12 Step Program

12 Step Community Animal Management Program:

1. Build a Community Coalition consisting of animal control, humane societies, feral cat colony caretakers, veterinarians, trainers, breeders, rescue organizations and anyone who wants to help.
2. Define your community pet demographics
   You can't solve a problem unless it is defined, look to pinpoint problem areas. What is your spay/neuter rate? How many litters do community pets have before they are spay/neutered? How many purebred litters and adults enter your shelter? What is your market share for shelter adoptions? Are your programs reaching low income and ethnic groups? Etc.
3. Establish goals, objectives, action steps and funding based on your community study that will take you from where you are to where you want to be. Define organizational roles, responsibilities and timelines.
4. Develop a delegation that will represent the coalition to the highest level of local government, act as lobbyists for funding, and spokespersons to the press and the community.
5. Develop a Comprehensive Spay/Neuter Program consisting of:
   low-cost clinic(s)
   > Mobile cat only clinic (coordinate with feral cat trappers)
   > Government sponsored vouchers
   > List of veterinarians that participate in low-cost programs
   > Spay-Athons and coordinated spay days
   > Feral cat spay/neuter coordination
   > Vouchers for people who feed stray cats
   > List of veterinarians who perform early-age spay/neuter
   > Communications campaign aimed at the public
6. All-out effort to identify all pets in the community
   (in addition to visual identification) program see microchips
7. Community Pet Retention Program
   Network of coalition members and all veterinarians.
   Offers:
   Preadoption testing to align expectation with reality
   Free owner orientation seminars
   Training classes
   Behavior problem solving hot lines and in-home visits
8. Feral cat trap/neuter/release program
9. Aggressive adoptions
   Transfer animals from animal control to animal welfare organization for adoption
10. Local all-breed clubs need to develop a certification program to recognize and reinforce responsible breeding practices. The coalition must recognize and reinforce referrals to certified breeders.
11. Veterinarian need to be involved in all programs and be recognized for their efforts
12. No disincentive ordinances that produce heavy fee and fines. This type of legislation presents an undue hardship on low-income pet owners that result in higher impoundment and euthanasia rates.