21 st Century Companion Animal Best Practices with Sustainable Business Models for Welfare and Sheltering

America’s changed attitude about pets  In the 20 th 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

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 Humane Community Respect for all Life

Got your vision and your mission Now know your clients…

Keep them out of the shelter Pet 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 shelter Medical 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.