Be a part of my Research Paper!

[NorthernAutumn]

Hi everybunny!

I am writing a research paper from my Environmental management undergrad class about the management structure of dealing with homeless/unwanted companion animals (pets) in Western society.

I'm looking for input from anyone who has every worked with the shelter system/ SPCA/independent rescues/personal efforts on behalf of animals.

What are the flaws that you see in each of the different systems?

Positive experiences? Negative Experiences? Something that you think would make the system work better?

Anyone who can thoroughly explain the SPCA managment structure would be much appreciated. I understand that it is a non-government organization, and appears to have a fairly corporate structure. As for internal management, I'm kind of hazy on what board members "actually" do.

It seems that a lot of grunt work and management is put on the volunteers.
What are your feelings on this?

Do you think independently-run operations are more effective, with less beaureaucracy?

* I'm very excited to be able to write about the bunderground railway and the RO transport trains, BTW***


If contributors would be willing to PM me with their real (or really made up) name, it would go into my report as YOUR NAME (2008). Personal Communication.
(I can't just report your comments without having a semi-legitimate name attached; my prof would be none too impressed...)

**** Just so you know, I think that this paper may be one of the first that looks at dealing with homeless animals on all levels. I've been researching for days, and nothing comes close to a general overview (like what I want to write).

Please, ASAP guys

Thanks in advance for all of your comments.
Autumn

 

[MyLOVEABLES!!]

err sorry im 12 no expereince yet.. but if this is 6 years from now i'll defo give you info lol!

I hope some1 cums alng and help!


Prisca inkbouce:

 

[NorthernAutumn]

bump
(sorry, but it's due very soon)

 

[tonyshuman]

i'm awfully busy myself, but you may want to remember that part of what makes groups like the humane society and ASPCA successful is name recognition. people know who they are so they get more people coming to adopt and volunteer. also, they're more likely to have public support money coming in, as is the case with my local humane society that takes all strays and seized animals in the county. they work with the local governments to take care of these animals and try to find them new homes. this is a big difference between rescues and shelters--shelters may have a contract to take animals that are stray or seized, whereas rescues can turn animals away. the shelters therefore have to take an animal in, and when one of those animals comes in with a prescribed waiting period (for strays) or a court date (for abuse/neglect), they have to make room for the new animal.

 

[myheart]

I have very much to say about the local shelter in my area (Wisconsin), but things will be changing soon as the shelter board has just decided not to renew the current shelter director's contract. This is long overdue and very exciting for the community!!!!

The new shelter board has decided that the future of the shelter should revolve around the welfare of the animals (duh). The current shelter director owned the board for many years, and has established a room to sell foods/accesories, as well as board private individual's pets without care or concern of what type of disease these loved pets could go home with.

I have recently tried to get my vet involved in bidding on the opportunity to provide vouchers for speuters of rabbits, as there is no policy in place currently for spay/neuter of rabbits. Vouchers would be issued with adoption of animals with the understanding that speuter must take place in thirty days or less. The vet then sends the voucher in to the shelter upon completion of the procedure. Anyhow, my vet went along with the idea and sent a bid of $75.00 speuters for rabbits (normally spays for rabbits are $150.00) I inquired about the bid with the current shelter director, who said that there would be no money made off of the adoption of a rabbitby accepting the bid. Many other shelters only want the cost of the speuters as the adoption fee, so a $75.00 adoption feeis not totally out of the ballpark. So at this point, rabbits are not covered under any speuter programs, only cats and dogs.

Needless to say, I am going over my resume this weekend. I know it is hard work with little pay, but now I know that things could change for the better for the animals because people are starting to care again. I am sure that my reply may not be what you are looking for, but I hope it makes you understand a bit about the politics of shelter operations.

myheart

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Thanks for the response, myheart, (and tonyshuman too .

You sound like a great candidate for the job. I found an interesting framework online that might interest you:
http://www.saveourstrays.com/ideal.htm

Here is a great document for managing at the board level:
http://www.saveourstrays.com/
Download the two handbooks at the side.. they have a lot of really good suggestions that cover many of the issues I've found in my research so far