Ideal Homeless Animal Management System

Here is a model for establishing an effective community infrastructure that will safeguard animals and lower regional euthanasia rates. In this system it is vitally important that organizations have shared goals and understand that no one person or agency will end this problem on their own, it takes a community effort. Everyone's role must be defined and agencies must work within those roles for best results.

Generally speaking, nonprofit organization do what most nonprofit agencies do, extend the services that governments are unable to provide. They do not provide base animal control service in their area.

Program	Action	Reason	Responsibility
Organization	Separate Animal Control and Nonprofit Organizations With Partnership	Different missions Different funding sources Compromises humane ethic, reduces regional shelter capacity. Underfunds proactive programs	Nonprofit
Goal Setting	Shared Regional Goals to lower impoundment and euthanasia rates, increase spay/neuter and microchip rates	Raise community awareness Every organization shares in rehoming success and takes responsibility for pet's lost. (No good guys or bad guys, All in this together)	Every companion animal person and organization
Ordinance Enforcement	Government animal control (professional officers)	Government enforcement and response to citizen calls Better staffed and equipped to perform these functions. Empowered by law.	The Government (By law)
Animal Control Funding	$5 to $6 per capita for Animal Control with 25% going to proactive programs like spay/neuter and permanent identification.	Animal control is a public service for the entire community, not just animal owners. This program should receive general fund money.	Local county or city government
Animal Control	Euthanize surplus animals	Maintain the carrying capacity of the community	Animal Control ONLY
Nonprofit Animal Welfare	A No-kill, low-kill, care until adopted, aggressive adoption, non profit organization	Increased public support and resources. Administer proactive programs that prevent animals from becoming impounded. Increases adoptions and market share.	All Community nonprofits
Stray Animal Impoundment	Take in strays	Keep public safe	Animal Control
Owner Relinquishment	Receive owner released Limited admissions based on ability to place pet	Provide temporary housing for those who can no longer keep their pets.	Nonprofits
Animal Control Transfers	Transfer animal to nonprofit for adoption (at no cost)	Nonprofit better able to market and adopt animals More public participation because animals in shelter are not on "death row."	Nonprofit Animal Control
Animal Control Adoptions	Nonprofit handles Animal Control adoptions	Nonprofits are better able to market pets available for adoption to community	Nonprofits Animal Control
Permanent Identification - Part of license program	Low cost lifetime license with microchip and spay/neuter 80% usage Rate	Lower volume of strays Track ownership Save Animal Lives by increasing return to owner rate	Animal Control
Lost and Found	Lost animal recovery handled by nonprofit with shared data base	Greater staffing resources Better equipped to administer program	Nonprofit
Microchips	Subsidies for low income owners	Safeguard pets	Nonprofit
Microchips	ID a thons	Increase microchip use	Nonprofits
Visual Identification	Supply visual ID Tag (take donations only)	Increase Pet ID Rate	Nonprofit
Spay/Neuter	10,000 spay/neuters per year	Reduce supply of surplus pets	Nonprofits Animal Control
Spay/Neuter	Low-cost Clinic	Align Supply with demand	Animal Control Nonprofits
Spay/Neuter	All animals S/N before adoption release	S/N deposits don't work. Shelters can't contribute to the surplus problem	All Adoption Shelters
Spay/Neuter	Mobile S/N van	More accessible to low income, ethnic and rural communities	Nonprofit
Spay/Neuter	Veterinary Vouchers	More affordable for low-income and casual caretakers (People who feed stray cats)	County or City Governments
Spay/Neuter	Feral Cat S/N Program	Stem volume of kittens from feral colonies	Nonprofits
Spay/Neuter	Spay athons	Raise public awareness	Nonprofits & veterinarians
Pet Retention	Low-cost Dog Training Classes	Prevent problems Help owners bond	Nonprofits Veterinarians Animal Control Breeders
Pet Retention	Behavior Hot Line	Help owners work out problems	Nonprofits
Pet Retention	Preadoption Test	Detect high probability of relinquishments and offer training	Nonprofit Animal Control Veterinarians Breeders
Pet Retention	New Owner Orientation	Get new owners off on the right track and prevent unwitting abuse	Nonprofits Animal Control Veterinarians Breeders
Pet Health Care and Rehabilitation	Care for sick and injured homeless pets	Fulfill the humane ethic	Nonprofit
Low income programs	Reduced rates for S/N, Microchips and training	Go right to the source of most surplus animal problems.	Nonprofits Animal control
Veterinarian Involvement	Offer low-cost spay/neuter Take government vouchers Perform early-age spay/neuter Offer behavior exams at 6 mo Offer training classes or refer	Key contacts with pet owning community	Veterinarians Governments
Feral, Free-Roaming Cats	Trap/Vaccinate/Alter/Release	Reduce oversupply of cats from main source, feral cats	Nonprofits
Breeders	Breeders Certification	Offers a way to distinguish between responsible and charlatan breeders.	Local All Breed Clubs
Pet Acquisition	Local (coalition sponsored) pet acquisition agency	Refer public to available pets. Monitor activity. Eventually be able to align supply with demand for area animals	Community Pet Coalition