Best Friends Town Hall: Impact to Animal Care & Control
This Best Friends Town Hall focused on these topics:
- Veterinary updates from the CDC
- COVID updates from NACA
- Field services and impact of COVID-19
- Safety in the field
- The new normal and mental health
The following panelists joined us to lend insight and expertise:
- Dr. Erin Katribe, medical director at Best Friends Animal Society
- Scott Giacoppo, Director of National Shelter Outreach, Best Friends and Board President for NACA
- Christina Snow, Animal Protection Manager, Pima animal care center– Tucson, AZ
- Shannon Neal, Chief Animal Control Officer – Jefferson Parish Animal Services
- Dr Josh Fisher, Director , Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control
Click the timestamps below to skip to that portion of the town hall:
Intro to panel- 1:08
CDC update- 3:35
Updates from NACA- 7:07
Field Services, Pima Animal Services- 22:59
Safety in the Field, Jefferson Parish Animal Services- 27:54
The New Normal, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Control- 30:45
What are you all doing if you need to go into a home but do not have N95 masks- 41:00
Even though there is no evidence of human to animal transmission, is it a good idea to not allow others to touch your pets and vice versa since the virus could hitch a ride on the animal’s fur- 45:32
Are any of you having to cut from the budget already? If so, what are two big items you would prioritize cutting or would you suggest scaling down- 47:00
One of the major issues we are facing is directive from gov’t to stop issuing all citations at this time as they will not be processed during the pandemic. Do you have thoughts or what would you recommend communicating this policy change to the public while still trying to provide high levels of customer service and trust that have been built- 49:25
Has your opinion changed on the importance of S/N and TNR, given the consideration of best use of resources?- 52:38
VIDEOS, WEBINARS, & PODCAST
- Adoption without spay/neuter video: 10 Minutes With The Experts - Shelter Medicine 3-23-2020
- Ask the Expert - What is the best way to regulate intake and still be able to help shelters?
- Managing Intake 101 webinar
- NACA guidelines and why should shelters follow them
- Radical RTO: A Conversation between Gina Knepp, National Shelter Engagement Director, Michelson Found Animals Foundation, and Tawny Hammond, National Director of Leadership Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society webinar
DOWNLOADABLE PDFs, PLAYBOOKS, & SOPs
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & INFORMATION
- Follow recommendations from the NACA statement on essential operations
- Home to Home - Keeping animals out of shelters through direct home placement.
- Leading shelter medicine veterinary programs' endorsement of NACA guidelines on animal control agency and animal shelter practices during the COVID-19 pandemic
- NACA statement on Animal Control Functions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- NACA statement on Cat Intake Protocol Recommendations During COVID-19 Pandemic
- NACA statement on Continuity of Animal Control and Sheltering Services
- Pet FBI - The Free Information Center For Lost and Found Dogs, Cats and All Other Pets Search Pet FBI’s big, user-friendly database!
- Rehome - Rehoming your pet should be easy and stress free both for you and your pet. Our experts at Adopt-a-Pet.com, the largest non-profit pet adoption website, with support from The Petco Foundation, have created a simple, reliable, free program to help you place your pet from your loving home directly to another.
- UW - Animal Services' Role in COVID-19 Support
If you enjoyed this town hall, you can find our complete catalog of town halls here.