http://www.care2.com/greenliving/starting-an-animal-shelter.html
Starting an Animal Shelter
Adapted from Building an Ark: 101 Solutions to Animal Suffering by Ethan Smith with Guy Dauncey (New Society Publishers, 2007).
An animal shelter is a temporary home for animals of all shapes and sizes; a haven where they can find safety, nourishment and kindness when they really need it. Creating a shelter is not a responsibility to enter into lightly. It’s a huge undertaking involving a lot of research and education, as well as the heart-wrenching task of euthanizing animals. It can also be an extremely valuable and rewarding journey.
People in Britain fleeing from situations of domestic violence and worrying about their pets can turn to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) for help. Instead of leaving their beloved pets behind in a dangerous situation, they can make a phone call, and the RSPCA will arrange safe, temporary shelter for the animals while their human companions find a safe place to stay. The RSPCA’s Pet Retreat Program is a great example of a shelter filling a void; one that people frequently forget about.
If you want to create a shelter that fits your group and the community you live in, you’ll need to source out funding, shelter space, bylaws and insurance. This will require much more than good intentions. With careful planning and patience, however, opening a shelter can become a reality.
1. Assess your community’s needs. Are there other animal welfare organizations or shelters in your community? If so, will your shelter complement existing services or be a drain on resources for both? Will your community be supportive of an animal shelter?
2. Think twice about the enormity of your endeavor. Assess your resources and be sure you’re up to it. If you have doubts, your efforts might be better spent assisting an existing shelter.
3. Get experience by volunteering in a shelter—it’s the best training you can have.
4. Form a team of knowledgeable allies. This might include veterinarians, a lawyer, local business people and potential sponsors.
5. Hit the road, go on a tour and visit as many shelters in as many regions as you can. Ask lots of questions.
6. Decide what type of shelter you want. Learn about the services of different shelters that offer varying levels of service and care for animals.
7. Create a mission statement and a plan. This is the foundation of your shelter; make sure it’s a strong one.
8. Look into fund-raising and get a clear picture of your required budget. Develop relationships with as many fund-raising sources as possible and plan fund-raising events.
9. Spread the word far and wide about what you’re planning. Network: Let everyone know what you’re up to.
10. Remember the animals you want to help—keep them in mind at all times.
SOME USEFUL RESOURCES
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has several useful publications, including Keys to a Great Shelter; 101 Great Shelter ideas; and 101 More Great Shelter ideas. Here are some other resources:
Adapted from Building an Ark: 101 Solutions to Animal Suffering by Ethan Smith with Guy Dauncey (New Society Publishers, 2007).
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13 comments
add your comment »thanks. i wish i can volunteer in an animal shelter. problem is, we don't have a shelter here. thanks for the article!
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Please go to this website run by Judith Lerner's friends Pete and Ann, and read about the horrible practice of "pound seizure" in Canada:
http://www.annandpetesrescuedogs.com/4.html
An excerpt:
"Pound release or pound seizure is the practise of selling lost, stray and abandoned cats and dogs from pounds, to registered research facilities. These facilities include private and government laboratories, hospitals, unversities and schools. Ontario's Animals for Research Act, states specifically that pounds must relinquish animals that they have held for at least 72 hours, if they recieve a request from a registered facility."
Once again I am ashamed to be Canadian.
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Great article.
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I had to get involved in a very ugly situation in my neighborhood involving feral cats. I had to do it because they desperately needed help and no one else did anything.
I will just say it was the hardest, happiest and saddest time of my life. My grief sent me blogging and I would love to start a cat sanctuary as so many are euthanized in N Texas where I live.
I have already dedicated myself to this as I still take care of my rescues and the rest of the feral survivors. I have no money but am not above "begging" for those who have no voice. Right now I am trying to read any and everything I can do to fulfill this goal before I leave the planet. How people can treat animals and this planet the way they do with no regard is beyond me. I am so grateful for the ones who see beyond the dollar and that is what drives me.
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to Jeramie D. I just found this site and read your posting from Sept. You mentioned that you would have no problem transporting pit bulls if there were any to rescue, I don't know where you are from however there are always many pits in all of the shelters in Georgia that need rescuiong. The pitbulls, black dogs and owner surrender dogs are the first to be euthanized. =Which is bad enough, but some of the shelters still use gas.If you know of any rescues that would take dogs/puppies, cats/kittens from Georgia, I would really appreciate hearing from you. thank you
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I began my own rescue two yrs ago. I did this to establish respect for what i am very passionate. Standing up for those who can not verbalize, creatures smalle than man,, basically helpless again a human being. This animal most often is born, taken from its warm mothers belly, awakens to horrior. Can i imagine the fear felt? In truth, thats life as abused neglected animals know. It doesn't matter they did nothing to cause this cruel and unusual treatmen to be, and while living like this . . . have no one - are clueless how to get away - stay, continue to love unconditionally, eventually thier tired, weak, can't give anymore. Their spirit breaks, their spirit floats away leaving an empty carcus of a dog. Finally, peace. I wonder sometimes, can dogs think? I mean to the point where they wonder why their hated so much where as there master treats them so horribly. i wonder this at times. .
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If anyone wants to participate in a marvelous way to save dogs (and some cats, and once chickens) from kill shelters, volunteer to drive segments for volunteer coordinators like Cheryl Kaminsky at
getmethereplease@gmail.com Se is a mother who holds down 2 full time jobs but still does an incredible job saving animals all over the country by finding volunteers to drive segments. Saturday I drove 80 miles to Bliss, Idaho where I met the 3rd volunteer coming up from Salt Lake City with 3 Brittany Spaniels and one abused beagle named Willie who captivated my heart immediatley. My friend drove while I sat in the back and hugged and kissed the dogs and turned them over ot the next volunteer in Boise, Idaho. This was my 3rd mission and I love it. I also helped pay gas to save 3 goldens from Shreveport, La. shelter to sanctuary in West Virginia. This week Cheryl found volunteers to reunite a lab with his parents who had to leave Missouri for Florida for a sick parent and then found both parents ill and could not get back to Missouri and neighbors couldn't handle the 8 year old dog so were taking her to the pound. Cheryl and another coordinator found volunteers and Shayla will be with her parents this weekend in Florida. I can't wait to drive a weimereiner next weekend. I would gladly pick up pit bulls if there were any to rescue. It is such a wonderful thing to do and share with a friend, hit Costco and drive back home. Shreveport has the highest kill rate in the country.
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In America, a great and incredibly rewarding way to volunteer is to help drive lucky dogs or cats from kill shelters to sanctuaries and forever homes. Write Cheryl Kaminsky at GetMeTherePlease@gmail.com and she has set up quite a few segments for me. Last weekend I drove 3 Brittany Spaniels and Willie the beagle from Bliss, Idaho to the next volunteer in Boise who drove to Pendleton, Oregon to the next volunteer and by Sunday night all 4 dogs were safely with new loving homes. Cheryl knows the names of other volunteer coordinators who set up transportation to rescue animals all over this country. She even had people drive chickens who were going to a sanctuary. She is a signle mother with kids and 2 full time jobs and she still coordinates rescues every weekend all over the country. I am so blessed to ride with these beautiful dogs and hug and kiss them as I get a friend to drive so I can love the furkids. I've also paid for gss for volunteers who needed it to get 3 goldens from Shreveport, La. to West Virginia sanctuary a few weeks ago. I love all animals and this is a great way to help out. Thank you all animal lovers. My next dog to drive is a Weimereiner. I can't wait!
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Dorothy...suggest to your son to start by volunteering locally with a rescue organization, which ALWAYS need caring people to help in many ways and not just with animals but with tasks such as fund raising, community education or clerical and media relations. If he wants to focus only on animals then that's wonderful too! This hands on experience is a fantastic way to discover hidden talents and a possible future career in the vastness of animal related fields :)
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My parents left me a little bit of land in Portugal and my dream is to one day open an animal shelter there. The animals of Portugal are in dire need for help. This is great information. Thank you, www.sylvieshene.com
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