This policy paper presents recommendations for shelter managers, advocates, and legislators to reduce shelter intake, adjust practices to improve welfare and increase adoption rates, stabilize shelter budgets, and reduce euthanasia of cats and dogs. Outcomes for cats have not improved as strongly as for dogs, so it suggests that funds be directed towards non-lethal reduction of outdoor cat populations rather than to housing or euthanizing healthy feral cats. Funding shelters on the basis of positive outcomes for the animals rather than on number of animals handled is also advised.

[Abstract excerpted from original source.]

“In the wake of Governor Brown’s proposal to repeal certain existing state laws affecting animal shelters in California owing to budget-related issues, a diverse statewide stakeholders’ group formed and worked throughout 2012 and into 2013 to identify meaningful ways to realize California’s policy ‘that no adoptable or treatable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home.’

The team included representatives of local government, non-profit animal-sheltering organizations and rescue groups, veterinary professionals, animal protection experts, and philanthropists. The stakeholders took a fact-based approach to evaluate what was–and what was not– working to produce positive outcomes for homeless animals (return to an owner, adoption, transfer to another humane organization for placement, or return to location of origin). The process included gathering and analyzing data on outcomes for dogs and cats, reviewing best practices in shelter management, and exploring life-saving programs that have been successfully implemented.

The stakeholders developed 23 recommendations that California agencies and communities can utilize to help animals, advance the work of animal sheltering, and move California closer toward its goal of saving every adoptable and treatable animal. Some of these changes would require modifications to existing California state statutes; others are “best practices” recommendations that the group believes California animal shelters should strongly consider implementing. Communities should prioritize the implementation of these strategies to improve welfare and outcomes for homeless animals.”

Related Link:

The Resources page of the California Sheltering Report website provides links to research used as references for the report, and other resource documents.