Shelter Design, Shelter Welfare, and Shelter Intake (all shelter stuff)

Question 1

what are reasons shelter protocols are important?

Answer 1

1. consistency – determines what happens to ALL animals entering the shelter and provides clear instructions for staff and volunteers
2. minimizes stress - efficient, well planned animal handling and reduced staff stress since there is a routine in place.
3. accountability
4. prevention of problems

Question 2

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians recommendations for data collection are at minimum what 3 things?

Answer 2

1. record monthly intake by source (stray, owner relinquish, etc.)
2. record monthly outcome by type (rehomed, transferred, euthanized)
3. maintain daily animal consensus

this minimally allows staff to plan financial resources, space, and staff time.
Two additional things that would be ideal are: eval by age group, health, and behavior status, as well as perform evaluations at intake and after the animal departs.

Question 3

What are 2 “best practice” data collection?

Answer 3

All of the bare minimum and ideal data collections, as well as:
1. monitor disease prevalence at intake
2. incidence of disease occurrence during shelter stay

Question 4

What is meant by “pathway planning”?

Answer 4

Proactive approach to determine the animals outcome.
Should be developed at intake and reviewed daily.

Question 5

what are the 4 pathway planning options?

Answer 5

1. return to owner
2. adoption
3. transfer/transport to another shelter
4. euthanasia

Question 6

T/F: you should NOT scan a pet’s microchip while they are on metal tables, under flourescent lighting, or wearing metal collars.

Answer 6

true

Question 7

Animal housing in the shelter setting should have the animals separated by groups based on what 4 characteristics?

Answer 7

1. species
2. age
3. sex
4. health status

Question 8

The goal of traffic flow in a shelter is to minimize disease transmission and stress. How is this goal met?

Answer 8

People are to handle pups/kittens BEFORE adults and are to handle healthy animals BEFORE sick animals.

Question 9

Describe a distinguishing factor/appearance of the following young ages:
2 weeks –
3 weeks –
4 weeks –

Answer 9

2 weeks – eyes open, crawling
3 weeks – first teeth, first steps
4 weeks –walk steadily, playing

Question 10

At what age do permanent incisors and canines develop in growing animals?

Answer 10

incisors – 12-20 weeks
canines – 5.5-6 months

Question 11

At what age do ‘jowls’ develop in intact male cats?

Answer 11

1.5-2 years of age

Question 12

If a dog comes into the shelter and has dental tartar but no gray muzzle, what is the best age estimate?

Answer 12

> 2 years but less than 5

Question 13

If a dog comes into the shelter and has dental tartar and a gray muzzle, what is the best age estimate?

Answer 13

at least 5 years old

Question 14

If a dog comes into the shelter and has dental tartar, gray muzzle, and nuclear sclerosis, what is the best age estimate?

Answer 14

7-10+ years

Question 15

what is the best way to determine neuter status of male cats without using diagnostics tests?

Answer 15

look for penile spines
present = intact d/t testosterone

Question 16

When determining disease status during shelter intake, what are the 2 categories?

Answer 16

1. infectious (isolate and treat)
2. non-infectious (+/- quarantine and treat)

Question 17

If an animal enters the shelter and has been determined to be physically healthy, what is the next step in the intake process?

Answer 17

behavioral health assessment

Question 18

T/F: animals entering shelters typically do not have titers for common viral diseases

Answer 18

true

when we vaccinate them in the shelter, we must remember that they will not mount an immune response for at least 6 days (if first vaccine) or 2 days (if booster).

Question 19

what are the 3 pros of the MLV?

Answer 19

• more rapid onset of immunity
• better able to overcome maternal antibody
• induction of immunity after single administration

Question 20

what are the 3 vaccines recommended for shelter dogs according to the ASPCA?

Answer 20

1. distemper-adenovirus-parainfluenzavirus-parvovirus (DAPP) can start at 4-6 wks of age, give q2wks until 20 wks old; booster at 1 yo.
2. bordetella bronchiseptica + CPiV + Adeno. can start at 3 weeks old, give q2wks if less than 16 wks old; booster every 6-12 months.
3. rabies

Question 21

What are the 2 vaccine requirements for cats in shelters according to the ASPCA?

Answer 21

1. feline viral rhinotracheitis-calcivirus-panleukopenia. start at 4-6 wks old, give q2wks until 16-20 wks old
2. rabies

Question 22

According to the ASPCA guidelines for internal parasites, what treatments are given to shelter animals for parasite control?

Answer 22

products: pyrantel, fenbendazole, ivermectin, +/- ponazuril for pups/kittens

treat on admission, repeat in 2 weeks, then repeat monthly

if pup/kitten: begin at 2 weeks old, treat q2wks until 4 months old.

Question 23

T/F: behavior assessments are highly accurate and precise in predicting aggression after adoption

Answer 23

false – have not been proven to be highly accurate or precise.

Question 24

What are all of the factors that go into a behavioral evaluation? (6 things)

Answer 24

1. intake
2. initial physical exam and history
3. daily observation
4. training and modifications
5. interactions with the public
6. formal behavioral assessment

Question 25

how is sheltering in the US changing?

Answer 25

fewer dogs are entering shelters
adoptions from shelters are increasing
shelters are able to keep dogs longer
shelters are able to work with medically or behaviorally more challenging dogs

Question 26

Name the 4 potential stressors of being in a shelter

Answer 26

1. excessive noise
2. spatial confinement
3. social isolation
4. unpredictability

Question 27

what effect does classical music have on shelter dogs?

Answer 27

more time resting, more time quiet, and less time standing

Question 28

T/F: lavender, chamomile, and dog-appeasing pheromones have shown to be useful in reducing barking in shelters

Answer 28

true

Question 29

T/F: in order for a toy to be enriching, the dog must interact with it. dogs prefer interacting with durable, hard toys.

Answer 29

false – in order for a toy to be enriching, the dog must interact with it. dogs prefer interacting with novel, SOFT, destructible toys.

Question 30

What effect does double kennels have on shelter dogs?

Answer 30

may help mintain house training by allowing them an area away from food/water to use the bathroom

Question 31

T/F: there was NO effect found on cortisol levels when shelter dogs were co-housed.

Answer 31

true

Question 32

What are the recommendations for play groups in shelter settings?

Answer 32

do not keep mixing new dogs unless you have to.

Question 33

What is the single most useful and well-documented intervention for shelter dogs?

Answer 33

human interaction, atleast 15-30 min reduces cortisol, increases oxytocin, dopamine, prolactin, etc., decreases HR, and reduces barking.

Question 34

what types of things reduces stress in shelter cats?

Answer 34

1. enrichment
2. hiding places
3. consistent handling and enriching housing