Capacity for Care

Question 1

Shelter Success Assumptions

Answer 1

• Goal is to Maximize Lives Saved given the mission and resources on hand
• Provide Humane Care (non-negotiable)

Question 2

Animal Care Day

Answer 2

Basic Unit of capacity

Animal Care Day = 1 day of housing

• • 1 days worth of care time
• • 1 days worth of consumables

Care Days are not created equal

Capacity = total animal care days at any one time

Question 3

Capacity vs. Flow

Answer 3

• Capacity: how many animals can be cared for at any one time
  
  • Resource dependent
  • Time - 15 min/animal minimum
  • Space - 20-25% empty is ideal for flow
• Flow: How many can be cared for over a period of time
  
  • Maximize by decreasing length of stay
  • Higher flow = more lives saved

Question 4

Length of Stay

Answer 4

Number of animal care days from intake to outcome

• Length of stay will vary depending on each animals situation
• Ideally, each animal’s length of stay should be the exact amount of time needed for its particular outcome

Question 5

Shelter Population Management

Answer 5

Intake x Length of Stay = Shelter Population

(I x LoS = P)

Question 6

Immediate Options to Decrease Population

Answer 6

1. Adoption/Transfer
2. Halt Intake
3. Euthanasia

Question 7

The Power in Length of Stay

Answer 7

Intake x Length of Stay = Shelter Population

Tools to Decrease Length of Stay:

• Intake exams/Daily rounds
• Fast track the highly adoptable
• Remove barriers to adoption
• Timely and readily available S/N
• Minimize stress/illness
• Identify and address bottlenecks
• Many, many, many more. ANything that increases a shelters efficiency