Marin Humane Strategic Plan 2019-2024

Marin Humane Strategic Plan 2019-2024

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Table of Contents 1.

CEO Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

2. A History of Marin Humane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 3. Backstory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4. Mission/Vision/Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5. Core Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 6. Supporting Documents A. Dening Success Success . . . . B.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Animal Sheltering Best Practices and Tools . . . . . .19









Dear Friends, After almost two years of researching trends in the eld of animal welfare, reviewing statistics and best practices, and exploring possible paths to take, Marin Humane is excited to share our Strategic Plan for 2019-2024. Our strategic planning committee (consisting of both sta and board members) invested signicant thought and time in this process because we know the importance of having a robust plan: it sets our priorities, plots our roadmap, and targets our programs to create a humane world for every animal. Compared to our previous strategic strategic plan, our ve-year ve-year goals are more streamlined and focused. We’ve We’ve also added a “big audacious goal,” one that takes our work well beyond bey ond the next decade: Ending pet homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area by 2030! This plan continues Marin Humane’s mission of being an advocat advocate e for all animals and demonstrates our exibility exibility in shaping our services to the changing needs of shelter animals and our community. community. Our work will always be rooted in promoting the human-animal bond, well beyond beyond the borders of our campus. This document shares the background on our goals and how they t hey were established. established. We welcome your your comments, questions, and ideas. Going forward, our board of directors directors will continue to monitor progress on the strategic plan, and we’ll share our successes with the community along the way way.. I’m proud of our planning team, the board of directors, directors, and our community for giving Marin Humane the support to









A History of Marin Humane It was more than 110 years ago when local resident, Ethel Tompkins, led the charge to ensure the horses used to carry lumber through Marin were given food, water, water, and rest. This seemingly simple act in 1907 laid the groundwork for what has become one of the most progressive and inuential humane societies in the United States. Marin Humane has long been on the cutting edge of change. In 1913, it oered the rst high school education program on animal welfare. welfare. In 1964, Marin stepped out ahead of every community community in California to ban experimentation on shelter animals—a practice already prohibited at Marin Humane. In 1983, Marin Humane was a pioneer in passing a local ordinance to protect protect animals from being left in hot cars and riding unrestrained in the back of open vehicles. The organizationcampaigned for leash laws in the 1950s and mandated the sterilization of all adoption animals in the 1970s – one of the biggest steps towards reducing pet overpopulation. Marin Humane has supported and fought for ground-breaking legislation such as the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958 and Farm Animal Welfare Acts—Prop 2 in 2008 and Prop 12 in 2018. It has championed ongoing campaigns against factory factory farming, greyhound racing, leg-hold traps, circuses, and rodeos. And Marin Humane promotes co-exist co-existence ence with wildlife such as coy coyotes otes and deer, always keeping education at the forefront of creating positive change. In the 1970s, Marin, like many counties across the country country,, experienced severe pet over-population over-population problems. At the









Progress at Marin Humane Our steady gains in positive outcomes for animals have been possible through passion, vision, education, innovative programming, strong leadership, legislation, and a supportive county and community. Our goal is to always achieve at least a 90% live release rate. Positive Animal Outcomes (Live Release Rate)

1979

1985

1995

2017

Dogs

7 5%

73%

89%

90%

Cats

45%

50%

69%

94%

Other*

UNK

42%

42%

88%

Total

63%

60%

67%

92%

Our declining intake numbers reect the success of spay/neuter initiatives initiatives and our surrender mitigation programs such as Pet Safety Net and Pet Care Assistance programs, Career Cats, private rehoming, foster to adopt, and education programs. Intake Numbers

1979

1985

1995

2017









We strive to place as many animals as possible into loving homes and have improved our placement success through marketing, successful adoption experiences, and nding n ew audiences for pet adoptions. All shelters are beneting from a positive societal change in how animals are viewed as part of the family. Adoptions

1979

1985

1995

2017

Dogs

1,011

490

597

582

Cats

1,158

847

1,032

1,320

Other*

UNK

223

365

426

Total

2,169

1,560

1,994

2,328

While signicantly better than the national average, our redemption rates have plenty of room for improvement. improv ement. We’ll be addressing this through vigorous marketing, microchipping, and licensing programs. Strays returned to guardians (redemption rates)

1979

1985

1995

2017

Dogs

62%

8 7%

76%

74%

Cats

6%

8%

15%

19%











Marin Humane Strategic Plan The Backstory During the last decade, the world of animal sheltering has undergone major transformations. Marin Humane has been at the forefront of many of these changes and in 2018, we overhauled overhauled our strategic plan to reect this and chart a course for the future. 1. National Trends/Statistics Since 1970, the euthanasia rate of dogs and cats has signicantly decreased across the United States thanks to: • Highly eective eective spay/neuter programs • An increase in the th e number of animals being adopted • An increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their guardians











2. Current Challenges in Sheltering—Despit S heltering—Despite e the dramatic decrease in euthanasia and improved societal societal views towards animals, sheltering challenges still exist. More challenging animals in shelters Shelter populations tend to consist of more challenging animals who are harder to place. In the past, animals deemed too old, too sick or too behaviorally challenged, were often euthanized. These animals are now being rehabilitated and placed in homes, but require more resources and time. The makeup of dogs in shelters has also changed. Many are lled with a just a few breeds or mixes of those breeds. This lack of selection can drive potential adopters to look elsewhere.

Shelter Intake and Adoptions by Breed Adoption

60000 s

50000

Intake











Disparity among shelters While many shelters have state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional stang, and prodigious resources, many others are struggling with poor community support, a lack of needed nances, and inadequate stang. stang. Some shelters are half empty, others are so crowded they have to euthanize hundreds of animals each year. Animal shelters, shelters, whether private or municipal, are all independent. There is no umbrella organization connecting animal shelters which could spread resources more ev evenly enly or standardize the care. Animal welfare deserts Pett guardianship goes beyond geographic, racial and socio-economic Pe boundaries, but access to pet resources does not. Numerous low income communities exist exist where ve veterinary terinary care and shelter services are not available a vailable











3. New and Innovative Programs to Address the Challenges: Leaders in animal welfare and sheltering recognize the signicant gains made over the past few decades, but acknowledge there are critical challenges ahead. Organizations such as Marin Humane are looking outward for solutions, studying trends in the industry, learning from other professions, and harnessing the power of partnering with other shelters towards solutions.

Shelters working collaboratively Until recently, animal shelters acted like islands, serving their community, but not looking very far beyond county lines. During the last decade, shelter leaders have expanded their horizons by recognizing the power of collaboration. Shelters are working together on animal transfer programs, sta communication forums, and sharing resources, best practices, eective programs, and training.











Resources for the underserved Spay/neuter programs are the most eective eective approach to pet overpopulation, but many communities lack access to these services. Nationally, veterinary veterinary care expense is a leading reason for pet relinquishment. By addressing ad dressing these needs, we can signicantly impact pet overpopulation and decrease pet surrenders. The HSUS Pets for Life program provides access to veterinary care and shelter services to low income communities. Pets for Life is designed to keep pets in the homes they already have, improve their quality of life and deepen the human-animal bond. Marin Humane’s Pet Safety Net provides veterinary care, food, and other services to pets of low-income residents by creating a lifeline that connects animals in need with local veterinarians and other vital services. Sources “ASPCA Releases New Data Showing Remarkable Progress for Homeless Dogs and Cats.” ASPCA, 10 March 2017, www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspca-releases-new-data-showing-remarkable-progress-homeless-dogs-cats.













Our Vision: A humane world for every animal.





















Initiative 1 Exemplify sheltering best practices











Initiative 1 (continued) Exemplify sheltering best practices











Initiative 2 Drive organizational growth















































Marin Humane Strategic Plan 2019-2024

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