The Future of Animal Welfare Celebrating the bond between people and pets Roger Haston, PhD PetSmart Charities A Cattle Dog s Dilemma 1
A Brief History of Animal Welfare Really brief but super relevant The Five Freedoms Hunger & Thirst Discomfort Pain, Injury & Disease Normal Behavior Fear & Distress 2
1869: Cruelty Abuse Suffering The History of the Five Freedoms 1964 1965 Release of Ruth Harrison s Animal Machines book which highlighted the abysmal conditions for agricultural animals in Britain UK Government commissioned an investigation, led by Professor Roger Brambell, into the welfare of intensively farmed animals From this, the Five Freedoms were developed Roger Brambell 3
The 1970s: Era of the Pound 1990s: Focus on Outcomes First appearance of the no kill movement Large well funded shelters developed Growth of low cost spay neuter begins to impact intake Public awareness around the value of adoption grows 4
2000s: A Common Framework 2004 in Asilomar A g r o u p w a s c o n v e n e d t o Build a bridge across varying philosophies Develop relationships and create goals focused on significantly reducing the euthanasia of healthy and treatable companion animals Develop some guiding principles and a common metric for success Birth of Live Release Rate A push for transparency 2005: Hurricane Katrina 5
Changing Attitudes Towards Pets 1940 1980 2010 B a c k y a r d B e d r o o m Growth of Animal Rights 6
Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights Consequentialism Concerned with choosing the action that will bring about the greatest good for the greatest number of individuals. Prevention of unnecessary suffering Ensure a good quality of life and humane death. Kantian Theories Assumes all subjects-of-a life possess inherent value and must be treated as ends-in-themselves, never as a means to an end. A right may not be sacrificed even if the consequences of doing so are appealing or negative. Example: Peter Singer Examples: Tom Regan, Gary Francione Colliding Frameworks 7
2010s: Rising Conflict and Confusion? Have We Been Successful? Putting it in perspective 8
Tremendous Progress In 1970 23,000,000 Euthanasias In 2017 All 50 States In 1986 Just 4 States with Felony Provisions In 2017 1,500,000 Euthanasias The Winds of Change We live in a moment of history where change is so sped up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing. ~R. D. Laing 9
Current Trends to Consider Animal supply & demand Transfers and transport Small Rescues Where people adopt The underserved Economics of sheltering Attitude polarization A Growing Inventory Problem We are running out of dogs people want. but not everywhere 10
Intake is Declining Shelters Don t Have What People Want 5000 Number of Animals 4000 3000 2000 Intake Outflows 1000 0 Pitbull/Mix Chihuahua German Shep Terrier Mix Lab/Lab Mix Boxer Sib Husky/Mix Poodle Toy 11
Blocky-Headed Whatevers Transport You re not from around here, are you? 12
Explosion of Transfers 778,385 Dogs in 2016 Highly Adoptable Gets Transferred 4000 Number of Animals 3000 2000 1000 0 Public Coalition Outside Healthy TR TM UU 13
Dog-O-Nomics $25 to $50 at Source $300 to $450 at Destination 300,000 to 500,000 in 2016 ($400 - $50) * 300,000 =$105,000,000 Potential Revenue This amount of money can attract some bad actors and create problems in both the source and destination communities if not managed holistically Small Rescues They are big and unregulated 14
Animal Welfare Organizations Estimated to be over 10,000 Rescue or Hoarder Hoarding is on the rise 15
How People Adopt is Changing It s a competitive world Changing Public Expectations Now Then 16
1,000,000 Retail Adoptions Changing the Adoption Landscape Animal Welfare Deserts We are very successful with the people that we are very successful with... 17
Blind Spots The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. Helen Keller Where People Get Their Pets 120% 100% Underserved 80% 60% 40% 20% Petstore Rescue/Shelter Breeder Offspring Friend/Relative Stray 0% APPA Pets ForLife 18
Pets-For-Life Data 100% Percent of People 75% 50% 25% 0% No Vet Experience No Shelter or AC Contact Why Free is Too Expensive I need time off work for my cat How do I catch this thing? Jerry has a cat Cat carrier $20 Band-Aids $10 4 hrs * $15/hr = $60 Free = $50 to $100 Or more X Free S/N Can I borrow your car? Gas $20 19
Challenging a Tradition View Shelter Economics The business model is not viable for most but some will thrive 20
San Diego El Paso Austin Phoenix San Antonio Springfield MA SF Ft. Worth Richmond VA Dallas Cleveland Charlotte San Jose Trenton Albuquerque Columbus OH Baltimore Indianapolis Seattle Pittsburg Jacksonville FL Worchester MA Nashville Orlando Greenville Louisville KY Philadelphia Montgomery Hartford Chicago Jackson MS Boston MA Charleston $- Per Capita Spending $10.00 $8.00 $6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $12.00 $14.00 $16.00 Municipal Spending Disparity 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Percent Increase in Cost From Year 2000 (Inflation adjusted) 0% 50% Average from 200 shelters 100% 150% 200% 250% Skyrocketing Cost of Sheltering 2015 8/9/2018 21
Attitude Polarization The Growing Divide Are We in An Echo Chamber? 22
A Growing Disconnect? Us Them A Loss Of Perspective Memphis -- Director Receives Death Threats Bomb, death threats beset Lindon Animal Shelter Clarksville crying dog video, petition spur death threats Death threats against San Bernardino animal shelter workers When you start to threaten my family, you have gone too far Death threats at animal shelter land man in jail Augusta animal director receives death threats over euthanasia 23
Looking Outside Our World Where can we look to understand the future? The Extremes of Policies The devastating impact of Italy s no-kill legislation 24
Addressing a Problem Education Licensing & Registration Early Interdiction Strict and Severe Enforcement Up to $10,000 fine for aggressive dog attack Potential court ordered euthanasia Getting Under One Roof Australia consolidated all of the animal welfare groups under a single organization British Columbia has built a large organization that has consolidated over 50 organizations 25
The Future of Animal Welfare Pets, people, professionalization preserving the bond, and a whole new set of metrics A Purely Business Perspective Current Trends in Animal Welfare Increasing Cost Inconsistent Supply Chain Hard to Access Customers Increasing Competition Confused Consumer Messaging Increased Public Scrutiny Flat to Declining Market Increasing Regulatory Pressure Low Barrier to Entry 26
Consolidate & Disaggregate Consolidation is happening San Diego Washington Minneapolis Milwaukee... Disaggregation The need is not located where the revenue is generated Organizations need to functionally split and locate in the appropriate locale Professionalization & Diversification Professional certifications and qualifications Human service training We risk marginalizing ourselves in society Passion is not enough We serve people and pets, not just pets 27
Honest Risk Assessment No formal risk assessment methodology Community data on public safety issues is sparse and often flawed Discount the cost of a negative experience Need to be honest about the consequence of aggression Public safety and animal welfare are not mutually exclusive Difficult Road Ahead M a ny o f t h e m e s s a ges a n d b e l i efs t h at h ave m a d e u s s u c c e s sful a re starting to get i n o u r way Animals should only be adopted Adoptable Save them all No Kill Donate to save this poor sad creature locked away in a dirty, dank, stinky shelter where no one cares Public safety 28
Where We Can Be Preserving and building the relationship between all pets and people Eliminating cruelty, suffering and abuse Maintaining public trust and safety Community Access Health The Bond Between People & Pets 29
People and Pets 71% Of pet owning women in domestic violence situations had pets abused or killed by their partner 48% Of domestic violence victims delay leaving their abuser due to fear for their animal What Keeps Me Going I don t know how I would have lived through and left a quite abusive husband, even now if I cry or feel like I can t go on what is the point of existing?... she will walk up and make me smile she gives me a reason to get up to come home to breathe From Community Veterinary Outreach 30
A Cattle Dog s Dilemma Ringo, 2008-2018 every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are. Thank you for Listening 31