Intake Policies That Save Lives Austin, Texas Tawny Hammond Chief Animal Services Officer Austin Animal Center Kristen Auerbach Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer Austin Animal Center July 14-17, 2016 1
Part I REDUCING SHELTER INTAKE AN OVERVIEW In the United States: We ve come a long way! 1970: 15 million cats and dogs euthanized 2015: 2.6 million euthanized In Austin, Texas 2006: 15,000 euthanized 2015: fewer than 1,000 animals euthanized July 14-17, 2016 2
Why? Spay and neuter initiatives started in the 80s Adoption programs - pound model to animal shelter Trap-Neuter-Return Community and rescue partnerships In Austin, in 1992, annual intake was 35,500. In 2009, it was 23,000. Today, it is 18,000. What you need to know What animals are most at risk in your community? Neonatal kittens and puppies Pets with treatable skin conditions Senior/geriatric pets and those with manageable, lifelong conditions Animals with URI, puppies with parvo Cats with FIV or FeLV Cats not socialized with people Medium and large adult dogs Small animals, exotics, wildlife and agricultural animals Any animal in times of space crisis Dogs with behavioral challenges Animals needing medical/behavioral support July 14-17, 2016 3
Develop intake reduction programs focused on most at-risk groups ASK THESE QUESTIONS 1. Are population problems seasonal? 2. Is one species more at risk? 3. What are barriers to reducing intake? 4. Do you need to be thinking about intake reduction in your community? July 14-17, 2016 4
Other things to know. How are animals getting to the shelter? Why are they coming in? More surrenders or strays? What are existing resources in your community? Big picture questions: 1. Can we, through intake reduction strategies, change the hearts and minds of people in our communities? Can we create a culture where pets are no longer disposable and stem the tied of convenience surrenders and dumping? 2. The municipal shelter will always be necessary as long as people still have crises in their life. How do we balance fulfilling our role as the safety net for homeless animals as well as our need to reduce intake so all animals coming into our care make it out alive? July 14-17, 2016 5
Part II STRATEGIES FOR INTAKE REDUCTION No Brainers 1. Drop boxes close them down 2. Stop nuisance and trap and kill of cats and wildlife 3. Trap-neuter-return 4. Rescue partnerships 5. Adoptions 6. Follow the No Kill Equation July 14-17, 2016 6
Spay and neuter We offer: Proactive Crisis Intervention Temporary boarding through the PASS program Training support through PASS program Rehoming assistance Veterinary assistance program multiple funding sources Over-the-counter resources food, crates, supplies Affordable housing resource list Pet haven/safe Haven program for pets of victims of domestic violence Temporary holding for those facing homelessness/transitional housing July 14-17, 2016 7
A note about housing About 20% of surrenders are due to housing issues. Breed, species and size discrimination must be fought outside the shelter. Join the Humane Society s Pets are Welcome campaign Talk to local leadership about how housing issues impact homeless animals and shelter intake. In the shelter, Provide lists of apartments that do not discriminate Stop doing landlord checks Fight for a mixed breed option Advocate dog-by-dog At Intake Things you should know: 1. What is your intake area called? 2. Is it separate from other parts of the shelter? 3. How is it set up? To provide resources or just to take animals? 4. What changes could be made so intake isn t just a taken-for-granted outcome? 5. Does your shelter do appointment-based or managed intake? 6. Does your shelter take all animals regardless of age, health, temperament? 7. Does your shelter scan for microchips and try to find owner prior to intake? 8. Does your shelter offer resources to people surrendering at point of intake? July 14-17, 2016 8
What is managed or appointmentbased intake? Owner requested Euthanasia July 14-17, 2016 9
Beyond TNR SNR and Barn Cat Programs Keeping Ringworm Cats Home July 14-17, 2016 10
Engaging the community to help kittens In the Field Return-in-field program (10% of strays) with resources offered to owner upon return Fence repair and dog-houses Microchip clinics and neighborhood sweeps Chasing dogs home community spay and neuter Spay and neuter 40,000 spay/neuter surgeries of owned, shelter and community pets last year through partnerships with local groups Signs posted when animals are picked up Bite dogs quarantined at home whenever possible July 14-17, 2016 11
Fencing project Hard decisions July 14-17, 2016 12
Crisis Management In October of 2015, we had a major flood With 55 of our kennels flooded, we had more than 50 dogs living in temporary crates July 14-17, 2016 13
We asked the community for help We asked for emergency fosters. And for people to hold stray pets to give owners time to find them. We deferred all owner surrenders for several days, except for true emergencies. Within 24 hours, all 50 dogs were in foster homes. JD with his foster dad during the space crisis JD back at the shelter several weeks later People stationed outside Just by moving your intake or lost and found area, you let your community know you re in a crisis situation. July 14-17, 2016 14
Not one dog or cat was euthanized due to space JD eventually got a new mom and about 20% of the dogs and cats who went to emergency fosters were foster fails. So were people upset? July 14-17, 2016 15
Part III WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Shelter services become community services July 14-17, 2016 16
1. Pets for Life model 2. Subsidizing keeping pets home fosters, fees 3. More resources allocated for those in crisis 4. Increased efforts toward ending convenience surrenders and dumping 5. Microchip and sterilization sweeps vs. round-ups 6. A changing vision for animal sheltering Pathways forward A holistic view of animal services July 14-17, 2016 17
What should the role of a shelter be? The purpose of our animal shelter To be a true safe haven for animals in need, whether they be sick, injured, newborn or otherwise need a helping hand. To save all of these animals except those who are truly and irremediably suffering. The goal of reducing intake is to, whenever possible and when in the best interest of the animal, keep animals out of the shelter and in their homes and in their communities. July 14-17, 2016 18
So what is your role in reducing intake into your local shelter? Thank you! Contact us! Tawny.Hammond@austintexas.gov Kristen.Auerbach@austintexas.gov Or find us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook! July 14-17, 2016 19