Animal Shelter

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Welcome to the City of Douglas Animal Shelter page.

In June of this year, the Douglas Animal Shelter was fortunate enough to be awarded an on-site assessment by Dr. Sara Pizano and her associate, Cameron Moore funded by Maddie's Millions. Dr. Pizano is a recognized authority on shelter operations having written a guidebook to assist shelters with migrating from an open intake model, where the shelter accepts any and all domestic animals; to a managed intake, where the shelter serves as a resource to community members and reserving intake to only those animals who have no other options. This model has reduced the number of animals needlessly entering the shelter and contributing to increased rates of euthanasia as the Douglas Animal Shelter has experienced. Euthanasia is reserved to only those animals with life threatening illnesses or injuries or severe aggression that presents a risk to public safety.

Some of the recent changes that have been implemented since the assessment include:

  • Managed Intake - working with residents to identify resources and networks for placement or transfer of animals they are unable to care for.
  • Vaccinations at intake
  • Provision of spay/neuter sponsorships through support by Best Friends Animal Society and generous donations from community members
  • Construction of segregated outdoor play areas for enrichment and socialization of shelter dogs
  • Transfer of care or provision of care for treatable injuries or illnesses
  • Euthanasia limited to non-survivable injuries or illnesses or large aggressive dogs that pose a threat to public safety

Additional steps that are in the works:

  • Addition of a Shelter Coordinator position that will be on-site to oversee the daily operations of the shelter and to facilitate the recommendations identified in the assessment by Dr. Pizano
  • The Shelter Coordinator will be trained by a member of the Best Friends Animal Society through an embed program for a period of six months. Operations will support managed intake, promoting diversion or aversion of the shelter while promoting direct transfer to rescue or permanent placement through direct adoptions or fostering
  • Vet of record - through professional services contract the vet of record will provide access to medications for base level of care for animals with treatable injuries or illnesses, vaccinations at intake, and treatment protocols or screening to determine the need to transfer to a higher level of care and collaboration to host low cost vaccination and spay/neuter clinics on a regular basis.
  • Addition of kennel staff to support regular feeding/cleaning of kennels, vaccinations at intake, treatment according to protocols, enrichment activities for dogs and cats
  • Implementing ShelterLuv software to provide efficiency in tracking and advertising of animals entering the shelter for reunification with their owners if found at large or adoption or rescue for unwanted/unclaimed pets.

*Please note that our project pages are continually evolving. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates.

Welcome to the City of Douglas Animal Shelter page.

In June of this year, the Douglas Animal Shelter was fortunate enough to be awarded an on-site assessment by Dr. Sara Pizano and her associate, Cameron Moore funded by Maddie's Millions. Dr. Pizano is a recognized authority on shelter operations having written a guidebook to assist shelters with migrating from an open intake model, where the shelter accepts any and all domestic animals; to a managed intake, where the shelter serves as a resource to community members and reserving intake to only those animals who have no other options. This model has reduced the number of animals needlessly entering the shelter and contributing to increased rates of euthanasia as the Douglas Animal Shelter has experienced. Euthanasia is reserved to only those animals with life threatening illnesses or injuries or severe aggression that presents a risk to public safety.

Some of the recent changes that have been implemented since the assessment include:

  • Managed Intake - working with residents to identify resources and networks for placement or transfer of animals they are unable to care for.
  • Vaccinations at intake
  • Provision of spay/neuter sponsorships through support by Best Friends Animal Society and generous donations from community members
  • Construction of segregated outdoor play areas for enrichment and socialization of shelter dogs
  • Transfer of care or provision of care for treatable injuries or illnesses
  • Euthanasia limited to non-survivable injuries or illnesses or large aggressive dogs that pose a threat to public safety

Additional steps that are in the works:

  • Addition of a Shelter Coordinator position that will be on-site to oversee the daily operations of the shelter and to facilitate the recommendations identified in the assessment by Dr. Pizano
  • The Shelter Coordinator will be trained by a member of the Best Friends Animal Society through an embed program for a period of six months. Operations will support managed intake, promoting diversion or aversion of the shelter while promoting direct transfer to rescue or permanent placement through direct adoptions or fostering
  • Vet of record - through professional services contract the vet of record will provide access to medications for base level of care for animals with treatable injuries or illnesses, vaccinations at intake, and treatment protocols or screening to determine the need to transfer to a higher level of care and collaboration to host low cost vaccination and spay/neuter clinics on a regular basis.
  • Addition of kennel staff to support regular feeding/cleaning of kennels, vaccinations at intake, treatment according to protocols, enrichment activities for dogs and cats
  • Implementing ShelterLuv software to provide efficiency in tracking and advertising of animals entering the shelter for reunification with their owners if found at large or adoption or rescue for unwanted/unclaimed pets.

*Please note that our project pages are continually evolving. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates.