Humane Animal Control

Humane Animal Control

Progressive Enforcement, Shelter Management, Local Government Support and Community Engagement

Humane Animal Control

Effective Enforcement, Shelter Management, Local Government Support and Community Engagement

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Contents

Foreword

1

CHAPTER 1

The Role of Animal Control in Local Government

3

CHAPTER 2

The Role of Local Government in Animal Control

9

CHAPTER 3

Shelter Operations and Lifesaving Programs

17

CHAPTER 4

Community Outreach and Engagement

31

CHAPTER 5

Coalition-Building

36

APPENDICES

41

APPENDIX A

Community Engagement Strategies

43

APPENDIX B

Management of Stray and Feral Cats

48

APPENDIX C

Animal Welfare Coalition-Building Action Kit

54

APPENDIX D

Return-to-Owner Strategies

97

APPENDIX E

Managed Intake

101

APPENDIX F

Delayed or Diverted Intake

105

APPENDIX G

Intake Diversion in the Field

116

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Humane Animal Control

APPENDIX H

Intake Diversion via Pet Retention

121

APPENDIX I

Adoption Programs

125

APPENDIX J

Shelter Liabilities

139

APPENDIX K

Enrichment for Cats in Shelters

142

APPENDIX L

Enrichment for Dogs in Shelters

169

APPENDIX M

Foster Programs

174

APPENDIX N

Volunteer Programs

184

APPENDIX O

Shelter Animal Data Collection

191

APPENDIX P

Dangerous Dog Investigations

197

APPENDIX Q

Progressive Animal Control Ordinances

213

APPENDIX R

Fundraising for Government-Funded Shelters

247

APPENDIX S

Public/Private Partnerships: Case Study

259

APPENDIX T

The Best Friends Network

262

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Foreword

In the following pages, you will find a road map for effective, community-based animal care and control. Best Friends Animal Society has assembled a collection of descriptions of our country's most successful lifesaving programs, written by those who helped make them possible. Whether you're a municipal employee new to this field or a seasoned veteran, we hope that this publication will empower you and your agency to expand the level of service you bring to the people and animals in your community.

Like most things, the world of animal care and control is forever changing. An ever-growing body of research and data is providing us with more insight into our work, and oftentimes inspiring us to let go of beliefs and practices that no longer apply. Today's animal care and control leaders are curious about their field and committed to staying abreast of the latest research, trends and operations from their colleagues. This guide is designed to feed that professional curiosity and commitment to learning.

While not every approach and opinion presented in this guide adhere perfectly to Best Friends' philosophy, the underlying values and shared commitment to saving lives are universal. And our hope is that this publication will help you better examine your own programs with an eye toward increasing animal welfare while fostering public safety and community harmony. And yes, we can do both at the same time.

Best Friends is committed to helping animal care and control agencies throughout the country achieve lifesaving success and put an end to the killing of animals in shelters. Through our network of thousands of animal welfare partners around the country, we're able to provide professional mentorships, shelter and field assessments, and other critical resources to agencies in need. Supporting the people and animals in our communities must be a team effort.

Thank you to the tireless and dedicated Best Friends Network partners, as well as the many Best Friends staff members, who made this publication possible. Through their collective expertise and shared vision, we've created a resource of the highest standards, worthy of those it aims to help.

The work we do together is helping to save lives and shape a brighter future for people and animals alike. Thank you for being a part of it.

Respectfully,

Scott Giacoppo

Director of national shelter outreach Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society 5001 Angel Canyon Road Kanab, UT 84741

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1CHAPTER 1

The Role of Animal Control in Local Government

By Scott Giacoppo, Best Friends director of national shelter outreach

Tracing its origins back to the mid-1800s, municipal animal control functions have experienced significant transition and growth. Originally charged with picking up and killing stray dogs to address the spread of rabies, local health departments hired individuals to go out into the cities and round up dogs found roaming the streets. Dubbed "dog catchers," these men were paid a reward per dog caught and killed. They were considered to be providing strictly a public safety function.

In 1863 the city of Los Angeles established the nation's first city "pound" to house stray animals, and more and more cities followed suit. In 1868, Henry Berg of New York formed the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the first organization of its kind in the country. Public awareness of the mistreatment of animals, both by individuals and local governments, soon led to changes in how animal control functioned and how stray and free-roaming animals were handled.

Animal care and control today

Today's animal care and control continues to provide the original public health and safety function, but now also focuses on animal protection. One of the reasons for this is that the public expects humane care of animals when they are in the hands of our government. No longer is catch-and-kill an acceptable answer to stray and free-roaming animals. The expectation is that while animals are in the care of animal control, they are properly fed, provided with necessary medical attention and physical and mental stimulation, and ultimately returned to their homes or rehomed.

Municipal animal shelters used to be referred to as the "pound," because animals were kept there during impoundment and simply killed once the legally mandated hold time ex-

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Humane Animal Control

pired. Today's animal care and control department plays a much more dynamic role in the

community, and long ago shed the "pound" name and image. Now commonly referred to as

an animal shelter, the focus is on achieving, at minimum, the five freedoms1 for all animals

in their care. And more and more shelters add a sixth freedom: the freedom from prema-

ture end of life for animals who are not terminally ill or dangerous. These shelters act as a

resource center for families, places where they

Never before has the

can adopt new animal companions, seek services to resolve issues with their pets and find

public been so interested

lost pets, as well as provide community service

and involved in the

in the way of volunteering.

care of animals in their communities, and as a result this provides animal control agencies with exceptional opportunities to improve the quality of

Never before has the public been so interested and involved in the care of animals in their communities, and as a result this provides animal control agencies with exceptional opportunities to improve the quality of care they provide. With these new opportunities, however, come new challenges and financial con-

care they provide.

siderations from our governments. The cost

of care is increasing as the services provided

grow to meet societal expectations and needs.

Those costs include providing daily care and enrichment, such as proper sanitation and

disease control, proper nutrition, adequate physical and mental stimulation, and proper

medical care. (Veterinary service costs in general are rising.) All of this, of course, is part

of ensuring that no animal suffers during his or her stay in the shelter. Facility management

comes with additional costs, as does staffing the facility with appropriately trained profes-

sionals. In today's highly competitive world, competitive salaries are needed to recruit and

retain skilled staff.

While the costs have increased, a recent study2 conducted by students from the Gradu-

ate School of Social Work at the University of Denver looked at the economic impact these

types of cost increases had on the city of Austin, Texas, and concluded:

"The costs associated with implementing the (no-kill resolution) appear to have been

more than offset by a series of economic benefits to the community. The majority of the

positive economic impacts result from increased employment within animal services as well

as the increased use of pet care and pet retail services. An additional benefit appears to be

the positive contribution of Austin's progressive animal welfare policies to its brand equity.

This impact is important as municipalities compete with each other to attract employee de-

mographics that in turn draw new business and new economic growth to their area."

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