21 st century companion animal best practices with sustainable business models for welfare and...
TRANSCRIPT
21st Century Companion Animal Best Practices with
Sustainable Business Modelsfor
Welfare and Sheltering
America’s changed attitude about pets In the 20th century
dogs were relegated to the yard with a dog-house and occasionally let in when the weather was bad.
Cats were allowed to roam free.
They ate table scraps.
Toys were a ball or a sock, and
Average American would not think to take their pet on vacation.
America’s changed attitude about pets Today:
93.7 million cats as pets
77.5 million dogs as pets
73 million households or 65% have a dog or cat
In 1994 American’s spent $17 billion on their Pets. In 2013 they spent $61 billion – one of the largest growing retail segments in the economy
Pet insurance, holistic pet food, pet-friendly hotels, pet-friendly restaurants, doggie daycare, specialty veterinarian care – oncology to dentistry
A recent AP/Petside poll shows (50%) of American pet owners consider their pets
a part of the family as any person in the household
50% of dog owners take their dog on vacation with them
American’s LOVE their dogs and cats. The value proposition they expect for their tax dollars and animal welfare charitable contributions =
Take loving care, (a safety net system for their family member)
Save lives,
Find homes for the homeless
Quality of life issue and linked to economic development
Sheltering and Animal Control Out of pace with American’s values – but catching
up
Undergoing Transformation
Paradigm shift from reaction to action
Shelter medicine & research = 21 century approach
Best practices evolving – Webinars, industry publications, workshops, conferences – a MUST to keep educated and informed of change.
Michigan has 3,872,508 households. •2,416,445 total Canine Pets in Michigan•2,811,441 total Feline Pets in Michigan
For a total of:5,227,886 total Canine and Feline Michigan Pets
Nationally 39% of households own 1.6 dog(s) and 33% of households own 2.2 cat(s) per household.
In 2013,172,645 Cats and Dogs entered shelters or about, 3.3% of the total cats and dogs in Michigan.
This is what happened to those 3%
80,959 Adopted (47%)44,675 Euthanized (26%)
18,949 Return to Owner (11%)13,304 Transfers (8%)
0 Sold
20112012
2013
Almost 30% of Michigan’s 83 Counties are saving 90% or more
The process to improve =implement Best Practices
What is your value proposition?
Public Safety
Customer Service
Life Saving
HumaneCommunity
Respect for all Life
Got your vision and your missionNow know your clients…
Keep them out of the shelterPet Retention
Manage admissions
Resources – pet friendly housing, food bank, meals on wheels, low-cost spay/neuter and wellness
Home to Home match
Proactive Redemptions
Field return/match
Comprehensive On-line Found Stray
Pet Detective
Counseling – Pet behavior/where to look – other shelters and resources
Keep them out of the shelter continued…
High-Volume, Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Program
Prevent unwanted births
Rescue Groups
Stray hold/medical/behavior
Cat TNR Program
Shelter, Neuter Release
Once in the shelterMedical and Behavior Rehabilitation
Shelter medicine has been key not just to medical treatment of the treatables, but also to reducing shelter stress through housing and enrichment, fixing behavior problems, preventing disease, designing shelter buildings, and developing programs for shelter flow-through and capacity control.
Spay/Neuter
Comprehensive Adoption Programs
Volunteers
Public Relations/Community Involvement
Client Data + Proven Formula of Best Practices + Plan of Action + Transformational Leadership = Saving 90% or more
Best Practices = Humane Approach = What charitable givers and tax-payers want and expect.