SCV 150 Quiz #1

Question 1

Differences between muni and private shelters re: accepting an animal with cancer that is 14 yrs old from its owner

Answer 1

Muni shelters must legally accept the animal where as private shelters are under no such obligation and will probably not.

Question 1

Explain the difference between an open admission or municipal shelter and a limited admission or “no kill” shelter with regard to money for operations.

Answer 1

Municipal shelters are generally almost entirely supported by government funds and have trouble with public fundraising because they must euthanize animals due to their open admission policy and underfunding. It’s a horrible “catch 22” No kill shelters are privately funded, selectively admit animals and generally do well receiving donations because the perception is they are superior to traditional shelters because they are “no kill”.

Question 2

Differences between muni and private shelters re: dangerous dogs

Answer 2

Municipal shelters must hold any animal for a specified period of 5 days if unlicensed or 9 if they are while they wait to see if the animal is claimed or try to contact the owner, unless it’s deemed by a vet to be in such poor health that it needs to be put down.
No kill shelter don’t pick up strays (they’re property and it’s illegal) and will almost certainly deny admission to any animal they deem dangerous.

Question 4

Differences between muni and private shelters re: wildlife

Answer 4

Muni shelters can reject the wild animal and must take the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Private shelters must reject wild animals

Question 4

Differences between muni and private shelters re: priority for money to be used for adoption programs

Answer 4

Muni shelters are generally so poorly funded that all their resources go to attempting to manage what they are legally required to do so they rarely have resources for adoption programs, although they do frequently form relationships with private shelters and provide then with animals deemed “adoptable”.
No kill shelters have an easier time fundraising by touting their “no kill” adoption programs in highly visible public places like parks, etc.

Question 5

Differences between muni and private shelters re: feral cats trapped as strays in city parks

Answer 5

Muni shelters are now working with the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s animals to TNR feral cats, but there IS legal risk, as cats are property.

Some private or No kill shelters do work in concert with muni shelters and often raise private funds to this end. They have limited legal risk as they only take animals from owners or muni shelters.

Question 6

Adult animals and puppies both sometimes swamp animal shelters in terms of admissions to a municipal facility. What two major problems are represented by these intakes of different ages?

B: What are five important factors for relinquishment?

Answer 6

Important risk factors:

• Acquired young at no cost
• Lack of vet care
• Most of time spent away from living areas of the house
• Exceeded expectations of amount of care required
• Sexually intact
• Behavior problems
• Lack of obedience training

Question 7

Adult animals and puppies both sometimes swamp animal shelters in terms of admissions to a municipal facility. What two major problems are represented by these intakes of different ages?

A: Basic statistics about % of dogs/cats euthanized annually, purebreds admitted and where people get their pets

Answer 7

2 million dogs and cats euthanized annually - 3% of the population

Pets come from:
50% friend or family
20% breeder
20% shelter or rescue 
10% pet shop
Pet shops 

Purebreds are 25% of dogs admitted

Question 8

Adult animals and puppies both sometimes swamp animal shelters in terms of admissions to a municipal facility. What two major problems are represented by these intakes of different ages?

Answer 8

Adult animals are often harder to adopt than puppies and can have the kind of health problems animals can have later in life.

Puppies are easier to adopt, but generally lack training, neutering etc and require specific care.

Question 9

In the terms if groupings of animals with regard to disposition of animals, what are three possible dispositions or outcomes?
What are four factors that may influence which dispositions are possible?

Answer 9

• RTO
• Adopted out
• Euthanized
• Microchipping/licensing
• Aggression towards humans/animals
• Physical condition of the animal
• Age and/or physical attractiveness of the animal

Question 10

Name and discuss three of the four important strategies for pet population control nationwide

Answer 10

• Spay/neuter programs (sterilize early!)
• Adoption programs
• Pet retention programs (promote the human/animal bond
• Education and legal efforts to make owners more responsible

Question 11

What type of legislation is in place in NYC?

Answer 11

A size limit of 25 pounds for dogs in city housing has been in place since 2009

Question 12

Explain the difference between BSL and dangerous dog laws

Answer 12

BSL attempts to make specific breeds of dogs illegal whereas dangerous dog laws use other criteria such as bite history/nature and assessment of animal at shelter to control the problem if dog aggression, particularly in high density urban areas.

Question 13

List at least three categories of animals that are prohibited under NYC law.

Answer 13

Sea mammals
All large rodents
Predatory fish
SOME, not MOST reptiles including iguanas, boids and all venomous reptiles

Question 14

Why doesn’t BSL work in cities or regions?

Answer 14

Breed specific legislation doesn't work for several reasons:
Inherent problems in trying to determine a dog's breed, (enforcement problem)
Fatal attacks represent a very small portion of bite
related injuries (should not drive public policy)
Existing non breed specific legislation already exists to prevent dog bites

Question 16

Explore www.animalhouseshelter.com . What kind of shelter do you think it is? Do you think it has a municipal animal contract? Why or why not?

Answer 16

It’s a non profit “no kill “ shelter that apparently has a relationship with municipal shelters.
I don’t think it has a municipal animal control contract because the front of their web page has a stated “definition of a no kill shelter “ with very specific criteria about what makes an animal appropriate for a no kill shelter. Those with a municipal animal control contracts must take ALL domestic dogs and cats, even those with behavioral issues or poor physical condition. Also, I couldn’t find a place on their page with information for surrendering animals and don’t think they accept them.

Question 16

From “Out of Control Into Compassion” name at least one key player in the history of animal sheltering.

Answer 16

In current history, in the early 90’s, Mark Kumpf was an animal control officer in VA that effected change from the old “catch and kill” mentality to a people and pet friendly one of education.

Significantly earlier, Henry Bergh founded the ASPCA in NYC on April 10th,1866, based on the RSPCA founded earlier in the U.K.

Question 17

From “Out of Control Into Compassion” discuss how public demand for changes was tied to changes in euthanasia techniques over the last century.

Answer 17

In the late 19th, early 20th century, public opinion fueled by rabies terror allowed dogs to be disposed of by brutal techniques like clubbing, shooting, hanging or drowning. As the public became better educated, humane organizations took root and the human/animal bond strengthened, the demand for euthanasia (“good death”) of unwanted animals by more humane methods such as gassing/tranquilizing/lethal injection became legislation.

Question 18

In thinking of the article by Dr. Griffin, what are a few challenges faced by persons who want to go into shelter work?

Answer 18

Those who go into shelter work must posses a vast amount of knowledge and be versed in inter-species medicine, disease control and behavioral medicine, grasp the full spectrum of companion animal homelessness, animal cruelty, shelter management, public health protection as well as policy and have legal acumen. Additionally, traditional shelters are woefully underfunded so they must be able to make the most from the meager resources they are allotted. And, of course, burn out and stress that these issues exacerbate.

Question 19

What are your personal thoughts on your future in the vet tech profession as it relates to Dr. Griffin’s article?

Answer 19

My first priority is to achieve a skill in a field I find fascinating, important and care deeply about that will also enable me to pay rent and ensure that my family (should I ever have one), my companion animals and myself generally live more comfortably than we can with my current occupation. The job I currently hold pays poorly and has NO benefits. NONE. No 401K, no sick days, no vacation, no maternity leave.
To that end (and given my advanced age - 49) I don’t think it’s feasible for me to seek full time shelter employment. That said, I’d really like to work part time or volunteer my learned skills regularly at a traditional shelter. Oh god, please don’t let me guilt myself into full time shelter work and a continued life of poverty.

Question 20

Name at least four types of groups involved in animal sheltering.

Answer 20

Rescue groups
Municipal shelters
Private, “no kill” shelters
Animal fostering groups

Question 22

From the end section of your powerpoints, discuss why each “side” (those in municipal shelters and those in “no kills”) have a lot of tension and polarization between them.

Answer 22

Traditional shelters feel NK shelters demonize them as “Kill” shelters and present a one sided view that doesn’t include the reality that without traditional shelters, the animals these “selective admission” shelters take would die on the streets or worse.
NK shelters think that traditional shelters don’t care about animals and believe that killing surplus pets is a solution.

Question 23

What ideas do Traditional and NK shelters have in considering each other?

Answer 23

NK shelters think:
That traditional shelters don’t care
That traditional shelters think it is okay to kill surplus pets as a solution
That traditional shelters don’t try very hard to find
homes for the pets
That traditional shelters are inferior to no-kill shelters in all instances
That pets need to be rescued from the horrible ‘kill’
shelters
Traditional shelters think:
That NK shelters turn away animals that will suffer and die on the street or worse
That NK shelters make traditional shelters out to be “the bad guys” & use this to increase their own $$ raising
That no-kill only means someone else will have to kill
That NK shelters leave “the dirty work” to them
That animals are inhumanely warehoused for years
That they take all the “good”, adoptable animals

Question 24

What are bond laws?

Answer 24

Money posted by the owner of an animal to cover any potential cost to the shelter for damage and maintaining that animal.

Question 25

Why are bond laws necessary?

Answer 25

Municipal shelters work with an extremely limited budget and the care of one very destructive animal held after being seized in a drug bust, for instance, can use a huge chunk of the budget. Bond laws make owners responsible for the damage their animal might do; or, if an owner won’t post bond, transfer legal ownership to to shelter to determine disposition.

Question 26

What are the legal requirements for licensing in NYC? In NYS?

Answer 26

NYC Health Code
Article 161
161.04. Dog licenses
Required in accordance with Chapter 115 of the New York State laws of 1894 for every person who “owns, possesses, keeps, harbors, adopts, purchases, or cares for” a dog in NYC
Except: shelters if < 6 months

Must wear license tag in public

Shelters must ensure adopters
get the dogs licensed

Question 27

What are four key laws/regulations governing dog ownership in NYC?

Answer 27

*Licensing!
*Rabies vaccination!
BOTH by 4 months of age, unless in a shelter then 6
*Dogs must be leashed in public - no leash over 6’
*CLEAN UP after your dog!

Question 28

Provide a general overview of the federal wildlife laws as outlined in your readings.

Answer 28

The Animal Welfare Act
Migratory Bird Act
CITES regulations (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
Lacey Act (Deals with foreign countries and individual states’ enforcement.

Question 29

What organizations are responsible for enforcement of federal wildlife law?

Answer 29

TONS of federal agencies
The FDA
USDA
DEA
National Park Service
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Question 30

History of the word “impound” to pound. How did this evolve?

Answer 30

The term impound originated in the 1500’s and referred to the fencing in and holding of chattel found escaped or seized by law. A fee had to be paid to retrieve the animal. Eventually, this applied to stray dogs and then cats and other animals.

Question 31

What do the initials AHA, HSUS, SAWA, LRR and RTO mean?

Answer 31

A.H.A. = American Humane Association
H.S.U.S. = Humane Society of the United States
S.A.W.A. = Society of Animal Welfare Administrators
L.R.R. = Labrador Retriever Rescue 
R.T.O. = Return To Owner

Question 32

What are the Asilomar Accords?

Answer 32

The Asilomar Accords include a set of Guiding Principles, standardized definitions, a statistics table for tracking shelter populations and a formula for determining shelter live release rates. The purpose of the definitions, table, and live release rate formula is to produce a uniform system so that shelters and other stakeholders can get a better understanding of lifesaving progress nationwide.

Question 33

What do the Asilomar Accords do? (Give concrete example from slides)

Answer 33

Attempt to apply standard definitions to save all companion animals that are Healthy, Treatable, Rehabilitatable, Mangeable and therefore likely to have a good quality of life with care typically provided by owners in the community.
Additionally, to identify those animals that are unhealthy/untreatable.

Question 34

How and why were the Asilomar Accords developed?

Answer 34

Asilomar is a retreat center in Pacific Grove, California where eighteen national, regional and local animal welfare leaders met in August of 2004 to build bridges across varying philosophies, develop relationships, and create goals focused on ending the killing of healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats in the United States.

Question 35

From the textbook, discuss a shelters responsibility in terms of medical care to an animal that is a stray and just arrived at the shelter (no owner).

Answer 35

They must provide veterinary care to prevent suffering. Beyond that, shelters may administer vaccines and treatments that will protect the existing population in the shelter as well as administer vaccines and preventatives that will provide protection from disease while being held in a kennel or shelter in such close proximity to other animals.

Question 36

Discuss accepting reptiles and what a shelter should do when/before accepting an unidentified species of snake, for instance.

Answer 36

Shelters should be a place of temporary housing of reptiles. Shelters should understand and provide basic husbandry guidelines, but should seek reptile specific rescues.
Prior to accepting reptiles in a shelter, a thorough review of local, federal, state, county and municipal laws pertaining to ownership is necessary.
In many areas of the country, ownership of venomous species is strictly regulated or banned altogether.
Shelter managers should know which species can be legally accepted and who to contact with regard to disposition of illegal species.

Question 37

If wildlife comes into a shelter - what are a shelter’s options? What questions should they ask themselves if an unidentified bird of prey comes in?

Answer 37

Determine if the shelter has the necessary federal or state permits to care for the animal.
Consult previously designed admissions protocol developed by consulting licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
If the animal is severely injured, permission to euthanize may be granted on a case by case basis.
If an unidentified bird of prey comes in, consult with the DNR or licensed local wildlife rehabilitator.

Question 38

What is “animal transport” for adoption and how does it work, for example, with puppies and kittens?

Answer 38

Animal transport is a program designed to rescue animals from high kill shelters and abusive/neglectful situations, and transport them to screened and approved rescues.
For instance, Northshore going down south to pick up puppies and kittens where shelters are overrun and and transporting them to shelters the North East where they are more likely to be adopted.

Question 39

Wildlife is often challenging for animal sheltering organizations to handle - why? Briefly discuss humane wildlife control and ways that shelters get involved.

Answer 39

So many different laws and permits regarding wildlife and so much variation in wildlife. Additionally, having the appropriate housing that won’t stress the animal further -away from cats, dogs and humans (predators) - is challenging.
Shelters can transport animals to licensed wildlife rehabilitators and, in some cases and with permission, euthanize critically injured animals