaving Committee 22 Shelter representatives get together monthly to execute the plan. Red Alert System Standardized Asilomar training Transfer number reconciliation Euthanasia codes/plan July 16-19, 2015 11
23 ASAP Transfers 24 1500 2000 transfers between shelters every year Assistance for medical, behavioral or space reasons Bear - arrived at Clackamas County shelter with skin problems after a history of neglect. He was transferred to the Oregon Humane Society for care and treatment and was adopted. July 16-19, 2015 12
ASAP Transfers stress testing 25 RINGWORM, and lots of it! Pledged to save all T-R animals ASAP Adoption Promotions 26 ASAP-wide adoption deals Especially crucial during kitten season and other high intake times Benefits for adopters larger selection of animals, learn that their local shelter is part of a wider community life-saving effort July 16-19, 2015 13
Neighborhood Pet Project 27 Neighborhood Pet Project is a sub-asap Working group using everyone s data to focus on the central question. What would it take to stop intake of pits and cats? Focus on intervention Personalized strategies Neighborhood Pet Project 28 Free veterinarian services Food Training Vaccines Resources Transportation July 16-19, 2015 14
Neighborhood Pet Project 29 Results? Some results worked better than other Word of mouth was critical to engagement Spay & Neuter works as the key strategy to reduce intake That Magic Number Dr. Emily Weiss http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2014/07/31/magicnumber Key to Success 30 Community focused, not agency focused No bash, No trash Membership Ground rules Decision making authority Representation Voting July 16-19, 2015 15
What s Worked - Programs 31 Success with coalition grants. Special acknowledgement to PetSmart Charities, ASPCA and Maddies Fund. Spay & Save has surpassed goals huge impact on reducing cat intake and euthanasia. Transfer programs/ continued Asilomar training What s Worked - Structure 32 Limited size of working group Direct impact on euthanasia rate, heavy lifters, influencers, decision makers No bash, no trash really Did not organize as a separate 501c3 Independents : facilitation, spokespersons Left) Deb Wood: Washington County Animal Care and Control Right) Dr. Kris Otteman: CMO Oregon Humane Society. July 16-19, 2015 16
What s Worked - Structure 33 Largest player, huge contributor & our fiscal agent Community not agency level safety net focus Mix of long-term and new EDs Lifesaving Committee DATA! Progress is a stimulant huge individual agency advances. What s Not, or Not Yet Worked 34 Spay & Save inclusion of private vet practices Struggle with responsibility for fundraising, and sustainable model. Events a challenge. Adoption growth, including coalitionwide promotions Developing a separate strong identity July 16-19, 2015 17
What s next? First full strategic plan in development based on Lifesaving Committee analysis of those animals we did not save. Priorities to maintain/increase lives saved Keep our core program, Spay & Save, strong Manage Spikes in intake without euthanasia Safety net services ( hard to adopt, L&F, medical services, feral cats,) Continuing momentum to go all the way! Sustainability 35 Resources Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland (ASAP) http://asapmetro.org/ Metro Denver Shelter Alliance http://www.mdsalliance.org/ National Animal Rescue & Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) http://narsc.net/ ASPCA Pro, How to Start a Coalition http://www.aspcapro.org/search/index/coalition Asilomar Accords 36 http://www.asilomaraccords.org/ July 16-19, 2015 18
Thank You and Questions 37 Contact information: Debbie Wood Kristi Brooks Brenda King deborah_wood@co.washington.or.us kristib@catadoptionteam.org brendak@oregonhumane.org July 16-19, 2015 19