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Working the System: Understanding Good Policies

and How to Get Them in Your Community

(Arlyn Bradshaw, Scott Giacoppo)

Best Friends National Conference,

July 16-19, 2015

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Working the System

Scott Giacoppo Vice President, External Affairs – [email protected]

The Washington Humane Society (WHS), the only Congressionally-

chartered animal welfare agency in the United States, has been the

area’s leading voice for animals since 1870. As the open-access shelter

in the Nation’s Capital, the Washington Humane Society provides

comfort and care to over 43,000 animals each year through its broad

range of programs and services





July 16-19, 2015

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Since the 1980s, WHS has

held the contract with the

DC Government to provide

all of the animal control

services for the city.

In 2007 WHS began a

transformation that

started with a new

President and CEO

2007, What We Had To Work With

• 30% Live Release Rate

• Strict adoption procedures

• No Pit Bull adoptions

• TNR was a “pilot program”

• Limited off site adoptions

• Limited foster program

• Limited transfer program

• Free pick up of unwanted animals, no questions asked

• Outdated facility





July 16-19, 2015

3

Turnaround

• Reverse Pit Bull adoption policy

• Formalize TNR program

• Identify “animal friendly” city officials

• Change laws

• Build positive relationship with Dept. of Health

• Internal procedures/policies

• Increase reputation in the community

Enacting Laws

• Animal Protection Amendment Act of 2010

– Mandates the reduction in euthanasia

– Reasonable and enforceable Dangerous Dog law

– TNR provision

– Other vital cruelty related updates to current law

• Wildlife Protection Act

– Prohibits cruel traps

– Regulates wildlife control businesses





July 16-19, 2015

4

Adoptions

• Checklist vs Questionnaire

• Interrogation vs discussion

• Landlord consent

• References

• Home checks

• Pets as gifts

• Hidden Gems

Reverse Pit Bull Adoption Policy

• Current legislation pending in City Council to

ban Pit Bulls from DC was in the works. WHS

key supporter of bill…until now

• Staff and volunteer fears

• Behavior/training staff concerns about

evaluations

• Worries over increased animals being held





July 16-19, 2015

5

Off-site adoptions, bringing the

animals into the community

Increase Reputation in the Community

• Media relations

• Social media/marketing

• Public relations

• Branding





July 16-19, 2015

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PR Strategy

• No negative images – No animals behind cage bars

– Images are meant to show what it would be like to have the animal in a home environment

• No desperate pleas – No “Adopt or else…”

– Exception – “we are in desperate need of foster homes”

• Share happy adoption stories/photos– That could be me!

• Rescues are highlighted– Before and after once available for adoption

Branding

From this

To this





July 16-19, 2015

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July 16-19, 2015

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Aggressive

distribution

of Pet of the

Week Flyers

• Social media

• Volunteers

• Local List Serves

• E-news

Customer Service• Managed intake

• “Put the human back in humane”

• Customer service training

• Follow up from adoptions with special care for hidden gems

• Including behavior plan in home plans

• Self rehoming resources.

• Returns are handled by adoptions team to ID match





July 16-19, 2015

9

Changing Minds To Save Lives:

The Staff

• It’s harder to save lives than to take them, but

we are here for that reason

• Can’t just “throw the switch”, that didn’t work

• Let’s share a common goal

• Own your mistakes, even if public then learn

from them

• Make them part of the solution

Animal Care

• Treat every animal as an individual

• Provide medical care for special cases

• Population Management Team





July 16-19, 2015

10

Out in the Field

• Community Policing model

• Provide necessary resources

• Work with the community to solve problems

• TNR

• Revised wildlife policy/Procedures

• Education vs Enforcement

Community Outreach





July 16-19, 2015

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TNR• Loosen restrictions on “feral” management

• Staff program appropriately ($$$)

• Apply for grants

• Change laws

• Focus on conflict resolution

Changing Laws To Save Lives





July 16-19, 2015

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Wildlife – Conflict Resolution

• Proper training for call takers

• Wildlife Specialist

• Firm stand on policy

– Leave them be unless sick, injured or orphaned

– Put baby birds back in nest or make new one

– Will not remove nuisance wildlife

– Will not refer to inhumane trapping company

Wildlife – Rescue & Release





July 16-19, 2015

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Combine all this together….

* WHS transformation began in November of 2007

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2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

YTD

Live Release Rate 30.47 31.16 39.15 47.47 50.48 68.08 80.28 85.83 90.23

Washington Humane Society

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