Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff. Группа авторов

Chapter 21 for more information on temporary sheltering as a component of disaster response.

      Animal welfare organizations may voluntarily initiate or be called upon by governmental or human social services to aid in temporary sheltering of animals. Effective temporary sheltering programs avoid permanent relinquishment by facilitating reunification once clients’ circumstances allow them to safely resume caring for their pet. Ideally, even this temporary separation would be avoided through co‐sheltering of people and companion animals, but logistics and client circumstances often make co‐sheltering impossible. As an alternative, the use of foster care for these animals is ideal to avoid the medical and behavioral detriments of sheltering as well as to avoid shelter crowding. Regardless of whether displaced animals are sheltered in foster homes or in a shelter’s kennels, legally approved agreements and thorough guidelines should be set up for temporary sheltering programs to create clear expectations for all participants and to avoid ambiguity regarding the duration and extent of care.

Temporary sheltering programs require a fair investment of resources on the part of a sheltering organization to oversee the program and ensure adequate housing/caregiving without detrimental impact to the existing shelter population. However, their benefit to the client and animal has the potential to be significant. Times of crisis are likely to be periods in which maintenance of the human‐animal bond is critical for the client’s emotional health. Without these programs, clients may avoid seeking help for themselves due to fear about their pets’ well‐being (Ascione et al. 2007). Program oversight can be greatly aided by collaboration with governmental or non‐profit human social services, allowing the animal welfare organization to focus primarily on animal care. Because of these connections, the benefits of a temporary sheltering program extend to the organization and community by strengthening a community framework of support for pet owners.

      5.3.1.6 Humane Education

      Humane education programs are a popular community outreach method for animal sheltering organizations. While often less directly applicable to relinquishment prevention, these programs still fall into the broad category of safety net programs by fostering a community that values and understands responsible pet ownership. Traditionally, these programs have focused on humane education for children. School‐ or camp‐based humane education programs have a documented positive impact on children’s knowledge of animal husbandry and emotional needs (Muldoon et al. 2016; Tardif‐Williams and Bosacki 2015). In addition, there is evidence of the enhancement of prosocial behavior and empathy in children participating in these programs (Samuels et al. 2016). However, information is lacking regarding the impact of educational programs geared toward adults and the impact of these programs on pet retention.

      The benefits of humane education programs for pets and clients vary widely with the scope of the program, and the impact is often less easily measured than for other safety net programs. However, there is value in the connection between the organization and community fostered by these programs and in their potential to enhance the visibility of the organization within the community. Humane education programs are also an excellent opportunity for collaboration between the sheltering organization and community groups such as schools, camps, childcare settings, and adult education programs. Depending on the community and the structure of these programs, these programs can also provide a revenue source for the animal welfare organization.

      Like the benefits gained from the implementation of a humane education program, the resource investment required varies widely based on the scope of the program. Single visits by shelter staff to a classroom require minimal resources, while in‐house educational programs such as after‐school programs or camps can be resource intensive. Development of extensive humane education programs requires careful assessment of the available resources of the organization and existing community programs. However, as resources allow, humane education programs can be highly rewarding for shelter staff and volunteers and act as another building block in the connection between the shelter and the community.

      5.3.2 Veterinary Care

Inability to access veterinary care has been documented as a common reason for companion animal relinquishment, with as many as 28% of surrenderers citing cost, in conjunction with medical issues, as the reasons for relinquishment in one study (Dolan et al. 2015). Safety net programs that address barriers to veterinary care have the potential to reduce relinquishment, thus facilitating behavioral well‐being through stability in ownership and preservation of the human‐animal bond.

      5.3.2.1 Spay‐Neuter Services

      Surgical sterilization services for owned animals have become commonly established programs to reduce pet overpopulation by avoiding unwanted litters and preventing behavioral and medical concerns associated with an intact reproductive status. Effective spay‐neuter programs can successfully increase the prevalence of altered animals in the community (Dolan et al. 2017; Frank and Carlisle‐Frank 2007). A corresponding decrease in shelter relinquishment in communities with accessible spay‐neuter programs has also been documented (Scarlett and Johnston 2012; White et al. 2010), though this reduction was only consistently identified for cats and not dogs. Research findings also support the reach of non‐profit spay‐neuter programs to animals that would not otherwise receive veterinary care (White et al. 2018) and show that client race and ethnicity are not barriers to program utilization (Decker Sparks et al. 2018; Poss and Bader 2008; Schurer et al. 2015).

      Accessible spay‐neuter services benefit the pet by enhancing animal health, avoiding unwanted litters, and preventing nuisance behaviors (American Veterinary Medical Association n.d.). When successful, these programs also positively impact the community through reduction of relinquishment, nuisance behaviors such as vocalization or urine marking, and, potentially, the incidence of serious dog bites, for which intact dogs are overrepresented (Patronek et al. 2013). Effective spay‐neuter outreach also reduces pet overpopulation, a clear benefit for communities experiencing a significant homeless pet overpopulation. Even for communities with unmet adopter demand for puppies and kittens, effective spay‐neuter outreach is an important population‐level strategy to reduce disparity in the access to these services. Accessible spay‐neuter services also allow for thoughtful consideration of where new pets in the community are obtained, such as through animal transport (thus addressing pet overpopulation in other communities) or through responsible breeders. With careful program design and outreach, these programs can be an opportunity for collaboration with the local veterinary community. Practitioners can refer clients unable to afford full‐cost sterilization or may participate in providing low‐cost or free sterilization services.

      While spay‐neuter programs can have significant overall impact, they are resource intensive to establish and maintain. This is particularly true given that successful programs are accompanied by community outreach to build trust and interest in the program. Effective programs also address the issue that low‐cost or even free spay‐neuter programs may still include insurmountable barriers for clients who lack transportation or cannot take time off work to bring the pet for a surgical appointment. For these reasons, implementation of spay‐neuter safety net programs should be carefully preceded by an analysis of the existing community landscape to assess the community need and to effectively target the desired population.

      5.3.2.2 Access to Basic Veterinary Care

Spay‐neuter programs typically include the provision of preventive care, such as vaccines and parasite treatment. Some may also administer basic treatment for minor conditions. However, medical concerns leading to relinquishment may not be fully addressed through these programs. There is growing interest in ensuring access to veterinary care that extends beyond wellness care to other medical concerns. Models for accessible veterinary care programs include academic programs at veterinary schools; programs run by animal welfare organizations; collaborative One Health programs with human health services; for‐profit, low‐cost veterinary services; and accessible services provided by private practitioners. The limited existing data support the efficacy of these programs at reaching the target