shelter medicine and covid-19: how the global pandemic can
TRANSCRIPT
Shelter Medicine and COVID-19: How the Global Pandemic Can Accelerate Innovations and Changes
Jennifer Bolser, DVM
Shelter Medicine and COVID-19: How the Global Pandemic Can Accelerate Innovations and Changes
A Focus on Opening Up- Open Adoptions & Spay/Neuter
Jennifer Bolser, DVM
Bringing Back Adoptions
Depending on location, quarantine restrictions, staff risk for COVID-19, many shelters closed to adoptions for a period of time
Adoption Flexibility❖ Allowing foster families to do
direct adoptions❖ Virtual meets to facilitate
matches for adoption❖ Pet delivery options❖ Adoptions with waivers for
spay/neuter to be completed later
❖ Re-thinking the entire adoption process
What Does An Adopter Have to Do?❖ Adoption “requirements” that
will not determine the relationship that will develop between an adopter and their pet❖ Fenced yards❖ Proof of rabies vaccination or
medical care other pets in the home
❖ Land lord contacted❖ Home visit
Restrictive Adoption❖ Do you own or rent?
❖ Wealth disparities - racial discrimination
❖ Apartment vs house?
❖ Again - Wealth disparities - racial discrimination
❖ Judgement on lifestyle
❖ Proof of medical care for other pets in the home
❖ Have you re-homed a pet before?
❖ Re-homing is often for the benefit of the animal
❖ Lifestyle/home matching
❖ Requirement for home visit or landlord contact
❖ Creating unnecessary barriers, excluding great potential homes and families
❖ How many hours a day do you work?
❖ Most veterinary professionals and shelter employees would not meet this requirement
❖ Consequences of unnecessary, discriminatory restrictions to adoption:
❖ Potential adopters sourcing animals through other means
❖ Lost opportunity for serving as the pet resource center, organizational support, funding, etc.
❖ Open dialogue❖ Finding good matches, not
looking for reasons to deny adoption
❖ Relationship building between client/community and organization
❖ Provide information about the pet, not an interrogation of the potential adopter
The Adoption Process Should Be
Open Adoption Policies
❖ Can still deny adoption to known abusive situations
❖ Provide education about local ordinances and counsel to appropriate match
❖ Inform of individual animal’s unique qualities that may make some homes not a good fit - medical and behavioral disclosures
ControversialAre rules for adopting pets too strict? - NBC News Oct 18, 2007 — It's not unusual for shelters, rescue groups and breeders to require that potential adopters or purchasers have a fenced yard, keep the dog …
Pet adoption policies too stringent | Letters to the Editor ... www.fredericknewspost.com › opinion › letter_to_editor Jan 15, 2014 — It made me sad to read in Sunday's News-Post about the decline in pet adoptions . But I do feel the animal shelter and rescue groups are partly ..
More Acceptance for Open Adoption Policies - KC DOG BLOG btoellner.typepad.com › kcdogblog › 2014/06 › open-... Jun 23, 2014 — More Acceptance for Open Adoption Policies. About a decade ago, long before we ever conceived of the idea of KC Pet Project, or running a shelter, or writing this blog, or me ever ... I used to be all for the strict screening.
Do stricter adoption policies keep pets in homes? | Business ... www.victoriaadvocate.com › news › do-stricter-adoption-... Jan 3, 2016 — Before 18-year-old Alyssa Saldana could adopt a 1-year-old yellow Lab mix from Dorothy H. O'Connor Pet Adoption Center, she had to answer …
Millions of dogs need homes. Why is it sometimes hard to … www.washingtonpost.com › animalia › 2018/02/02 › m... Feb 2, 2018 — Some tough adoption processes reject applicants due to unfenced yards, ... Rebekah and Nathan Patin were turned down by one dog rescue ...
Source: Psychology Today Author: Jessica Pierce, Ph.D.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-dogs-go-heaven/201902/
open-adoptions-in-shelters-help-animals-and-people
Veterinarian Role in Open Adoptions❖ Vets in Shelters
❖ Leadership in shelter/rescue organization - role model
❖ Look for, acknowledge and break down biases
❖ Being part of the open dialogue
❖ Medical disclosures
❖ Vets in Private Practice
❖ Collaborate with shelters/rescues and prospective pet owners
❖ Question rescue orgs requests for medical history of other pets in the home
❖ Look for, acknowledge and break down biases
Open Adoptions - Case Example
Creating healthy relationships between pets and people
Humane Society of Boulder Valley❖ Founded 1902❖ Private, non-profit, open admission,
socially conscious shelter with municipal contracts
❖ 2019: 6500 animals served through shelter
❖ Full service veterinary clinic open to the public❖ 2019: 8700 animals (non-shelter)
served through the veterinary clinic
❖ Training and Behavior Center
HSBV - A Pioneer❖ Humane Society of Boulder Valley
❖ 1997: Implemented open adoption process
❖ 1998: >30% increase in adoptions❖ 2004: adoptions 67% higher than in
1997❖ Eliminate rigid guidelines❖ Eliminate judgement❖ Match clients and pets through open
communication, trust and understanding
❖ No increase in return rate
How To Implement Open Adoptions
❖ Create an implementation team of people involved in all aspects of the organization
❖ Self Assessment ❖ Acknowledge desire to try to
control & protect - and then break down these walls
❖ Guide through culture change❖ Define and implement the vision❖ Data tracking
https://www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/hsbouldervalley-profile-from-aspcapro.pdf
What if I need to return a pet I adopted from HSBV’s Adoption Center?
Our adoptions are Satisfaction Guaranteed! While there is a person for every animal, we know not every animal is for every person. If you adopt an animal from HSBV and discover you are not compatible due to behavior concerns or medical issues, you may return your pet at any time and your adoption fee will be refunded.
Open Adoptions - PetPoint Data❖ Questioning of strict adoption policies began in 1999
❖ Concern for open adoption policies is there will be increased returns
❖ Slow trend for some organizations to shift
❖ PetPoint Data for 2010-2020:
❖ 1400 organizations
❖ Return rate 2010-2019 ranged from 7.8-8.6% (highest was in 2016, lowest in 2011 and 2018)
❖ Organization type rates (2020)
❖ Rescues: 7.8%
❖ Private Humane Societies: 8.1%
❖ Animal Control Organizations: 8.2%
❖ No significant difference in return rates
Source: Steve Zeidman, Senior Vice President, Pethealth, Inc. http://blog.theaawa.org/if-your-adoption-policies-put-up-barriers-youre-part-of-the-problem/
Open Adoptions - Resources❖ Shelter Veterinary Academic Programs Support
❖ U Wisconsin-Madison: https://www.uwsheltermedicine.com/library/resources/support-for-open-adoptions
❖ Million Cat Challenge - U Florida and UC- Davis: https://millioncatchallenge.org/resources/removing-barriers-to-adoption
❖ ASV Position Statement on Adoption Returns: https://www.sheltervet.org/assets/docs/position-statements/adoptionreturns.pdf
❖ HSUS Animal Sheltering - Adopters Welcome Manual: https://www.animalsheltering.org/page/adopters-welcome-manual
❖ HSBV Program through ASPCA Pro: https://www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/hsbouldervalley-profile-from-aspcapro.pdf
Humane Society of Boulder Valley
❖ Private, non-profit, open admission, socially conscious shelter with municipal contracts
Socially Conscious Sheltering
Communities creating a supportive model that centers around the pet
scsheltering.org
Socially Conscious Sheltering Tenets
Socially Conscious Sheltering
See http://scsheltering.org/partners/ for complete list of SCS Partners
Spay/Neuter and COVID❖ Human health crisis and pandemic
❖ Stay at home orders - variable by state/city
❖ Essential services only
❖ Hold on elective procedures
❖ Hospitals overwhelmed
❖ Physical distancing crucial to slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2
❖ Extreme shortage of PPE
❖ Shortage of anesthetics in some communities
❖ Spay/Neuter services postponed for months in many areas
Spay/Neuter and COVID❖ Halting S/N: Controversial❖ Concern for explosion of dogs/
cats - in particular community cats
❖ Concern for livelihood of employees of S/N clinics vs concern for health of employees, volunteers and community
❖ S/N for emergency situations (pyometra, dystocia) continued
Spay/Neuter COVID❖ Thankful for the decades of spay/
neuter efforts in the US
❖ We have a “reserve” - many US communities could prioritize their focus on the human health pandemic without an instant, drastic loss to animal welfare
❖ But, spay/neuter can’t stop forever as it is still the best humane pet population management tool available
❖ Many communities are still in desperate need of continual, sustained s/n efforts
Core CommitteeElizabeth Berliner DVM, DABVP, Cornell U, College Vet MedJennifer Bolser, DVM, Association of Shelter VeterinariansGina Clemmer, Clinic HQNatalie Corwin, Pet Community Center, TNCynthia Karsten DVM, DABVP, UC Davis Koret Shelter MedAimee St. Arnaud, Best Friends Animal Society
Review CommitteeJennifer Scarlett DVM, San Francisco SPCAStan Hill DVM, Jacksonville Humane SocietyDenise Deisler, Jacksonville Humane SocietyBrian DiGangi DVM, ASPCA and Association of Shelter VeterinariansLena DeTar DVM, DABVP, DACVPM Cornell U, College Vet MedKaren Little, Alley Cat Advocates, KYErin Katribe DVM, Best Friends Animal SocietyLeslie Appel DVM, SOS NYEmily McCobb DVM, DACVAA, Cummings School of Vet Med Tufts U
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ People Considerations:
❖ Community assessment - # of COVID cases, human hospital capacity
❖ Staff assessment - higher risk individuals, personal safety concern, protocols for exposed or sick staff
❖ Staff training of new protocols
❖ Animal Considerations
❖ Prioritizing patients
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ Capacity for Care
❖ Physical capacity❖ 6 feet distances❖ Shifting workspaces
❖ Plexiglass dividers
❖ Staff capacity❖ Staff size❖ Personal risk factors
❖ Limiting # of people
❖ Stress levels higher
❖ Split teams?
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ Surgical Supplies and PPE
❖ Inventory all supplies regularly❖ Drug and supply shortages❖ Multiple distributors❖ Cloth masks mandatory
❖ Add face shields when can’t distance or aerosolization risk (dentistry, respiratory cases, mastiff drool!)❖ Sanitation, PPE, Surgical Supplies
alternatives: https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/shelter-services/covid-19-resources/sanitation-ppe-surgical-supply-alternatives-animal-shelters/
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ Anesthetic Considerations
❖ Shortage of drugs used in human medicine: FDA https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/
❖ Ketamine, propofol, midazolam❖ Veterinary specific drugs❖ Anesthetic protocol options❖ Local blocks
Spay/Neuter Anesthetic Options
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ Client Communication and Scheduling
❖ Announce your protocols on website, phone messages, signs on the door, documents, etc.
❖ Factor in extra time - new process will initially be less efficient
❖ Patient priorities
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ Intake and Discharge
❖ Send forms via email/text prior to check-in
❖ Curbside❖ Physically distance❖ Vestibule drop-off zone❖ Discharge instructions❖ Video discharge instructions link
emailed/texted before check-out: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/post-op-instructions-spayneuter-clinics
❖ Payment options
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID❖ Record Keeping and
Documents
❖ Transition to paperless❖ DIY options - JotForm,
Wufoo, Excel, etc. ❖ Clinic HQ
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ Post-operative Care
❖ Medications filled and transfer through outside cart
❖ Online pharmacy - Covetrus or Vetsource
❖ Telemedicine rechecks❖ Stay tuned for more about
telemedicine in the next lecture!
Safe Spay/Neuter Practices During COVID
❖ Financial Considerations
❖ Evaluate cost savings options that maintain high quality care
❖ Injectable vs oral NSAID
❖ Suture reels vs individual suture packs: 25-60% savings
❖ Link to excel template to help consider business models, financial runway and possibilities for phasing in or ramping up services https://www.dropbox.com/s/69fpht6ds654gqh/TEMPLATE%20Financial%20Considerations%20for%20Reopening%20a%20clinic.xlsx?dl=0
❖
Resources
❖ COVID-10 Spay/Neuter and Wellness Preparedness Guide: https://mcnt-files-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/inline-files/COVID%20preparedness%20guide_6.18.2020.pdf?7PZxAFCWmhEZNFkY6BRWlHnAYOOkawev
❖ Links to examples related to above Guide: https://network.bestfriends.org/covid-19/lifesaving-programs/covid-19-sn-clinic-guide
❖ Checklist to use with above Guide: https://mcnt-files-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/inline-files/SN%20Clinic%20Checklist%20During%20COVID.pdf?Q9HmjHXQx02akRWahajSXY4Huyxr0Kch
❖ ASPCA Spay/Neuter: https://www.aspcapro.org/spayneuter
Questions:
Jennifer Bolser, DVM Chief Clinic Veterinarian
Humane Society of Boulder Valley303.442.4030 ext 693
Email: [email protected]