Iowa County Humane Society Asilomar Accords Animal Classifications In order to improve consistency and clarity the Iowa County Humane Society (ICHS) has decided to accept the following Asilomar Accords definitions as a standard for categorizing dogs and cats in our care. Please note that the definitions are not meant to define the outcome for each animal entrusted to our care. Unhealthy/Untreatable does not automatically mean the animal is a candidate for euthanasia and Treatable/Rehabilitatable does not automatically mean the animal will be adopted. An animal's classification can move from one category to another based on changes in its condition or the resources of the ICHS. Learn more at http://www.asilomaraccords.org/definitions.html Asilomar Accords Animal Classifications Definitions with ICHS After Evaluation ICHS Action Healthy (H) Healthy (H) The term "healthy" means and includes all dogs and cats eight weeks of Animal is available immediately for adoption. age or older that, at or subsequent to the time the animal is taken into possession, have manifested no sign of a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet. Also, the animals have shown no sign of disease, injury, a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future. Treatable (T) The term "treatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are "rehabilitatable" and all dogs and cats who are "manageable." ICHS Clarification: "Treatable" also indicates animals that are "responsive to treatment". This means animals that respond to appropriate treatment within a "reasonable time frame". "Responsive to treatment" means that an animal's symptoms or condition improve as a result of the treatment, thus minimizing signs of the condition and resulting in improved health or behavior, comfort and greater potential adoptability for the animal. "Reasonable time frame" is variable between different symptoms or conditions and may also be variable depending on the severity of the symptoms or condition. This time frame is to be determined by individuals or groups experienced in animal care (veterinarians, trained shelter staff, trainers, behaviorists, et al). Page 1 Treatable (T) These animals may be available for adoption provided the potential adopter is made aware of the problem behavior or medical condition, has or is provided with the knowledge/skills/tools to continue the training/behavior modification or treatment in the new home, and is willing to accept the challenge of the disclosed problem behavior or medical condition.
Asilomar Accords Animal Classifications Definitions with ICHS After Evaluation ICHS Action Rehabilitatable (TR) Manageable (TM) Rehabilitatable (TR) Manageable (TM) The term "rehabilitatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are not "healthy", but who are likely to become "healthy" if given medical, foster, behavioral or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community. The term "manageable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are not "healthy" and who are not likely to become "healthy", regardless of the care provided; but who would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life, if given medical, foster, behavioral or other care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring owners/guardians in the community. However, the term "manageable" does not include any dog or cat who is determined to pose a significant risk to human health or safety or to the health or safety of other animals. Animal is placed into a medical treatment plan or into a behavior modification program with individual animalspecific training scripts. While the animal is in the shelter, regular medical reassessments will be done. Reevaluate behavior at 3 week intervals, if the animal has been worked with a minimum of 4 days per week, until adopted. Animal is placed into a medical treatment plan or into a behavior modification program with individual animal-specific training scripts. While the animal is in the shelter, regular medical reassessments will be done. Re-evaluate behavior at 3 week intervals, if the animal has been worked with a minimum of 4 days per week. Provide training classes for the new adopter with weekly follow ups and take-home copies of all applicable training scripts being used for the animal. New adopter is provided with take-home copies of ongoing medical care. Page 2
Asilomar Accords Animal Classifications Definitions with ICHS Unhealthy and Untreatable (UU) The term "unhealthy and untreatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who, at or subsequent to the time they are taken into possession: 1) Have a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that poses a health or safety risk or otherwise makes the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or 2) Are suffering from a disease, injury, a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the animal's health or is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or After Evaluation ICHS Action Unhealthy and Untreatable (UU) Animal is transferred to a suitable rescue or sanctuary within 45 days of UU designation. In the event that no suitable rescue or sanctuary is found within the time limit listed, a Review of Animal Status will be undertaken to ensure that the animal has received the best care that the ICHS can provide and that all policies and procedures have been followed. Euthanasia may be considered once all other alternatives have been explored. Any euthanasia decision would be made according to current bylaws and policies and procedures of the ICHS. 3) Are under the age of eight weeks and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable," even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community. ICHS Clarification: "Unhealthy and untreatable" might also apply to an animal that has a condition generally thought of as treatable but the individual animal is "unresponsive to treatment". That is, an animal that fails to respond to an appropriate treatment within a "reasonable time frame". "Unresponsive to treatment" means that an animal's symptoms or condition do not improve as a result of the treatment. These animals do not experience a significant lessening of symptoms or improvement in their condition that results in improved health, behavior, comfort and adoptability. "Reasonable time frame" is variable between different symptoms or conditions and may also be variable depending on the severity of the symptoms or condition. This time frame is to be determined by individuals or groups experienced in animal care (veterinarians, trained shelter staff, trainers, behaviorists, et al). Page 3
Financial Guidelines ICHS does need to give consideration to the cost of the initial and ongoing care of the animal. For dogs and cats more than eight weeks of age, the ICHS can authorize up to $500 for treatment of a specific injury or illness and, if needed, up to $250 per year for ongoing care of a manageable issue. These costs are above and beyond what are considered to be normal costs of basic care at the shelter. Special care expenses exceeding these limits shall be evaluated on a case by case basis and will require alternative funding or volunteer resources. This can be in the form of, but not limited to, a specific gift or sponsorship of an animal by an individual or group of individuals or extra funding available via the Circle of Caring Fund. These guidelines are made provided that the ICHS has the financial, physical, and staffing resources necessary to provide such treatment(s) and/or a suitable foster home that can provide such resources. Financial resources shall be directed first toward medical conditions. If sufficient resources are available, behavioral issues may be treated consistent with the above guidelines. However, treatment for anxiety, kennel stress or other similar conditions that affect the health of an animal shall be considered medical issues. Iowa County Humane Society Classification & Financial Guidelines - 21 Feb. 2013 Page 4
Iowa County Humane Society Behavior Matrix - 21 Feb. 2013 Healthy (H) 8 weeks of age or older with no sign of behavioral characteristics that pose a health or safety risk and no sign of disease, injury or a condition that adversely affects the animal's health now or in the future. Treatable-Rehabilitatable (TR) Animals who have behavioral characteristics of concern, but are likely to become healthy if given medical, foster, behavioral or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners in our communities. Fearfulness/Shyness - mild Urine Marking -mild Separation Anxiety - mild Dog to Cat Aggression - mild Unsocialized - mild Fear/Pain Aggression - mild Submissive Urination - mild Level 1 Bite Incidents Treatable-Manageable (TM) Animals who have behavioral characteristics of concern and who are not likely to become healthy regardless of the care provided; but who would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life if given medical, foster, behavioral or other care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners in our communities. Fearfulness/Shyness - moderate Inappropriate Defecation - cats with no aggression Resource/Territorial/Protective Guarding Separation Anxiety -moderate Behavior - mild to moderate Unsocialized - moderate Dog to Cat Aggression-moderate Compulsive Behaviors - mild to moderate Cat to Cat or Dog to Dog Aggression - Excessive Vocalization mild to moderate Phobias - mild to moderate Fear/Pain Aggression - moderate Submissive Urination - moderate Dominance Aggression - mild to moderate Urine Marking/Spraying - moderate Aggression Towards People - mild to moderate Housetraining Issues Level 2 Bite Incidents Level 3 Provoked Bite Incidents Unhealthy-Untreatable (UU) Animals who have behavioral characteristics that pose a health or safety risk and are not likely to become healthy or treatable even if given the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners in our communities. Separation Anxiety - severe Unsocialized - severe including feral animals Compulsive Behaviors - severe Phobias - severe Inappropriate Urination (cats) Resource/Territorial/Protective Guarding Behavior - severe Dominance Aggression - severe Level 3 Unprovoked Bite incidents All Level 4 and Above Bite Incidents Multiple Bite Incidents (poor bite inhibition) Any type of aggression that poses a safety risk to humans or other domestic animals Animals with multiple conditions at the TM level may be considered UU on a case by case basis Page 5
Iowa County Humane Society Animal Injury Scale** Level 1 Obnoxious or aggressive behavior but no skin contact by teeth or claws. Level 2 Level 3 Skin contact by teeth or claws but no skin puncture. One to four punctures from a single bite or clawing incident 1. There may be lacerations in a single direction, caused by the victim pulling away, someone pulling the animal away or gravity. Level 4 One to four punctures from a single bite with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the animal's canine (fang) teeth. May also have deep bruising around the wound (animal held on and bore down) or lacerations in both directions (animal held on and shook its head from side to side). Level 5 Multiple bite incident with at least two level 4 bites or multiple attack incidents Level 6 Victim dies. ** Adapted from Dr. Ian Dunbar, Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Bite Scale 1 Single bite or clawing incident = animal bites once in one location on the victim's body. 2 Multiple bite incident = animal bites in more than one location on the victim's body during a single incident. 3 Multiple attack incidents = animal bites on more than one occasion. Page 6
Iowa County Humane Society Medical Matrix - 21 Feb. 2013 Healthy (H) 8 weeks of age or older with no sign of behavioral characteristics that pose a health or safety risk and no sign of disease, injury or a condition that adversely affects the animal's health now or in the future. Geriatric Benign Skin Tumors Treatable-Rehabilitatable (TR) Animals who are not healthy, but are likely to become healthy if given medical, foster, behavioral or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners in our communities. Orphaned (unweaned, unweaned)* Vomiting (acute) Pregnant Diarrhea (acute) Thin Constipation (acute) Obese Leptospirosis Conjunctivitis Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Eyelid Changes Anal gland Infection/Impaction/Abscess (acute) Ear Mites Hernia Ear Infection (mild, moderate) Broken Bone (mild) * Ear (Nasopharyngeal) Polyps Tick Borne Disease Dental Disease (mild, moderate) Ringworm* Other Teeth Issues Fleas Rhinitis/Sinusitis (mild, moderate) Dermatitis - Bacterial or Yeast Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) Laceration (mild, moderate) Sarcoptic Mange Lower Respiratory Infection Demodex Mange (juvenile, focal) (mild, moderate) Acral Lick /Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex Intestinal Parasites Mast Cell Tumor (stage 1) Treatable-Manageable (TM) Animals who are not healthy and are not likely to become healthy regardless of the care provided; but who would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life if given medical, foster, behavioral or other care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners in our communities. Disabled/Amputee Incontinence (fecal, urinary) Blind/Deaf Anal Gland Infection/Abscess (recurrent) Dental Issues (severe) Broken Bone (moderate) * Rhinitis/Sinusitis (severe, chronic) Intervertebral Disc Disease Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) (mobile/voiding normally)* (severe, chronic) Patellar Luxation Lower Respiratory Infection Arthritis * (recurrent or chronic) Muscle Loss * Page 7
Treatable-Manageable (TM) (continued) Heart Murmurs (mild, moderate, severe) Hair Loss Heart Failure (controlled) Allergy - Atopy (Inhalant), Flea, Food, Contact Heartworm Disease Schwannoma/Neurofibroma Vomiting (chronic) Hyperthyroidism Diarrhea (chronic) Hypothyroidism Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Feline Leukemia (FELV) (asymptomatic) Pancreatitis (acute, chronic) Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Constipation (chronic, recurrent) (asymptomatic) Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) Diabetes Mellitus Bladder Stone Lipomas (non-infiltrative) Kidney Failure (chronic) * General Cancer (surgical) * Unhealthy-Untreatable (UU) Animals that are suffering from a disease, injury or other medical condition that adversely affects the animal's health or is likely to adversely affect that animal's health in the future and is not likely to become healthy or treatable even if provided the care typically given to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners in our communities. Animals With > 3 Medical/Behavioral Broken Bone (severe, complex) * Concerns (case by case) Intervertebral Disc Disease Unable To Maintain Weight (paralyzed/voiding issues) (through normal feeding methods) Ruptured ACL (RACL) * Ear Infection (chronic, severe) Mast Cell Tumor (stage 3) Lower Respiratory Infection Bone Cancer (Osteosarcoma) (severe, chronic) Lymphoma Heart Failure (uncontrolled) General Cancer (non-surgical) Parvovirus/Panleukopenia Fungal Infection (systemic) Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) Feline Leukemia Virus (FELV) Splenectomy (symptomatic, unresponsive, cancer) (mass, torsion, autoimmune) * Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Fatty Liver (Feline Hepatic Lipidosis) * (symptomatic, unresponsive, cancer) Kidney Failure (acute) * Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Kidney Failure (end stage) * Special considerations apply (i.e. foster care, sponsorship, pet is feeling good, etc.) Page 8