Running an animal shelter requires looking for ways to boost adoptions.
Managing an animal shelter can be an immensely rewarding job for an animal lover. However, it's also a challenging job that requires a high level of organizational, leadership and people skills. Having a clear understanding of everything that's involved in managing an animal shelter will help you do it effectively.
Instructions
1. Learn about the different positions at the shelter. Talk to employees and read up on their job descriptions to help you understand what everyone's roles are at a shelter. This will not only be useful in helping you manage and supervise these individuals, but will also give you a better idea of all the different abilities and skill sets that are necessary for running an animal shelter.
2. Review the shelter's operating budget. Many shelters rely on contributions to stay open and provide necessary medical services to the animals they take in. Reviewing the shelter's budget will help you identify where the most money is spent. This will be useful when you're trying to solicit donations from individuals in the community.
3. Restructure your shelter's personnel base if you find that there are job redundancies. Shelters need every penny they can get, so if you have two people doing the same job when only one is needed, cut one of those positions. If you don't want to let an employee go, find another way to use him. For instance, if you have two kennel technicians and only need one, but you also need an administrative assistant, and one of the kennel techs also has administrative job experience, make that person your assistant.
4. Review how much is spent on veterinary services. Some shelters employ a veterinary staff to evaluate ill animals, administer shots, spay and neuter, and treat specific medical conditions, while others contract with a local veterinary clinic to provide medical services. Examine how your facility provides veterinary services and determine whether this is a cost effective method for your facility. For instance, if you provide in-house services, contact a local veterinary hospital and ask them to provide you with a quote for the same types and amounts of services your facility performed during a certain period of time. Compare this with your numbers to determine which service model of is cheapest.
5. Organize your volunteers. Because most animal shelters are nonprofit operations, they often rely on volunteers to help in their day-to-day operations. But, having shelter volunteers can create some confusion as to who works what days and hours and who does what. To get volunteers more organized, appoint a volunteer coordinator to create files listing volunteers' specific skills and talents, and issue volunteer work schedules.
6. Move animals. An effective animal shelter must be able to quickly get animals in its care adopted out to make room for new animals that come in. Many animal shelters routinely euthanize animals because they can't move them out quickly enough to make room for new ones. Thus, it's essential to find new ways to boost adoption rates. Organize adopt-a-thons at the shelter and other locations throughout the community, such as pet supply stores and festivals. Consider using incentives for people adopting more than one pet. For instance, you could offer a person adopting one kitten or puppy a discount if she also adopts a litter mate.
7. Attract charitable contributions. The income from adoption fees alone can not cover an animal shelter's operating costs. Thus, you must have a philanthropic strategy in place to attract donors. Advertisements in the local paper and animal-related publications can help, as can going out into the community and meeting with people who have the means and interest to contribute to your cause.
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