Every issue highlighted by the Improve OCAS Movement is met with a direct solution.
There are many short-term actions that can be done soon which will increase the amount of adoptions while also elevating the working conditions of the shelter right away.
There are also long term solutions our advocates would like to work hand in hand with the County staff to ensure there is a foundation for improvements throughout the years, leading to and beyond the new shelter once built in 2027.
Short Term List Of Improvements
2X Day Feedings
Dogs are currently only fed once a day. This is causing more aggression and is inhumane. Please expand the number of feedings and allow for partners to donate food to fill the expense gap.
Edit Surrender Process
Edit the surrender form so people who surrender dogs/cats are notified before euthanasia and ensure the owners know the likelihood of their pet being euthanized after surrendering their rights to the animal.
Community Feedback
Create a structure where the community is encouraged to give feedback that is received + actualized. This should be a transparent process that the OCAS leadership uses as a metric when reporting to commissioners.
Minimize Dog Fights From Overcrowding
Creating better structure to ensure dogs are not over-kenneled, properly matched and are getting the resources to keep the dogs calm to prevent often fatal fights from overcrowding.
More time for Last Call Euthanasia
With increasing the support for rescue partners and networkers to pull dogs faster, please extend the amount of time for “Last Call” euthanasia animals that are not medically urgent.
Increased Intake + Medical Notes
Allow volunteers to submit notes on behaviors of dogs, not just a small amount of staff having that capability to input notes on a animal. Many dogs do not have extensive notes, leading to improper labelling.
OCAS Volunteer + Staff Improvements
Develop a process for recruiting more qualified talent, increase staff pay/benefits, develop retention incentives and support volunteers who want to provide feedback.
New Animal Advisory Board Structure
Create a better structure to the Animal Advisory Board so active volunteers are represented who have a closer relationship to the current structure of OCAS while also requiring more veterinarians + qualified volunteers sit on the board.
Community Support and Input on New Shelter
If opened today, the new shelter will already be at capacity given the current intake ratio. The community wants to give direct feedback on how to prevent over-kenneling ahead of this new shelter opening.
Long Term List Of Improvements
Air Conditioning & Portables
Adding portables to increase on site space to avoid overcrowding an proper air conditioning unit will help lessen the amount of deaths occurring at the shelter.
Increased Off-Site Adoptions
Allowing more rescues and other certified partners bring dogs off site and work with directors to make sure meet and greets or overnight trials will help with increased adoption rates.
Certifications & Staff Trainings
Making sure staff is qualified in dog handling before they are hired will giving advanced certifications will protect the staff and volunteers while lessening the amount of injuries at the shelter.
New Operating System
Purchasing a better recording keeping system that can integrate with the adoption process to streamline the adoptions and add a level of transparency case by case with each intake animal.
IV Euthanasia instead of Heart Stick
Heartsick is an inhumane method of euthanasia and can be easily replaced with IV injections (A much less painful and traumatic process) but must be administered by trained professionals.
More outside veterinarian involvement
Many trained and licensed veterinarians have offered to help OCAS but have not been allowed to work closely with their internal veterinarian staff. Building this collaboration could lessen costs and help provide exceptional care to save lives..
Pre-Vettting & Post-Adoption Follow Up
Developing a system to vet adopters to make sure they can handle the adoption will lessen re-surrenders and post-adoption follow up standards/support will make adopting more appealing.
New Kennel Requirements
Review an audit of current standards so the shelter can keep up with the times and have a standard of regulatory processes that are updated to today’s standards.
Medical Triage Emergency Plan
When emergency outbreaks like the recent pneumovirus occur, having a standard to ensure the staff is ready to quarantine and medially triage an emergency to lessen the duration and impact of an outbreak.
Improve OCAS Movement 