AnimalSheltering

Organizational Guide

  • Situation Assessment

Determine agency having jurisdiction and identify local agency representative

Type of disaster and estimation of number of households/population of affected area to determine numbers and types of animals involved (60% of households have 2.5 companion animals)

Type of operation (e.g. temporary or co-located shelter) and scope of operation to be supervised (e.g. the entire animal shelter or a specific section of the animal shelter)

Environmental and geographic considerations

Hazards (contamination, flooding, power, fire, weather, etc.)

Local capability and resources available

  • Establish Shelter Leadership
  • Utilize proper span of control to promote effective and efficient incident management (three to seven subordinates)

  • Key Considerations
  • Administration & Logistics Group Supervisor

Donations & Supplies Management Unit

Procurement Unit

Documentation Unit

CO VMRC Volunteer Coordination Unit

  • Review rules of shelter with all volunteers
  • Clear identification of trained volunteers
  • Daily check-in and check-out procedures
  • Daily briefings

Demobilization Unit

  • Leave site in same condition in which it was upon arrival
  • Final disposition of animals left in shelter
  • Clean and sanitize all equipment and return borrowed equipment
  • Turn in all required documentation and forms to proper authority
  • Arrange for volunteers to return home
  • Arrange for transportation and sheltering of unclaimed animals
  • Arrange for compliance for bite holds and other special circumstances
  • Shelter Group Supervisor

Plan layout of facility and functional flow of incoming and outgoing animals

Establish daily feeding and cleaning routine including daily documentation

Establish quarantine and special needs

Establish Units

  • Animal Intake & Discharge and Lost & Found Unit
  • Establish intake routine (e.g. dogs and cats, digital picture of face and lateral side, ID collar bands and intake form) (e.g. large animals, digital picture of face and lateral side, spray paint number on animal and intake form)
  • Complete and store shelter intake and discharge forms
  • Establish and assign tracking numbers if necessary
  • Establish lost and found procedures
  • Complete and store lost animal forms
  • Dog Care Unit
  • Cat Care Unit
  • Horse Care Unit
  • Safety Officer

Workplace & Volunteer Safety Unit

  • Food and drink for volunteers
  • Hygiene (hand washing)
  • Medical assistance if needed
  • Establish procedure for reporting injuries

Facilities Unit

  • A source of clean, running water
  • Electric power or generators
  • Lighting
  • Waste removal
  • Restrooms
  • Air flow and temperature control
  • Communications (hand held radios)
  • Dead animal storage and disposal (collaborate with vet services)

Security Unit

  • Public Information Officer

Assists with communicating necessary information to the media and the public

  • Liaison Officer

Assists with communications between agencies