16-14SAS: Research and recommend new animal welfare programs and strategies to fund and implement them

CONTACT INFORMATION

Organization: City of Seattle, Department of Finance & Administrative Services, Seattle Animal Shelter

Name: Julie Tobin

Title: Policy Advisor

Phone: 206-684-0483

Email

Street Address: Seattle Municipal Tower, 700-4th Avenue, 52nd floor

City, State, and Zip Code: Seattle, WA 98104

Project Contact (if different than submitter): Lisa Peyer, Chief of Staff

Project Contact's Email (if different than submitter):

Please provide some background information about your organization

The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) is owned and operated by the City of Seattle and provides animal care, regulatory enforcement and low-cost spay and neuter services to Seattle’s animal population. SAS’ dedicated staff, coupled with its large volunteer and foster care programs, allow it to provide comfort and a promising future for the cats, dogs and critters (e.g., bunnies, gerbils, ferrets, lizards) that come under its care.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Please create a tentative title for your project, e.g., "Program Evaluation for the Evans School" (your title will be shared with students)

Please indicate which of the following topic areas relate to your project (select all that apply):

  • Social Policy (Poverty, Education, and Social Welfare)
  • Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation
  • Metropolitan and Urban Policy

Please describe the problem, challenge, or opportunity that the consultant team will address.

The Seattle Animal Shelter does not have the staffing capacity to research current nationwide trends and funding opportunities for animal welfare programs. Findings and recommendations from this project may result in SAS replacing existing programs and implementing new ones that have proven results from other nonprofit or for-profit animal welfare organizations.

What would you like to find out or have accomplished; what is the desired deliverable?

Consultants will review current programs, protocols and tools utilized by SAS and research innovative new programs, practices and tools implemented by other animal welfare organizations. Consultants will also review and compile a list of grant funding available to fund the new programs they recommend.
The deliverable will be a report on new programs, protocols or tools that can replace or enhance SAS' operations and services in conjunction with potential grant funding sources, or funding through the City of Seattle's existing budget via the replacement of existing practices.

What are some key tasks the consultants will perform to complete the project?

- Conduct review of SAS programs, practices, protocols and tools and costs associated with each.
- Conduct research of other animal welfare programs for state-of-the art, innovative new ways of caring for animals.
- Develop new, unique recommendations for programs that have not yet been implemented elsewhere.
- Review and analyze findings.
- Prepare a report on key findings that includes recommendations for new programs, the possible elimination of existing programs and funding strategies/sources to cover associated costs

What resources are available to complete the project (e.g., access to data, support from staff, etc.)?

Representatives from the Department of Finance and Administrative Services Director’s Office will provide access to shelter staff and resource materials along with a point person to work with the students and be available to answer questions.

How many consultants is your project suitable for? Select all that apply

  • 2
  • 3

Have you submitted a research project to the Public Service Clinics before?No

If students are interested in your topic and have questions, can they contact you directly?Yes