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.