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Home › Partner News › From hopeless to home: trends in modern sheltering

From hopeless to home: trends in modern sheltering

October 4, 2019Noteworthy

From hopeless to home: trends in modern sheltering

Thanks to new and innovative approaches to modern sheltering, kill rates are declining across the country and adoption rates are on the rise.

Even cities with historically difficult animal welfare challenges are changing fortunes for pets – and their people, too.

Nipping problems in the bud

There is a saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Shelters – including rescues, SPCAs, humane societies, and municipal animal controls – often believe that their work begins once an animal comes through their doors.

But increasingly modern sheltering is about preventing animals from entering the shelter system in the first place.

Supporting owners in need and facilitating person-to-person adoptions are among the most effective approaches to reduce unnecessary shelter intake.

Get fixed

The availability of low-cost spay/neuter can reduce the population of unwanted pets substantially. Yet affordable services are lacking in many areas of the country where they are needed most.

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), 87 percent of animals in underserved communities are not fixed. And 77 percent have never taken their pets to a veterinarian.

The challenge is both economic and educational, as well. Public education about the importance of spay/neuter goes hand-in-hand with making those services available.

Not every animal welfare organization has the capacity to offer spay/neuter or other basic, essential pet health services.

But every shelter can partner with local veterinary practices to make affordable spay/neuter more readily available. Some veterinarians have mobile spay/neuter vans to more easily serve communities in need and participate in on-site shelter events.

Petsmart Charities maintains an online searchable database of its clinics that offer spay/neuter services around the country.

And the HSUS has an online state-by-state listing of various organizations that assist pet guardians in need – including low-cost spay/neuter programs.

Modern sheltering: bypass the shelter altogether

Pets are often surrendered by people who did not know they had other options to find their beloved dog or cat a new home.

These animals wind up in shelters – straining facilities that were meant as a refuge for a community’s most vulnerable pets.

When shelters become overwhelmed with dogs and cats who have other options for rehoming it challenges their ability to help those pets who are in greatest need.

Adopt-a-Pet’s Rehome gives pet guardians a huge online platform to help find their pet a new home and bypass the shelter altogether. Creating a pet profile takes just a few minutes and, once live, will appear in searches for millions of potential adopters to see.

Get Your Pet is another, similar online community to pair people who need to rehome their pets with those seeking to adopt.

Food support

Temporary food support is another vital aspect of modern sheltering to keep people and pets together. However, not every shelter has the capacity to manage its own pet food bank.

Consider reaching out to local human pet food banks and work with them to include pet food.

Contact local houses of worship that operate food banks or donation drives. Encourage them to add pet food and basics to their inventory. You might even collaborate with them to drive pet-related donations to their coffers.

Best Friends Animal Society offers tips on how to organize a pet food drive. These activities can be done by your shelter on its own or collaboratively with other pet- and human-resource organizations in your community.

Rescue Bank grants pet food and supplies to qualified nonprofit animal shelters, with particular emphasis on smaller, under-resourced shelters.

What modern sheltering techniques are working in your animal welfare organization?

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GET YOUR PET

Online community connecting people who want to adopt with pets who need a home. Pets bypass the shelter entirely. Think of it as a person-to-person Petfinder.

Learn more at getyourpet.com

DOGS PLAYING FOR LIFE

This is a wonderful program that offers free on-site, hands on, instructional training to shelters around the country so they can develop dog play groups. The concept is that it helps dogs become better socialized, reduces stress, and in turn makes them more adoptable. Free to qualifying shelters, which must be breed agnostic and open admission.

Learn more at dogsplayingforlife.com

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TREAT ME RIGHT

All natural, organic, human grade, and unique dog and cat treats that raise funds for animal welfare groups to help homeless pets.

Learn more at treatmeright.org

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RESCUE REBUILD

Animal shelter renovation program using volunteers from across the country to complete repairs and renovations to shelters, and increase pet adoption.

Learn more at rescuerebuild.greatergood.org

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Friday funny: sign we saw on a recent walk with ou Friday funny: sign we saw on a recent walk with our pup...
Can we please take a moment to behold Smokey's spe Can we please take a moment to behold Smokey's spectacular ears? 

Okay...moment over! 🤣 This hunky hound just hit the adoption jackpot when Annette and her husband - both Air Force veterans - added this 3+ year-old fella to their family. We thank these high-flying patriots for their service and for opening their hearts and home to this magnificent beast!

#staffysaturday #dontbullymybreed #loveabull #airforceveteran #militaryfamily #petsforpatriots
When you've got a great name like Jean-Paul, you j When you've got a great name like Jean-Paul, you just have to adopt a dog with a double name, too...like Russia Roo!

This sweet shepherd mix and her Army veteran dad became the 148th match through our partners @pgc_pets4us - which waives adoption fees for veterans in our program...woot!

#armystrong #armyveteran #shepherdsofinstagram #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #petsforpatriots
Henley was in a Virginia animal shelter until one Henley was in a Virginia animal shelter until one day when the coy cat chose a dual Navy couple as his own. In time he would prove his mettle as a “little therapy cat.”

Click the link in our bio to read this purr-fect adoption tale, and thanks to our partners @chesapeakehumane for helping us make it all happen!

#adoptasheltercat #navycouple #iserved #therapycat #petsforpatriots
Mila is mesmerizing!! This stunning 3 year-old mi Mila is mesmerizing!!

This stunning 3 year-old mix just set sail with Jared, who for more than 10 years and counting serves in the Navy. The pair were matched through our partners @kitsaphumanesociety which offers veterans in our program 50% off adoption fees. Anchors aweigh!

#navy #adoptashelterdog #kitsaphumanesociety #petsforpatriots #muttsrule
Megan serves in the Navy and just threw a lifeline Megan serves in the Navy and just threw a lifeline (and a cone!) to Little Man, a stunning adult cat she met through our partners @vbspca. Megan received a 25% adoption fee discount and has access to their low-cost veterinary clinic without proof of income - just a couple of the benefits of adopting through our partnership.

All we know is that this is one very lucky black cat! Smooth sailing, Megan and Little Man!

#blackcat #adoptasheltercat #femaleveteran #navyveteran #petsforpatriots
Last week we shared that Joan, Army veteran, bid h Last week we shared that Joan, Army veteran, bid her senior Pittie rescue and @petsforpatriots alum Jerry a peaceful trip over the Rainbow Bridge. 🌈

Joan knew she needed to dust herself off and save another 4-legged soul, so earlier this week she rescued 5 year-old Smokey, a stunning Cane Corso she met through our partners Baltimore County Animal Services, which gives veterans we serve 50% off adoption fees.

We're so honored that many veterans, like Joan, are repeat adopters through our program - embracing our mission to save the most vulnerable shelter animals while benefiting from their loyalty and love. ❤️

#rainbowbridge🌈 #adoptashelterdog #armystrong #petsforpatriots
Pet adoption was not in Linda’s plans until one Pet adoption was not in Linda’s plans until one day when the lonely Marine met a shelter cat who turned her life around.

“I never knew one could love an animal so deeply. She brings so much happiness to my life."

Click the link in our bio to read this sweet tale, and thanks to @vbspca for another purr-fect match together!

#adoptasheltercat #loneliness #femaleveteran #marinecorps #beapetshero #petsforpatriots #youarenotalone
Cornelia was born and raised in France and her hus Cornelia was born and raised in France and her husband Ed in Belgium. Yet both served their adopted nation - Ed in the Navy and Cornelia in the Army. The pair met in New Jersey and married on Veterans Day more than 20 years ago.

These days the couple lives in an assisted living facility and, sadly, Ed's health is such that he's not always able to interact with Cornelia. She grew lonely and wanted nothing more than a little dog to love.

After months of searching, mission accomplished! Thanks to our partners @ywacpets for going the extra mile to help Cornelia find the perfect match:

"She's exactly what I needed and wanted.  She's 9 pounds of love.  She kisses me on the mouth and then turns on her back placing her neck over my mouth so I can kiss her and tell her I love her.  She sleeps with me and is being spoiled rotten by all the employees at the facility, directors on down." ~ Cornelia, US Army veteran ❤️

#armystrong #femaleveteran #adoptashelterpet #loverescuedme #petsforpatriots
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