Cat Comforter Meeting 2018
Welcome! Tonight s Agenda Looking at the Numbers-Year to Date Stats Policy Changes, Updates & Reminders New Enrichment Programs Adoption Success Stories Foster Stats & Updates What s Ahead? Q&A s
A Look at the Numbers
Intake and Adoptions Year to Date Intake % Change 2017 2,037 2018 2,225 +9.2% Adoptions % Change 2017 1,617 2018 1,727 +6.8%
Did You Know?? From August 2017 August 2018 how many more animals have we taken in as a result of hoarding cases?
Cat Comforting Year to Date Cat Comforting Hours YTD (as of August) 5400 5200 5000 4800 4600 4400 4200 4000 3800 Cat Comforting Hours as of end of August 2016 2017 2018 4811 4387 5236 Cat Comforting Hours as of end of August 19 % Increase YTD!
A Closer Look at Cat Care 454 118 CAT CARE HOURS Comforting Blue Dot 1549 3115 BOH Misc Care (* includes Read to Calm, Feliway)
Current HSHV Live Release Rate Save Rate is
YOUR WORK IMPROVES & SAVES LIVES A look at a few of the MANY lives
Kohl & Rambo Kohl Kohl & Rambo started out very, very shy but were eventually able to trust and open up to comforters. Both were back and forth from foster to cage and volunteers helped them settle back in many times. It took some time, but we did find perfect homes for them. Rambo
Rugby, Mesho, & Eldrick Rugby Mesho Eldrick Put on maintenance plans.. they d been with us for a long time. Some adopted and returned, they were uncomfortable with the amount of handling they were getting. All very, very nice cats that wouldn t have made it here without Blue Dot intervention. Slowing down visits and keeping the visits low in number made all of the difference with them. They needed people (our HSHV Cat Comforters ) who understood them to really shine.
Figaro Figaro was a really complicated cat hard to engage and keep engaged. He d change the game at times and what was working stopped working, he was an intelligent cat stuck in a situation he couldn t control. The Blue Dot comforters made him a project and he truly blossomed with their care. Volunteers gave him the control and offered stability and consistency, which he really needed. He was with us for a long time, a cat who had never lived inside and was under a lot of stress. The Blue Dot program kept him sane and engaged with the world.
Mila Mila literally hated all staff all of us. Once she got into individual housing she was able to settle into her space. Mila became a lap cat with the comforters and we were astonished to see her napping on laps. She became very bonded with a few comforters and would never have found a home if she couldn t have made that bond with some of the humans in her life. Volunteers knew her better than anyone and really kept her happy, it was an amazing bond!
Thank You Cat Comforters!
Policy Changes, Updates & Reminders
OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM As of September 27 th, 2018: 2, 728 volunteers overall 528 Junior Volunteers 104 Tiny Lions 472 Foster Volunteers On an average day: Average # of volunteer shifts: 152 Average # of volunteer shifts empty: 33 Average # of volunteers each day: 105
2018 VOLUNTEER SATISFACTION SURVEY
249 Surveys Completed! Survey Demographics HOW LONG SURVEY RESPONDENTS HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AT HSHV Less than 6 months 1-2 years 3-5 years 5-10 years 10 years + 14% 5% 19% 20% 42%
Volunteer Preparedness 97.6% of volunteers feel well prepared to perform their duties as a volunteer 93.3% of volunteers find procedures for volunteer assignments clear and easy to follow 100% 90% 80% 70% I feel equipped to handle the aspects of my volunteer duties 60% 50% 40% 30% Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 20% 10% 0% Physically Equipped Emotionally Equipped
Emotional Impact of Volunteering 97.7% of volunteers enjoy their role as a volunteer 98.1% of volunteers feel their volunteer assignments are meaningful to them "I feel appreciated for my contributions as a volunteer" 2% 1% "I feel my time is well spent volunteering" 3% 0% 0% 5% Strongly Agree 25% Strongly Agree 28% Agree Neutral Agree Neutral 64% Disagree Strongly Disagree 72% Disagree Strongly Disagree
Volunteer Interactions 89.7% of volunteers feel they can readily receive support and guidance from other adult volunteers. "I enjoy working alongside HSHV adult volunteers" 0% "I enjoy working alongside HSHV junior volunteers" 1% 6% 40% 54% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral 24% 40% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree 35% Disagree
Volunteer Department Interactions I feel respected by the Volunteer Department Staff Strongly Agree 69.3% Agree 22.4% Neutral 4.7% Disagree 2.4% Strongly Disagree 1.2% "I feel I can discuss my questions and concerns with the volunteer department" 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree "I receive timely and useful communication from the volunteer department staff" 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
No More Zones! No need to stay in one zone anymore! With proper hand sanitizing between visits and adhering to order of visitation, no increased risk of disease transmission. Checking visitation logs will help determine which cats have been visited with. Remember to document visits on the individual cat pages even if nothing has changed from the last visit.
White Cage Cards Look for the Just Chillin Sign White Cage Cards Only (no yellow sticker). These will all have Just Chillin drop cards in them. Look for the volunteers OK box to be marked. If it is, you may visit with that cat. However, if a visitor is interested, have them go to the front desk to see staff no matter which box is checked. Just Chillin Sorry, I m not available for adoption. For information see the Front Desk. Staff Only -or- Volunteers OK Placed by (staff first name) Review Date
Order of Visitation Review CAT COMFORTING & DOG/PUPPY VISITATION Sequence FIRST - not sick or being treated for non-contagious medical issue Kittens/Puppies then Cats/Dogs Healthy/Non-Contagious = NO sticker** LAST - on medication for URI, kennel cough or other contagious issue Kittens/Puppies then Cats/Dogs watch sticker**
Assisting Potential Adopters You are welcome to answer questions about a cat/kitten to a potential adopter. If you are comfortable, you can assist in opening the cage doors in UT/DT. Guests are not to do this without help from staff or volunteers. Please get staff assistance for areas where doors are locked such as condos, Purrs Plaza, & Meow Meadows. Visitors must have a pass to enter these rooms. Always get a staff member if there are questions or assistance is needed.
Other Helpful Reminders Treats To be used for when working with Blue Dot Cats or as motivators for behavior modification with enrichment programs (i.e. Read to Calm/Clicker Training). No use with other cats, trying to avoid GI upset with overuse. Documenting Visits Even if nothing has changed since a cat has been visited last, please still note on the individual cat page that visit took place. Signing up in VIC It is helpful to other comforters and staff when looking at the schedule to see who is coming in. Sign up in advance as much as possible.
Cat Comment Cards Positive Messages that you want to share with potential adopters. Helps them get to know our cats more. Simply write a positive message and place it in a cage card sleeve pocket. Make sure not to cover up any important communication (i.e. blue dot, go slow, etc). Found at the cat comforter station.
Volunteer Facebook Group Closed group, must be a volunteer to join A place for updates, stories, pictures, or volunteers needed requests. Posts containing sensitive topics such as death, euthanasia, or killing/injury to animals are not to be posted. Posts should not include solicitations of goods/money from other volunteers. If there are any questions/concerns about any HSHV related matter, contact the volunteer department rather than posting on social media.
Volunteer Facebook Group Posts that do not fit within the social media policies will be removed. If a post needs to be removed, the volunteer will be notified by Karen or Tawn explaining why. Volunteers may be removed from the facebook group after 2 posts. We want to make sure the tone of the group remains positive. Respecting that not everyone wants to know or read about certain topics If you ever have questions, please just ask. We are here and want to help.
New Enrichment Programs
READ TO CALM
Program Benefits Helps to decrease stress, anxiety, and fear in shelter cats. Cats can explore their environment, take risks without consequences. Especially important for fearful cats. Learning to be bold and to come by people without the pressure of being pet or talked to. For frustrated cats, teaches that pacing, pawing, and vocalizing does not affect a person s action.
Getting Ready for a Session Binders will list which cats in each comforting area would benefit most from Read to Calm. Bring any reading material you wish from home magazines, books, the cats don t mind. Place a barrier between you and the floor/wall when sitting (i.e. towel, chair, stool). Cats in cages-can sit on a stool outside of the cage or stand. Condos- sitting on a stool works best. Communal Rooms-sitting on the floor or bench.
During a Session Read aloud (quiet or at regular volume is alright), continuously, slowly, & steadily to calm the cat. Best practice is to avoid contact and petting even if the cat comes up next to you. Reading only, no singing or speaking to the cat You can spend 10-30 minutes per cat, whatever time allows. After your session you can leave treats, but only if calm/relaxed (treats for behavior modification)
How to Get Started? Open to all levels of Cat Comforters. Read to Calm training handout located in resource library. Cat Comforting always takes priority for visitation. You can read to any cat outside of his/her cage, but blue dot restrictions still apply when opening cages, entering condos and communals. Sign up in VIC (choose your own times) under Read to Calm. Document that you did Read to Calm on the individual cat page (check the box and write a note, even if no changes). When you do read to calm, indicate that you did so on the individual cat page.
HEADSTART TRAINING
Head Start for Cats-Clicker Training Can Cats be trained? Yes! Animals are learning all of the time Cats often have been thought to be untrainable because more traditional forms of animal training cause flight/avoidance behaviors Why train Cats? Mental enrichment Confidence-building Build relationships Modify undesired behaviors Increase appeal to adopters
It s All in the Approach Positive Reinforcement Training Rewards good behavior Builds bond with your animal Creates enthusiastic, confident learners Provides clear feedback that the animal understands Anyone can train Aversive Training Methods Suppresses bad behavior Can create fear and avoidance Negative associations with handler & environment Can result in more problematic behaviors Must be perfectly timed. Trainer/aversion must be present Trains out natural behavior/communication
Why Use a Clicker? With positive reinforcement, indicates immediately when a cat is right. Marks the behavior we are looking for. Cats then receive a primary reinforce (i.e play, treat). Clicked behaviors are more likely to happen. Behavior that is clicked must be rewarded. Advantage to using clicker is that is always sounds the same. Eliminates the need for no reward markers such as no or aach, etc.
What a Session Looks Like Cat stays in their location. Volunteer gathers all the necessary supplies (located at cat comforter station) Clicker Treats Target Stick Work in short intervals; sessions can be 1-2 minutes each. Take frequent breaks to avoid frustration. Document about visit in individual cat page
How to Get Started! Attend an upcoming training session Next training is on Saturday, November 3 rd from 1-4pm Open to all levels of cat comforting. What is Covered in Training? Steps to teaching a behavior. Different training techniques. Reward delivery. Looking at core skills for both active and shy cats. Lots of practice!
Adoption Successes!
Gillian Flynn Came from the 108 hoarding/breeder situation Spent time in foster, Downtown Cats, and Purrs Plaza Was one of the last adult Maine Coons to be adopted from the case Adopted by Karen D., one of our loving cat comforters!
Meg Spent over 5 months at HSHV/TLC Loved to be the center of attention But touch her the wrong way and she would make you pay! Adopted by a wonderful, self proclaimed sassy cat whisperer
Lula Mae (FKA Winnie) Came in on the love train at 7 weeks old LOVES water, her favorite thing is to sit under the running sink faucet Recently learned how fun it is to explore kitchen counters Gets along great with her older brother (HSHV alum) Oliver Adopted by long time dog walker Anja Z!
Tobias Scared, scared, scared when he came to HSHV Only 9 months old, but had already been passed along to several different households Adopted as a barn cat by dog walker volunteer Alexis M. And today
Pilar Came in as a stray at 12 years old Spent most of her time with HSHV in a foster home for medical concerns Adopted as a foster failure by Kristin S. and George E. She now has a cat sister, a dog sister, and a dog brother!
Foster Updates
2018 Foster Stats Busy year due to hoarding & breeding cases!! Close to 1200 placement of cats/kittens in foster Includes 67 nursing mothers (some of who were already pregnant. Also included 164 Bottle Babies 17 kittens with ringworm were sent to foster and 9 for FeLV observation
Who Goes to Foster?
Upcoming Fostering Events Interested in Fostering? Attend an upcoming orientation session. Saturday, October 6 th from 9-11am Wednesday, October 17 th from 6-8pm Help Feed the Animals Fundraiser for the Foster Program November 2 nd at 7:30pm Located at Bona Sera restaurant in Ypsilanti Live music and is FREE! Guests can make donations to the foster program Invite your friends! More information on the events calendar at www.hshv.org
What s Ahead?
Blue Dot Training Beginning October 1 st, hour requirements will be changing from 75 hours of cat comforting to 40. An email announcement will be sent out to all comforters updating everyone of this change. Every other aspect of the program will remain the same Monthly hour report run by volunteer department, email sent to volunteers with the 40 hours. Self study training on VIC which includes a presentation, video, and post training test (can be done online or printed and turned into Tawn) Once test is reviewed, a Welcome email for blue dot comforting will be sent, assignment will open up, and comforters can get a blue dot for nametag at cat comforter station.
Morning Feliway Will be changing to a Paw I assignment as of October 1 st (of course, Cat Comforters can still participate! ) Why the change? Similar to cat feeding, volunteers will not be interacting with the cats, just providing the feliway square. Just as with cat feeding, when entering condos volunteers are asked not to interact with the cats. Will provide better schedule coverage to open up to all volunteers.
Cat Comforter Education Series Will be returning! We are looking end of 2018-beginning of 2019. Email will be sent when dates are finalized. We want to know what you want to know! A brief survey will be sent in the upcoming weeks to get your feedback on topics you would like to know more about. A great way to learn more about working with the many personalities comforters encounter with our feline residents An opportunity to ask questions and to learn from staff and other volunteers.
Q&A s Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the cat comforting program! You make a difference!