Shelters facilitate adoptions for dogs and cats.
Animal shelters provide homes and care for lost, abandoned and abused animals until owners or adoptive or foster homes can be found. Shelters are expected to provide veterinary care, food, and safe places; as a shelter operator, you are responsible for ensuring these animals' health, happiness and safety. Some shelters also offer boarding facilities to pet owners while they travel.
Instructions
Initial Operation
1. Locate a facility that can house both animals and provide office space for a staff. It must have spaces in which animals can exercise and receive treatment. Apply for proper business licenses and operational permits with local government. Depending on local policies, operators of animal shelters may be required to submit to background checks with law enforcement agencies. The facility also must be inspected prior to opening to the public. A building inspector will approve your structure and other aspects of your facility prior to allowing the shelter to open.
2. Secure a network of employees and pet foster families. Staff the facility with volunteers and paid employees who have experience working with and caring for animals. Hire or develop a working relationship with a local veterinarian who can provide care and treatment for the animals. Register information about your shelter with local animal control and law enforcement, as well as veterinarian offices and other shelters. This will help facilitate the flow of homeless, abused and lost animals to your shelter. Animal control officials and veterinarians also can give you information about local foster and rescue groups with which you may want to work.
3. Prepare the facility to receive and adopt animals. Ensure that staff members are properly trained and know where necessary items are located. Set up kennels, housing, play areas and medical facilities with safety in mind. Keep all cleaning supplies out of the animals' reach. Kennels should be set up so that food, water and bedding can be placed with the animals.
4. Keep on file a list of prospective foster parents for animals for when the shelter becomes full, or to care for younger animals that may respond better to home environments. Inspect homes of foster parents and require them to submit to background checks before placing animals in their care. Check on fostered animals periodically. Set up adoption days so that prospective owners can see the facility and the animals.
5. Ensure that animals are adopted by loving owners. Inspect homes prior to adoption. Establish a screening process for prospective owners to determine whether they can provide healthy loving homes for the animals. Make sure that all adopted animals receive current immunizations and are spayed or neutered in accordance with local ordinances and good shelter practice, before finalizing adoptions.
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