CHAPTER 4: POPULATION MANAGEMENT

Capacity for Care 

 

• Facilities and foster homes of any organization has a maximum capacity for humane care based on its ability to meet the Five Freedoms. 

• This capacity is influenced by:

  • The animals’ physical and behavioural needs;

  • Physical space available; 

  • Caregiver ability and time for husbandry and training; 

  • The presence of other animals; 

  • Adoption and transfer options;

  • Funding and other resources which may influence the care of the animal; 

  • Foster coordination and other administrative resources. 

• An organization’s capacity may fluctuate depending on these factors. 

  • At any given time, the organization MUST know its overall capacity and that of each of its foster homes and facilities. 
     

UNACCEPTABLE 

 

• Exceeding the organization’s capacity for humane care. 

• Breeding of animals for the production of offspring.

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Protocols for Maintaining Adequate Capacity for Care 

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• Rescue must have policies and protocols to maintain adequate capacity for care and housing. 

• Policies must provide a means of balancing admission with the outcomes available (e.g., adoption, transfer, release, returns to owner, euthanasia, or others). 

• Inspection of all animals must be performed daily in order to routinely evaluate and monitor adequacy of capacity and to identify needs for housing, care, or service. 

• Appropriate interventions must be made before animal numbers exceed the capacity for care and housing. 

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Monitoring Statistical Data 

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• Statistics must include monthly intake (e.g., stray, owner-surrendered) and outcomes by type (e.g., adoption, euthanasia, returned to owner) for each species. 

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Resources 

Newbury SP. Population Management for Shelter Animal Health & Welfare. Proceedings of the Western Veterinary Conference, 2009.

Newbury SP. Animal flow-through and capacity planning. Proceedings of the Western States Veterinary Conference, 2009a.

Newbury S. and Hurley K. Chapter 8: Population Management. In: Miller L., Zawistowski S. (eds). Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff. Second Edition, Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing, 2013

UCDavis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. Calculating Shelter Capacity.

www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/?r=calculating-shelter-capacity. 2015.