The Twelve Elements of Human Animal Support Services

Jun 23, 2020

On Friday, we released our first look at an exciting change happening in animal sheltering. We’ve known our system is far from perfect, nor is it fault proof, but COVID-19 gave us the insight and provided the perfect opportunity to make necessary and life saving changes. Because of this realization, animal welfare leaders across the nation have come together to envision a new world of animal services, a world where most pets are housed in homes and supported by their communities, not in the shelter system.

In this new world, the role of animal services is to keep pets with their families, get lost pets home quickly, and help pet owners who are struggling to meet their pets’ needs. Housing pets in kennels will be short term, reserved for only those pets who truly need to be there.

Nearly two months ago, the initial ideas for the principles of the model were shared through American Pets Alive!, and feedback was requested. Many members of the animal welfare industry and from the public called us or sent emails, sharing their thoughts and ideas for what the future of animal welfare should look like. Taking all of this input into consideration, 12 elements that describe what is now Human Animal Support Services (HASS) were created. These 12 elements are the framework of what we hope all sheltering organizations will be able to offer their communities in the near future.

The 12 Elements of Human Animal Support Services

1. Getting Pets Home | The organization operates a comprehensive lost pet reunification service to successfully get most roaming pets home without them having to enter the shelter system.
2. Keeping Families Together | Pet owners can access pet support services, including housing, medical and behavioral support, as well as food and supplies, to help keep the human-animal family together.
3. Self-Rehoming | Pet owners who can no longer keep their pets are given the tools to safely and quickly rehome their own pets with ongoing support from shelter staff or volunteers.
4. Intake-To-Placement | Pets physically entering the shelter have outcome pathways identified before or at the time of intake, so in-shelter length of stay is drastically reduced.
5. Shelter | The core functions of the physical shelter are to provide emergency medical care and short term housing for pets with urgent needs and to ensure public safety and public health priorities are met.
6. Animal Protection & Public Safety | Animal control and field services protect public health and safety, enforce animal cruelty and neglect laws, and aim to address the root causes of animal problems. They provide support, education, access to care and providing resources to the community.
7. Remote Help | Customers can reach the organization quickly and easily using remote technologies like text, phone and web chats.
8. Foster | The majority of pets who enter the shelter system are placed in foster homes within hours or days of arrival and foster pets are adopted directly from their foster homes.
9. Telehealth | Telehealth services are available for pet owners considering surrender, foster caregivers, and finders of pets who may be sick or injured.
10. Case Management | Animal services personnel serve as trained case managers, helping people keep their pets; providing resources and support to struggling pet owners; and assisting owners who need to rehome their pets, and helping people find missing or lost pets.
11. Volunteers | Volunteers are engaged in every area of operations and play a key role in implementation of HASS programs.
12. Partnerships | Human social services agencies, veterinary practices, rescue groups and other community partners work closely with the animal services organization, treating people and animals as a family unit.

This vision will only be possible with ongoing collaboration and feedback, and your thoughts and opinions are vital to the success of creating a new model for pets and the people who love them.

Original article written by Ellen Jefferson (American Pets Alive!), Lisa LaFontaine (Humane Rescue Alliance), Gina Knepp (Michelson Found Animals Foundation), Kristen Hassen-Auerbach (Pima Animal Care Center).Read the original article by clicking here.