ANIMAL CARE PROTOCOL SUMMARY Greyhund Friends, Inc., Hpkintn, MA August, 2018 Greyhund Friends has thrughly rewrked ur existing staff and vlunteer prtcls, nt nly t ensure cmpliance with state regulatins but t g abve and beynd the recmmended best practices in ensuring prper treatment f the dgs in ur care. Greyhund Friends has established a custmized, cmprehensive system t track the dgs thrughut their stay in the shelter and make sure that any behaviral r medical issues are prmptly and prperly addressed. A Cmpliance Officer has been engaged t develp these prtcls and t mnitr cmpliance when the shelter resumes peratin. Greyhund Friends detailed animal care prtcls include the prvisin f prper fd and water, shelter and prtectin frm the weather, veterinary attentin needed t reduce r end suffering frm disease r injury, a sanitary envirnment, and humane, caring treatment. Our kennels are large and s designed as t allw large dgs t stand, sit, lie dwn, turn arund, and make ther nrmal pstural adjustments withut bstructin, interference, r impediment, and are kept at an apprpriate ambient temperature. Cmprehensive new recrd-keeping prtcls allw the recrding f kennel cnditins, care, treatment, and medical attentin prvided t each individual dg, as well as mnitring by the internal Cmpliance Officer and external versight authrities. Fllwing is an verview f thse prtcls. General peratins and recrdkeeping Greyhund Friends predminantly acquires retired registered racing greyhunds frm the remaining perating greyhund racetracks. The dgs are vet checked and issued an interstate health certificate prir t transprt t ur shelter. Upn arrival, paperwrk is inspected t assure all vaccinatins are dne (rabies, brdetella, and DHLPP) and certificates are accunted fr. Racing greyhunds have their ears tatted fr identificatin and d nt require a micrchip. The ear tatts are used n all dcumentatin fr unique identificatin f all animals handled by Greyhund Friends. If a dg is nt tatted fr whatever reasn, then the dg will be micrchipped fr identificatin. All dgs brught int Greyhund Friends frm utside Massachusetts have an Official Health Certificate f Veterinary Inspectin cntaining pertinent vaccinatin, treatment and testing histry, as required by the USDA APHIS CVI. The riginal OCVI shall be maintained in the dg's individual flder and scanned int ur database. A cpy is kept in a separate binder fr inspectin by MDAR. Upn arrival at Greyhund Friends, dgs are placed in the islatin unit fr 48 hurs. During this time the dgs are started n a 5-day curse f dewrmer as well as treatment with a flea and tick preventative. After 48 hurs, the dgs see a veterinarian t underg a heartwrm test and spay and neuter if necessary, and are examined fr a clean health certificate and release frm islatin. Greyhund Friends, Inc. 2018 1
If the heartwrm test is negative, dgs are started n a heartwrm preventative. If the heartwrm test is psitive, dgs start the apprpriate treatment. Upn receiving a clean health certificate the dgs are mved t the main kennel, where they enter ur SmartKennel System (see Appendix A). In this system, dgs are clr cded red, yellw r green t crrespnd with a specific turnut pen and rutine f care. These clr cdes cnvey at a glance the dg s medical and behaviral evaluatin status. Dg Islatin Cntrl and Status A red dg is a dg wh has cmpleted the 48 hurs in the islatin unit, but has still nt cmpleted the curse f dewrmer r recvered frm the spay/neuter prcedure dne upn leaving islatin, and is turned ut t the red status quarantine turnut pen. After 72 hurs the dg has acclimated t the shelter envirnment and is ready fr a behaviral evaluatin. Fllwing the behaviral evaluatin, and cmpletin f the Panacur 5 day curse, the dg is ready t mve frm red t yellw status, and becmes available fr adptin. A yellw dg has cmpleted the Panacur dewrmer treatment, and has recvered frm the spay/neuter prcedure as well as undergne a behaviral evaluatin. Hwever, 2 week fecal results have nt yet returned, and the dg remains in a yellw secndary quarantine state turnut pen. Fecal samples will be submitted thrugh the veterinary ffice 2 weeks fllwing treatment with dewrmer t ensure that each dg is free f intestinal parasites. If any dg is still psitive fr any parasite, dg will be treated again with anther curse f dewrmer as prescribed by the veterinarian. A green dg has received a negative (clean) fecal sample and can be allwed int the green (nn-quarantine) turnut space. In additin t their SmartKennel system checklist and status, which ntes the dg s clr cde and milestnes achieved in the system, the fllwing paperwrk is assciated with each dg: Out f State/Interstate Health Certificate (if applicable) Natinal Greyhund Assciatin racing registratin (if applicable) Vaccine Certificate including Rabies certificate and distemper and brdetella vaccinatins Prf f spay r neuter Any veterinary invices Intake frm including all f the abve infrmatin (see Appendix B) Cage Card (see Appendix C) This paperwrk cntains all infrmatin required accrding t MDAR Emergency Order 1-AHO-05. Greyhund Friends, Inc. 2018 2
Behavir Evaluatin fr Dgs All dgs will be evaluated accrding t the fllwing schedule: A. In rder t allw each new dg t acclimate t shelter rutine, a behavir evaluatin happens 72 hurs after a dg has been mved frm the Islatin unit t Quarantine Phase I ( Red Status ) and is perfrmed by Kennel Manager Theresa Shepard, Certified Dg Trainer (CDT), wh will fill ut the Dg Temperament and Evaluatin frm (see Appendix D). This evaluatin happens at the end f the dg s Red Status term prir t mving the dg t Yellw Status. B. After this assessment, the dg will be mved frm Red Status t Yellw Status. Tying the behaviral evaluatin in with the dewrming curse and fllw-up ensures that bth the behaviral evaluatin status and the parasite cntrl status are instantly knwn frm the dg s clr by all vlunteers and staff. The mve frm red t yellw status crrespnds with bth dewrmer treatment cmpletin and behaviral evaluatin cmpletin but des nt require specific utcme n the behaviral testing. All results f testing and any cncerns are nted n the evaluatin frm and shared with staff, vlunteers and ptential adpters. C. After a time frame f 2 weeks frm this assessment, if the dg has nt been adpted, a plan will be develped fr the individual dg. This wuld include a fllw-up evaluatin by the kennel manager and plans fr enrichment during the remainder f the dg s stay. This time frame crrespnds with the results f a fecal test fr the dg, and mving the dg frm Yellw t Green status. Thus, each dg with Green status is immediately nted t have been in the kennel fr ver 2 weeks, and receives an individualized adptin plan t avid excessively lng-term stays. D. An activity lg (see Appendix E) fr each dg is included with the dg s cage card clipbard, and staff lg hw much time the dg receives ut f the kennel in additin t their regular turnut. In additin t the behavir evaluatins, dg walkers and handlers, including staff, nte n this activity lg any behavir assessments r bservatins. Any results will be kept in the animal s file and made available t ptential adpters. Any special behaviral needs will be addressed by a cnsultatin with Dr. Nichlas Ddman, BVMS, DVA, DACVA, Prfessr f Clinical Sciences at Tufts Cummings Schl f Veterinary Medicine and Leadership Cuncil member f HSVMA, r by a cnsultatin with Bb Witmer, Applied Animal Behavirist and a greyhund specialist. Medical Recrds fr Dgs Beginning with entry int the shelter, a medical recrd is maintained fr all dgs, including infrmatin n vaccinatins, de-wrming and flea treatment. This infrmatin tracks the dates an animal is scheduled fr vaccinatin, de-wrming and flea treatments and als prvides adpters with a cmplete medical histry f the animal while hused at the shelter. The medical recrd is kept in the animal s file and is made available t ptential adpters. A veterinarian must sign ff n the medical recrd fr all entries. Greyhund Friends, Inc. 2018 3
A. Medicatin Card. An range-clred nte n the Cage Card identifies dgs receiving medical treatment. Such treatment culd include medicatins fr an ear infectin r skin disrder. A veterinarian determines the medicatins and dsages fr any necessary treatment. This infrmatin is recrded by staff fr each dg receiving medicatin n the Medical Recrd and the frm is initialed each time the animal is treated (see Appendix F). B. Medicatin Labels. Medicatin labels cntain the animal s name, (Greyhund Friends fr client name), the date, medicatin name, amunt dispensed, instructins, expiratin date, and veterinarian name, address and phne number, any apprpriate warning labels and the number f refills if any (as required by 256 CMR 5.06(2)(c)9, which states: When dispensing medicatin, a licensee shall accurately type r print the fllwing infrmatin n a label permanently affixed t the cntainer: client's name, animal's r grup name; date; usage directins including rute f administratin; name f the drug; quantity dispensed; facility's name, address and telephne number; the name f the licensee dispensing the drug; expiratin date if apprpriate; apprpriate warning labels; and the number f refills if any ). C. Cage Cards are checked at least weekly t ensure vaccines, heartwrm preventatives and flea/tick preventatives are up t date. The veterinarian is ntified f any dgs requiring vaccinatin updates. All dgs receiving a rabies vaccine receive a rabies certificate and tag t be attached t their Medical Recrd. Staff administers heartwrm preventin nce mnthly and at that pint weighs the dg and ntes if there are any changes in weight r bdy cnditin that culd be indicative f a medical prblem. D. Timing f Medical Recrd Keeping. Greyhund Friends maintains dg recrds fr at least three years frm the date created. Kennel Daily Life Dgs are fed at least nce a day, and treats are given 2-3 times a day. Exceptins are made fr any dgs with medical issues that require a different feeding schedule. While dgs are fed nce daily at the kennel, adpters can determine the feeding schedule they prefer. All dgs are given fresh water at every 12 hur shift and water bwls are refreshed n average 2-3 times a day as necessary. Fd bwls and water buckets are washed daily at mrning turnut. A veterinarian is immediately ntified if any dgs are experiencing a medical cnditin (change in appetite, diarrhea, change in activity r limping, wunds r ther cncerns). Any dg exhibiting any signs f illness at any pint while at Greyhund Friends is immediately referred t a veterinarian. Any dg wh stays fr a year r mre, althugh ideally this situatin will be avided, will underg annual checkups with a veterinarian. This includes any dgs in fster care. Greyhund Friends, Inc. 2018 4
Fecal sample testing is dne n all dgs with diarrhea, and n all dgs that have been treated fr a parasite (2 weeks fllwing treatment with a dewrmer). This ensures that all dgs wh enter the facility are tested if they remain in the kennel fr 2 weeks. Regular fecal testing is dne every 4 mnths if any dgs stay at the shelter fr that length f time. Behaviral Enrichment fr Lng Stay Dgs All dgs have varius enrichment activities available as needed based n the individual dg s temperament and needs. During their stay in the shelter, the dgs are kept in large cages with access t bth sides f the guilltine dr in all cases where this is physically pssible. These cages are prvided with enrichment in terms f stuffed tys as well as Kngs with peanut butter. In additin t the regular turnut times, all dgs will be leash walked n the trails in the back fields fr 15-30 minutes, nce r twice a day, by staff r vlunteers, depending n dg energy and stamina. Basic cmmands are taught during this ne-n-ne time. If needed, dgs will practice walking up and dwn stairs in a stair set-up in the back field during this time as well. Sme examples f special additinal enrichment activities, determined by the shelter manager based n evaluatin f the dg, are spending 15-30 minutes with vlunteers in a rm in the shelter set up t mimic a hme envirnment, with tables, chairs and a cuch; training getting int and ut f cars, and ging n shrt car rides. Trained vlunteers r staff will take the dgs fr 30 minute walks in a twn/neighbrhd envirnment such as Hpkintn s dwntwn t bth practice leash-walking and t acclimate them t things they may nt have encuntered previusly: pedestrians, stre frnts, busy streets, nn-greyhund dgs, etc. This type f enrichment is essential fr the shy dgs which are harder t place. All enrichment activities are nted in the Activity Lg. Staff and Vlunteer Prtcls and Prcedures Greyhund Friends has extensive prtcls and prcedures fr staff members, dealing with all kennel prcesses frm intake f animals, cleaning and disinfectin prcedures that are tailred t each stage in the SmartKennel system, adptin, and vlunteer wrk. Vlunteers and staff underg extensive training with the kennel manager and cmpliance fficer, as well as nging supervisin, in rder t ensure that all staff and vlunteers are familiar with the prtcls, and recrds f dg care and kennel maintenance are maintained and prvided as necessary t any inspecting agencies. Greyhund Friends, Inc. 2018 5