an amazing tool for shelters - cloud object storage · adoption" cat room that is ready for...
TRANSCRIPT
Capacity for Care -an amazing tool for shelters
Cynthia Karsten, DVM
Koret Shelter Medicine Program University of California, Davis
www.sheltermedicine.com
Beautiful picture?
Respiratory disease risk in a pretty typical U.S. shelter, 1999
Dinnage, J. D., J. M. Scarlett, et al. (2009). "Descriptive epidemiology of feline upper respiratory tract disease in an animal shelter." J Feline Med Surg.
661/2203
Beyond respiratory disease
Well intentioned efforts
And still…
WHY????
49 questions including cage size, material and number, hiding place, handling, infectious disease control, vaccination, feeding, timing of S/N,
air quality, natural light, dog exposure
Environmental and group health risk factors for feline respiratory disease in North American animal shelters
Nine shelters, > 30,000 cats, 4,930 cases of respiratory disease
> 50-fold variation in risk per cat per day
After all that, what mattered most?
Drum roll please…
Greater than 9 square feet of floor spaceDouble compartment housing
Half as many cats
UC Davis Housing Research- Cage Size Project
Municipal shelterHealth adult cats
‒Strays or surrender‒‘Handleable’‒Randomly assigned
• Small - 103• Large - 91
Small Cage
“ 2’ x 2’ ” cageHiding BoxSmall litter boxFood dishWater dish
Large Cage
4’ Double CompartmentTwo shelvesTwo pass through
portalsHiding BoxSmall litter boxFood dishWater dish
Data Collected
Behavioral stress score‒Daily
Appetite ‒Daily
Weight ‒Weekly
Uri IncidenceOutcome
Stre
ss S
core
Stress Score by day & Outcome
Day in shelter
Eureka!
Easier said than done
Not a unique problem
http://cfhs.ca/athome/cat_overpopulation_crisis/
New approach
http://www.sheltervet.org/ (scroll down for quick link)
http://www.aspcapro.org/checklist
“The mother of all standards”“Every sheltering organization has a maximum capacity for care, and the population in their care must not exceed that level.”
• Housing for individuals and groups• Staff to provide daily care, monitoring and
enrichment• Appropriate outcomes to match incoming
population(Shelter Standards, page 18-20)
2011, Vancouver, BC: “Capacity for Care for Cats”
Over a year passes…
Surprise update
Hi, I really wanted to share the success that the South Peace shelter has had based on the many wonderful ideas presented by Dr. Hurley in the capacity for care workshop. As a manager of a very small branch servicing a very large area and a supporter of welfare based care, I have struggled with the large quantities of cats entering our facility vs. providing optimal care.
We have managed to reduce our in care inventory from an average of 120 animals to under 50. I have attached a picture of Saturday's "emptied by adoption" cat room that is ready for the next weeks surrenders….What has been crystal clear here is that this model works and the real winners are the cats. In a recent conversation I had to think very hard about when I last saw a cat with herpes URI symptoms at the Shelter. What we did see is an increase in cat adoption.
Our cat adoption rates looked like this:2008 2009 2010 2011 201243% 68% 54% 60% 102%
WOW!!!
“I have seen a shift in the attitude of the public. We are becoming the place were people come for the best cats and dogs. There is certainly a higher volume of happy public traffic these days. The staff and animals give three cheers to the Capacity for Care guidelines. Clearly the animals win!!”
What happened???Calculated target number of
cats based on predicted adoptionsSet standard for housing sizePortalized or opened portals,
dropped group room population to recommended levels
http://cfhs.ca/athome/cat_overpopulation_crisis/ page 47
Before
Taking the plunge
http://www.spca.bc.ca/branches/vancouver/news/news-cat-portals.html#.UyeAZ8tOXIU
28
After
Average total length of stay in shelter decreased from 40 days to 22 days (x 803 cats = 14,454 fewer days of cat care)
Average # cats in isolation ward decreased from 12 to 1
More data“I know our shelters and most of the staff well. Within seconds of walking in and without asking questions or looking at animals I can tell if they’re practicing C4C simply by reading the staff and reflecting back to what they were like prior to C4C. I can actually feel the reduction in their stress. It’s due to them having the time to properly provide for the animals. “
“Very rare for us now to have URI”
“Cats are more relaxed and
healthy…staff is less stressed”
“An overwhelming
success: adoption rate is way
up…cats are happier and more
adoptable”
“The best thing I have seen happen
for cats in the shelter…adoptions up 22%...less stress
for animals and staff”
“Almost doubled our adoption
rate…much larger number are finding
homes faster”
“I love this program…adoptions up 13%...the cats are so happy they don’t say long…length of
stay is down by over 50%”
“Euthanasia down by 15%...length of stay decreased by an amazing 63%”
“Adoptions are up, sickness is down, staff have more
time.”
“Everyone is less stressed…euthanasia is down 40%...we can
now take in more surrenders and strays”Wow!!!
What is “C4C”? Freedom from: Hunger and thirst Discomfort Pain, injury and disease Fear and distress
Freedom to: Express normal behavior
The basis of the first four freedoms
9 square feet floor space, double compartment single housing18 square feet floor
space per cat in group housingHousing appropriate to
length of stay and temperament for every cat
Full body rub
Relax in a cool s
Snooze in a warm spot
Get up high
Get down low
Stand tallPlay
Chin rub
Get real long
Look out the window
Snuggle with people
Stroll
RunJump
Pounce
Hang out with other catsDrink fresh water
Hang out with dogsScratch
GrazeSpend time outside
Spend time alone
Groom
Get real small
What about the fifth freedom?
One more freedom?
Five Freedoms +1
The basis of the 5 freedoms plus one…The number of cats “in
line” for adoption determines length of stay to adoptionHouse no more than 1-2
weeks worth of adoptable cats and kittens at any one timeDecreases costs, deceases
LOS and increases lives saved
Seriously, drop the number of cats housed in half or less???
Holding versus flow capacity
Holding capacity: how many animals can be cared for at once
Flow capacity: how many animals can be cared for over time
Increase holding capacity by
building and staffing ever larger
shelters
Increase flow capacity by decreasing
average length of stay
Holding versus flow capacity
Holding capacity: how many animals can be cared for at once
Flow capacity: how many animals can be cared for over time
Which one saves lives?Which one
saves lives?
Bottom Line
½ the number of housing units + ½ the LOS =
same number of cats helped
½ the number of housing units + ½ the LOS =
same number of animals helped over time
Decrease length of stay
Set optimal capacity based on quality housing and number of adoptions per monthUtilize appointments or
waiting lists when shelter is at optimal capacityEliminate un-necessary holds
before adoptionEliminate un-necessary
barriers to adoption
Monthly population goal
“Adoption driven capacity” (ADC)
• Month by month• By age if possible
Adoptions for the month/30 = MDATarget LOS = 7-14
• Longer end for smaller shelters
MDA x 7-14 LOS = ADC
http://www.millioncatchallenge.org/resources/capacity-for-care
Too much math?Any amount of population
decrease will decrease LOS as long as adequate variety and promotion efforts are maintainedAt least a week’s worth of
adoptable animals for most sheltersDogs more than cats for
variety
Fast track to Capacity for Care1 condo per cat, 44 condosAdoptions per month = 90Goal: open the portals
between condos, give every cat two! MDA = 90/30 = 3MDA x 7 = 21
A simple planWhen two cats are adopted,
open the portal and move up the most adoptable (‘fast track’) cat from holdKeep doing this until all fast
track cats are in adoptionThen move over less
adoptable (‘slow track’) cats
ResultsAll cats moved up within a
month with all portals openAdoption ↑ from 66% to
71% LOS ↓ by ~ 25% Cats on meds ↓ 40%49 fewer cats in the shelter
daily! All cages in holding got
portals
WOW!!!
Results All cats moved up within a
month with all portals open Adoption ↑ from 66% to 71% LOS ↓ by ~ 25% Cats on meds ↓ 40% 49 fewer cats in the shelter
daily!
WOW!!!It is working so well I am completely blown away. The response from the public with regard to the lack of crowding has been very positive, and our volunteer retention for cat volunteers has improved with the improved housing conditions for the cats. It is a win win win win program I wish we would have started years ago!
Laura B., Placer SPCA
Before C4C
After!
After!
After!We have ONE kennel cough dog and only cats who came in sick. We have all dogs moved from the “100s” and have about HALF as many animals (140) in the shelter than we are used to.
Many of our are finding alternative placement as well.
Morale seems to be pretty high right now, as evidenced by the number of “awesome” cards being filled out by various staff members to recognize the work of their team members. We had a three-way tie for March 2015 Teamwork award!
Monica W., Humane Society Serving Tacoma and Pierce Co
1 Cat, 2 Cats, How Many More?
Presented By: Amy Duskiewicz
Capacity for Care
Examine Numbers
Managed Admissions
Improve Housing
Fast Track
How did we do it?
Adoption Promotions
Remove Adoption Barriers
Adjust Resources
Capacity for Care
Examine Numbers
Managed Admissions
Improve Housing
Fast Track
How did we do it?
Adoption Promotions
Remove Adoption Barriers
Adjust Resources
I was so glad to have attended Dr. Hurley’s presentation - it was perfect timing and exactly what our organization needed!
We had been working on changes since I joined in 2012, and focusing on Capacity for Care was the missing piece to continue moving forward. It's been great for operations, the animals, and my staff!
I was grateful for her presentation and the information she provided last year, and was excited to help spread the word this year from a personal experience.
Amy D., Providence Animal Rescue League
Eliminate un-necessary holds
Minimal to no hold for owner reclaim for cats, kittens and puppies with no sign of ownershipZero to 3 day hold to assess
health/allow vaccine protection• No waiting for “boosters”!
Sterilize kittens as early as 6 weeks/robust 1.5 pounds
Eliminate un-necessary holdsMinimal to no hold for owner
reclaim for cats, kittens and puppies with no sign of ownershipZero to 3 day hold to assess
health/allow vaccine protection• No waiting for “boosters”!
Sterilize kittens as early as 6 weeks/robust 1.5 pounds
Under the new stray ordinance…dogs with no microchip or other identification must be kept at the facility for only three days instead of the previously mandated five before they can be adopted out or transferred to a rescue group. For puppies, kittens and cats, that hold time has been removed altogether.
Review your holds8.16.020 Duration. a. All impounded dogs found wearing a current Sacramento County dog license tag shall be kept in the Animal Control Center or other authorized place of impoundment for a period of not less than seven (7) calendar days after the day of impoundment unless redeemed within such period except as provided in Section 8.16.040 (e) of this Title.b. All impounded dogs not wearing a current Sacramento County dog license tag shall be kept in the Animal Control Center or other authorized place of impoundment for a period of not less than three (3) calendar days after the day of impoundment unless redeemed within such period except as provided in Section 8.16.040 (e) of this Title.e. Any other impounded animal shall be kept in the Animal Control Center for at least three (3) calendar days after the day of impoundment unless it is redeemed within such period.f. Any animal which is voluntarily surrendered to or deposited with the Chief of Animal Control by the owner shall not be deemed to be impounded and need not be kept or retained for any minimum period of time.g. Any feral animal shall not be kept or retained for any minimum period of time.
(SCC 0815 § 2, 1990; SCC 7 § 4, 1970; Ord. 1053 § 28, 1969.)
Eliminate un-necessary barriers to adoptionHave prices and process
competitive with other pet sources
• 70% of pets obtained from non-shelter source
• Potentially free and fast, especially for cats
Replace applications and interviews with identification and conversationsHelp people be better pet
owners rather than trying to screen out bad ones
The hidden cost of adoption fees“I do want to share some warm fuzzy! We have simply lowered our adoption price (from $110 for kittens and $75 for adult cats to $50 and $25 respectively) and now we cant keep cats in the shelter. I was shocked by the difference! Yes this is the slow season but the crickets are chirping here!”
WOW!!!
January – March 2014:Length of stay: 19 days
Live release: 52%
January – March 2015Length of stay: 8.5 days
Live release: 81%
Making the process easier for all concerned
When we started to concentrate on the sense of urgency and how to get them into homes now -- and not hang onto them because we want, not need, but want to do just one more thing; it is amazing how many things are eliminated because they were never really necessary in the 1st place...
Renee Webb, Fond du Lac Humane Society, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
So with our 'we can hold 200 cats mindset' -- for the last 3 months, our cat count has been in the 40s and 50s. We are not euthanizing; we are adopting.
Want to try this?
http://www.animalsheltering.org/how-we-help/strengthen-your-shelter/adopters-welcome/
Get staff on board
Cats in Canada report: http://cfhs.ca/athome/cat_overpopulation_crisis/ (page 47) 66
Stay on track
“A month ago things slipped here. In the madness, we didn’t do our numbers for the half way point so we didn’t know when to stop taking in cats; we just kept accepting them. We got totally backed up with cats. They started getting sicker, more diarrhea and inappetance. The energy in the Shelter was of slight panic with a twinge of running around like a chicken with your head cut off. I couldn’t keep up with the cats and every day, more and more of them were starting to present with behaviour issues stemming from kennel stress…the volunteers were beside themselves. The treatment room was getting overworked with constantly rechecking sick cats. Surgeries got backed up due to this, and cats that were adopted had to wait for their surgeries before they could leave the Shelter.”
Stay on track
“It felt like old times all over again, and it was not a good feeling. Honestly, looking back, how did we ever get by like that? And really we didn’t. We worked day-to-day with no bigger picture to aim for. Every day was a crisis. Every day was stressful. Every day cats were being euthanized. Every day the staff left exhausted. Without a doubt, hands down, in my seven years here, Capacity for Care is the best program that has ever happened to the Shelter.”
Back on track!
Putting it all togetherStaying within C4CLess illness and more, quicker adoptions Shorter length of stay, reduced costs More resources to build community capacityFewer animals needing shelter in the first place
Repeat as necessary
Repeat as necessary
Capacity for Care (C4C) step by step
1. Work with an incredible shelter!2. Calculate how many animals would be in each stage of care
based on ideal LOS in that stage = goal for # of animals housed
• Ideal pre-adoption LOS• Ideal adoption LOS
3. Managed intake/fast track/LOS analysis/etc. to get to ideal #4. Convert all housing to meet guidelines
• 9 square feet/double compartment single • 18 square feet group housing (group size ideally < 6)• Double compartment for all dogs
5. Add housing/staff if needed for ideal LOS
