National Leadership Forum Sept. 28, 2006 American Humane’s Getting to Zero Initiative is a critical, national undertaking based on the profound belief that American society can ultimately reduce to zero the number of healthy or treatable dogs, cats and other companion animals that are euthanized in animal care and control facilities. American Humane has made the reduction and eventual practices” in spay/neuter, transfer, adoption, foster care and elimination of shelter and animal control euthanasia of healthy training. Phase Two is this Leadership Forum to shed light on dogs and cats one of its highest priorities. Although many the problem and highlight some of the best practices in use Americans maintain a deep love and affection for animals, and today. Phase Three is the funding and implementation phase. pets are cherished members of millions of families, the millions With funding secured, American Humane will implement the of healthy, adoptable dogs and cats euthanized each year replication and delivery process to facilities, starting initially remains a source of shame for our country. with six animal welfare agencies or consortia of animal care and control entities in six geographic regions in each of the next two In order to combat this problem, American Humane is years, for a total of 12 community-based programs during the committed to helping identify, support and obtain funding for initial phase of the campaign. Animal care and control facilities the replication of community-based interventions that have will apply and be assessed as to their potential to implement the demonstrated success in reducing the euthanasia of healthy or best practices. The selected facilities or groups will be given treatable animals. We are convinced that by working together grants to effectuate the adoption of the best practice(s) as and adopting practices that have been shown to be effective, we appropriate, and will be monitored as to progress in reducing or will hasten the day when euthanasia is no longer viewed as an achieving zero euthanasia. Besides providing project funding for unfortunate but inevitable consequence of animal care and equipment, supplies, travel and honoraria, American Humane control. American Humane believes that by seeking out and also will enlist and broker experienced and talented identifying model “best practices” programs with a professionals (loaned staff, mentors, experts, advisors and demonstrated record of success in adoption, foster care, volunteers) to assist the animal care and control agencies in spay/neuter, training and transfer, we can engender community their replication efforts. support for programs and solutions that will benefit both the animals and the human family members who care for them, and American Humane will continue to seek best practices that may then disseminate those programs nationwide. ultimately help our communities get to zero euthanasia. Additional programs will be highlighted on our website and Phase One began in May 2006 when American Humane put out may, be included in the community-based solutions the call to the sheltering community for nominations of “best implemented in Phase Three. The following programs have been identified as examples of successful practices. AMERICAN HUMANE’S GETTING TO ZERO BEST PRACTICES HONOREES (Alphabetical by category and institution) PROGRAM CATEGORY: ADOPTION Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, Maine Director of Operations and Interim Executive Director: Susan Britt 449 Stroudwater St., Westbrook, ME 04092 (207) 854-9771, www.arlgp.org Feline Adoption Program Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland has instituted vaccination protocols to reduce upper respiratory infections, given each cat more control in its interaction with people and served as a beta test site for the ASPCA “Feline-ality” adoption program. They have increased adoptions, decreased length of stay in the shelter and decreased euthanasia. Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) 5425 E. Broadway #225, Tucson, AZ 85711 (520) 319-9292, [email protected] Adoption Program Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) is an all-volunteer nonprofit charity devoted to rescuing abandoned, abused and neglected animals in Tucson. ARF, in a partnership with Pima Animal Care Center, assists adoptions by organizing adoption days at local stores and fostering animals that are at risk of euthanasia because of overcrowding. Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc. Executive Director: Tom Colvin 5452 N.E. 22nd St., Des Moines, IA 50313 (515) 262-9503, www.arl-iowa.org; [email protected] Adoption Outreach Program In an effort to expand the reach of their programs and increase adoptions, Animal Rescue League of Iowa established partnerships with a pet supply store in a western suburb of Des Moines and a shopping mall on the south side of the city, which have achieved a combined 5,418 adoptions. City of Albuquerque Animal Care Center Associate Director: Denise E. Wilcox 8920 Lomas Blvd. N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87112 (505) 768-1975, www.cabq.gov/pets; [email protected] New Adoption Center The City of Albuquerque is constructing a municipal pet adoption center which will provide a friendly, inviting environment for potential adopters and house up to 35 companion animals at a time. The Animal Care Center also partners with agencies outside the state to transport adoptable animals and conducts off-site adoption events. Dane County Humane Society Executive Director: Pam McCloud Smith 5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI 53718 (608) 838-0413; www.giveshelter.org; [email protected] Ringworm Project Dane County Humane Society partners with the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in the Dermatophyte Monitoring and Treatment Project (Ringworm Project). The project has dramatically reduced the number of cases of ringworm in foster homes and in the shelter, and has reduced the risk of infection. Friends of Rocky Mount Animals Director: Laura Gearhart P.O. Box 4936, Rocky Mount, NC 27803 (252) 937-6959; www.petfinder.org/shelters/NC374.html; [email protected] Adoption Program Friends of Rocky Mount Animals (FOR Animals) is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to taking dogs out of the Rocky Mount Animal Shelter and either fostering them or transporting them to other approved rescue groups. FOR Animals’ efforts have resulted in a 30 percent decrease in the number of animals euthanized at the shelter. Humane Educational Society Director: Guy Bilyeu 212 N. Highland Park Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404 (423) 624-5302, ext. 223; www.heschatt.com; [email protected] Adoption Programs The Humane Educational Society has drastically reduced its euthanasia rate through practices such as spaying/neutering every animal, transporting animals to other states, separating sick animals from healthy ones and hiring a staff veterinarian. Also, they have low-cost spay/neuter, off-site adoption and trap-neuter-return programs. Humane Society of Berks County Executive Director: Karel Minor 1801 N. 11th St., Reading, PA 19604 (610) 921-2348; www.berkshumane.org; [email protected] Free to a Great Home Emergency Cat Adoption Program In the summer months, when the shelter receives an influx of litters, the Humane Society of Berks County makes spayed or neutered adult cats available for adoption to qualified adopters for free. The Free to a Great Home Program has doubled cat adoptions, virtually eliminated space-driven euthanasia and increased press attention and fund raising. Humane Society of Boulder Valley Chief Executive Officer: Jan McHugh-Smith 2323 55th St., Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 442-4030; www.boulderhumane.org; [email protected] Adoption Process The Humane Society of Boulder Valley has streamlined the adoption process by asking for only vital information on an adoption profile and trained staff to engage adopters in conversations using open ended questions. Clients have felt they received better service and better understood the needs of the animal, and more animals have been adopted. Humane Society of Broward County Executive Director: Christopher Agostino 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 (954) 989-3977; www.humanebroward.com; [email protected] Match a Pet Program The Match a Pet Program is designed to make dogs’ stay at the shelter short, and reduce their exposure to disease and stress. An adopter fills out an application, including his preferred training requirements, age and breed of dog. When a dog enters the shelter, a counselor calls adopters who are already approved, and the dog is immediately adopted. The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, Inc. President/Chair of the Board: Jane Hoffman 244 Fifth Ave., Suite R290, New York, NY 10001-7604; (212) 252-2350 www.animalalliancenyc.org; [email protected] Adoption Partnerships The Mayor’s Alliance acts as a liaison between the city government and the animal rescue community to coordinate adoption events, develop advertising campaigns, media relations and sources for fund raising, and provide training and resources. The result of these efforts is that the city pound’s euthanasia rate has dropped 40 percent in five years. Minnesota Valley Humane Society Executive Director: Lynae Gieseke 1313 E. Highway 13, Burnsville, MN 55337 (952) 894-5000; www.MVHSpets.org; [email protected] Adoption Programs The Minnesota Valley Humane Society (MVHS) operates the Specially Trained and Rewarded Program to help shelter dogs with behavioral issues, and the Pet Adoption Without Surrender Program, which allows a pet owner who wants to relinquish his animal to keep it in his home while MVHS advertises and finds a home for the animal. Oregon Humane Society Executive Director: Sharon Harmon 1067 N.E. Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 (503) 285-7722; oregonhumane.org; [email protected] Relinquish and Return Program The Oregon Humane Society believes that treating the public with courtesy and dignity improves the Society’s reputation and helps save the lives of animals. If an animal is not doing well in the shelter, they will call the relinquishing person and offer him his animal back spayed or neutered and treated. Many people are happy to take their animals back.