What to Do If You Have Concerns about Your Local Shelter

Concerns about local animal shelters often stem from misconceptions about shelters and how they operate. Before reading this guide on how to address your concerns, we encourage you to first please read our list of common questions about animal shelters and animal control. If you're still concerned, the guide below will help you determine the best approach and where to go.

First, please understand that The HSUS is not a parent organization for local humane societies, animal shelters, or animal care and control agencies. (The HSUS and its partner, The Fund for Animals, provide sanctuary and direct care to thousands of creatures, big and small. Read about some of those animals here.) By long-standing tradition, each is an independent organization, each with its own policies, priorities and governance (governed by its own bylaws and board of directors in the case of humane societies or local ordinances and officials in the case of municipal animal care and control agencies). While we do not investigate local animal shelters, we do work very closely with them and offer them many programs and services. If you'd like more information, please see What The HSUS Does for Shelters.

It's important to keep in mind that we cannot force local agencies to heed our advice. Improvements at local animal shelters are mostly the result of action by local citizens. It is the responsibility of every community to ensure that its animal control program and sheltering facilities are adequately funded and supported so they can provide the services that help all members of the community, both two- and four-legged.

We have provided the following steps to help you address concerns you may have about your local shelter.

• Be cooperative. Experience has proven that working with a shelter is more successful than working against it. It is important to note that animal shelters, being independent agencies, operate under varying levels of funding and resources. Undesirable conditions at animal shelters and humane societies are more often a result of economic constraints rather than a lack of compassion. For this reason, The HSUS encourages communities to support their local animal shelter or humane society so that they are able to provide the best care possible for the animals they assist.

• Educate yourself about the issues. Sometimes procedures and techniques may appear questionable to pet owners, but are actually appropriate in professional animal care settings. The HSUS has resources and materials that can assist you in understanding what is appropriate or inappropriate. We encourage you to read through the information provided for the animal care and control community in our Resource Library at www.AnimalSheltering.org/resource_library.

• Know your shelter's setup. Some communities have one animal shelter, some have multiple shelters, and some have none at all. These shelters may be municipal animal care and control facilities funded by the city or county, or they may be private, nonprofit humane societies. Sometimes a private animal shelter will contract with cities or counties to provide sheltering services. Understanding whether your local shelter is funded by tax dollars, private donations, or a mix of both will help you determine whom to approach with specific questions.

• Talk directly with the people in charge. When a specific question or concern arises, the first place to go is the shelter itself. It is often helpful to put your concerns into writing and to limit comments to situations about which you have firsthand knowledge. Calmly stating your concerns and offering your assistance in making improvements may go a long way. Avoid an accusatory approach.

  In a private, nonprofit humane society, approach the executive director—the individual who oversees staff and operations. If the executive director is unreceptive, speak to the board of directors, which is responsible for the actions of the director, and for the direction, scope, and financial health of the organization.

  For a municipal shelter for a city, township, or county, first talk to the shelter's director. If the director is unreceptive, take your concerns to the government entity funding the facility (i.e., county commissioners or mayor and city council). While every community is different, municipal animal control agencies often fall under either the police department or health department.

  For the sake of public health and safety and the quality of life in a community, it is imperative that local governments provide responsible animal control services. We encourage you to also talk with your local officials about the need to provide the same funding, support, and training opportunities to animal care and control services that is given to other functions, such as law enforcement and public works.

  You may want to consider obtaining a copy of The HSUS's report "Animal Control Management: A Guide for Local Governments," a guidebook for running an effective community animal care and control program.

• Take the next step. If your local shelter is in need of improvements and the individuals in charge are not receptive to your concerns, then you may need to develop a base of support within your community to work toward change. Contact your HSUS regional office for assistance.

The HSUS is committed to supporting humane conditions in animal shelters throughout the United States. We hope you will become a positive force to help your local animal shelter achieve its potential. Remember, working with the shelter and building a relationship based on cooperation, instead of alienation, is more effective and more likely to benefit the animals of your community in the long run. Changes can't happen overnight, so be patient and try to remain positive throughout the process.