We All Have a Role to Play in Success of Animal Shelter
To The Editor: We live in times not seen for many years if ever before. The economy is unpredictable and people are uncertain about so many things. Here in Fayette County we are blessed to be, to a degree, insulated from the chaos of the larger cities. However, our businesses all feel the weight of the changes in the nation. Especially those that are on tight budgets with limited resources like the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter, our local animal shelter. As a volunteer at the animal shelter I have seen this, as have other volunteers, from a different perspective. Litters of puppies and kittens surrendered with the statements of “I don’t know how she got pregnant” (Really? You don’t know?) Animals surrendered because of moves. Death of an owner and the animal(s) left behind. And on, and on. It’s easy to say “Oh, the shelter will find them a home.” The answer is “maybe.” Across the nation adoptions are down and the number of animals needing homes continues to rise. Shelters by and large are filled to capacity and beyond. And the costs continue to rise. Food, veterinary bills, medicines, staffing, facility costs, and the countless other things that arise in the normal course of running a business.. And sometimes… some animals don’t make it out…and may they rest in peace. It is SO easy to say “Just be No Kill!” And there are some shelters that adopt that approach. Our local shelter, a 501c3 nonprofit corporation, is not a “No Kill” shelter, though in the last few years it has done a tremendous job of increasing live placements as a percentage of intakes. Over 90% of the animals that come in the door go out to new homes. However, without strong legislation to mandate and enforce spay and neuter regulations the stream of animals will continue to increase and the limited resources will be consumed even more quickly. It’s like having a hole in your boat and baling water out with a tin cup. If you don’t fix the hole it just gets larger and eventually the cup can’t keep up with the flow. One key thing to assess in any business is what can take performance to the next level. The old adage of “Doing the Same Things the Same Way and expecting Different Results is a Mark of Insanity” holds true here as in most places. If you can’t stop the flow of animals at the source, and you don’t have a money tree to have unlimited funds, the key component remaining that you CAN work with is your people. You can’t just “throw a body” at a multifaceted position in animal care. Recruiting experienced personnel at all levels,(which means paying a wage and benefits package that reflects that experience), having comprehensive initial and ongoing professional training with tiered performance evaluations, having strong policies and procedures that are reviewed annually (or more often as needed), and other key management aspects are critical to succeed in today’s environment.
Fayette County is a community. And a community supports its members. As individual community members reading this I challenge you to reflect on your own circumstances.Are your animals safe, secure (I helped corral two dogs that were out and about on the courthouse lawn the other afternoon), healthy, and not contributing to the ongoing flood of new puppies and kittens? Have you considered fostering an animal? Volunteering?
And, having been on the boards of 501c3 non-profits myself, I have a more detailed challenge to the Board of Directors of the shelter: Are you giving the direction needed in Today’s environment (i.e.: restricting intake to maintain a given percentage of occupancy so there are resources available in the event of an emergency)? Ensuring funding is directed to having the right people in the right places to accomplish the right things? Reviewing and approving policies from the “30,000 feet view” perspective? Allocating resources to help the shelter survive the flood of intakes now and position it for the future? Reviewing the Mission Statement to determine if it reflects Today’s mission and needs, and revising it to do so if it doesn’t? Asking the hard questions? Making the tough decisions?
Every animal that comes through the shelter’s doors deserves professional evaluations of their health and behavior, a written improvement plan tailored to their needs that is implemented, monitored, and refined as needed. They Deserve a chance at a loving home to live their best life.
This community CAN make that happen.
Greg Smith West Point