WHAT IS AN EVALUATION?

 A shelter evaluation is a comprehensive examination of everything involving the operations and governance of your animal shelter or animal control department.  This 360' look at your shelter will identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  You'll benefit by receiving recommendations to capitalize on your strengths and seize your opportunities while also addressing your weaknesses and identifying and preparing for threats.  As a result of a shelter evaluation by Animal Shelter Services, your animal shelter will implement best practices, operate more efficiently, and as a result...save more lives!  We can help your organization achieve stability, sustainability and success. 

We examine these eight areas (with an optional ninth area): 

I.  Facility: interior/exterior appearance, size, capacity (kennels, cages, condos & community rooms), conditions, parking, sights, sounds, & odors

II. Operations: hours, policies, procedures, practices, funding/budget, staffing & management, organizational structure, training & development, fees, money-handling & accounting, forms, software, record-keeping, programs, services, customer-service, emergency planning

 III. Animals: care, handling, feeding, cleaning & sanitation, medical (including equipment & supplies), intake exams & vaccination protocols, viral & disease control and containment, housing, conditions (including temperature & humidity readings), capacity for care, behavior, euthanasia, fostering, adoptions, lost & found, fees, adoption procedures, satellite adoption locations, animal control activities

IV. Fundraising: activity, plan, staffing, cultivation, solicitation, grants, direct mail campaigns, online/digital campaigns, event fundraisers, money handling, data entry, donor base, software

V. Marketing and Public & Community Relations: staffing, image/brand, reputation, activity, plan, relationships, media contacts, collaborations & partners, outreach, education, social media

VI. Volunteers: activity, hours, policies, procedures, practices, expectations, job descriptions, manual, training & development, volunteer-staff relationship

VII. Governance: duties, responsibilities, expectations, manual, training & development, giving, meetings, minutes, structure, governance
 VIII. Vehicles: maintenance, appearance, condition, safety, equipment

 IX. Field Services (optional): number of officers/agents, size of service area, compliance with codes, laws & regulations, training & certifications (i.e. disaster response, large animal handling, animal; cruelty & investigations, dog fighting etc), customer service, service delivery, response time, evidence collecting, court appearances, education