January 7, 2015 at 4:16 p.m.
OCHS makes animal shelter more comfortable for pets
OCHS makes animal shelter more comfortable for pets
By Kayla Thomason-
The changes Bria Swartout, director of OCHS, and her staff have implemented affect everything from the layout of the facility to the animals' day-to-day lives and the shelter's relationship with the community.
OCHS no longer charges surrender fees when circumstances cause owners to relinquish their four-legged family member.
In the past, staff members have come in to find someone's pet left during the night.
"We have also had situations where small or very young animals have been left after hours and the animals did not survive, or nearly did not survive due to temperatures," said Karla Ortman, president of the OCHS Board of Directors. "There is no reason for this anymore. We do not judge and understand that people can have changes in their lives that prohibit them from keeping pets. We are here to help both the people and their pets."
Another benefit to relinquishing a pet during regular hours is that the staff can get the dog or cat's information, such as any medication they need, if they are good around other dogs, children etc.
Other changes involve the shelter's layout.
Dog kennels were moved and a garage was built for storage, increasing the size of the dog yard.
"Any humane society, rescue group or breeder in Wisconsin that makes 25 or more dog adoptions or sales in a year must be licensed and inspected under Act 90 and ATCP 16," Ortman said. "ATCP 16 details the standards of care for dogs while in care of the licensee." One of the points in the act focuses on socialization of the dogs. In response to this, the dogs at the shelter have buddies and play groups.
Dogs aren't the only ones who get to socialize with other members of their species though. Community cat rooms have been added to the shelter allowing felines to stretch, climb and move about. Previously the cats were kept in cages.
"This greatly reduces their stress, which helps reduce the risk of illness," Ortman said. "Having free roaming cats also allows potential adopters to better interact with the cats seeking homes, to see their personalities."
"I think a lot more of the animals that were not seen in certain ways - like cats in cages can be scared - and when people are able to see their true personalities when they are able to walk around and socialize, it helps them get adopted faster," Swartout added.
Swartout and staff attend as many meetings, workshops and conferences as they can to learn about the best care practices.
They also watch state and national trends in animal sheltering so they can see what others are doing to better animals' lives and implement the ideas that are appropriate for their facility.
"According to national surveys, 25 to 30 percent of pets come from shelters or rescue groups," Ortman said. "How a facility houses and cares for a pet may impact adoption rates, but more so as it relates to a person's impression of a facility and that person's willingness to visit the facility."
Visitors who enter the shelter's lobby may be politely greeted by a cat or dog who is looking for a home.
Swartout said they started letting pets spend time in the lobby at the end of 2012 and have seen an increase in adoptions.
Ortman has heard many reasons why people don't want to visit a shelter, ranging from "there are so many to choose from, I want to take them all home," to how sad it is.
"If people know about improved housing and care, we can hope that people will change their attitude," Ortman said. "The community cat areas are good examples. When you visit the cats in these areas, you can see the cats look content and well cared for. Knowing that dogs get out to play in the yard and play with other dogs, much like owned dogs do at home, that too can influence a person's attitude about coming to a shelter to select a new pet."
The OCHS strives to make their pets as adoptable as possible. This includes sending them to correctional facilities. OCHS is part of New Beginnings, the canine-inmate training program at the McNaughton Correctional Facility.
It is not only beneficial to dogs that lack social skills; it also helps dogs who are afraid of men or certain situations overcome their fear.
"It's an awesome program," Swartout said. "It's really decreased populations of dogs that were lacking in social skills and obedience."
Dogs have been participating in the 6- to 8-week program since April 2013 or so. Approximately 25 dogs have gone through the program in that time.
Swartout has expanded OCHS's reach by networking with other shelters and rescue groups in Wisconsin as part of A.W.A.R.E. (Alliance of Wisconsin Animal Rehoming Efforts), according to Ortman.
"Members of this group network to help animals in need throughout the state," Ortman said. "One way this is done is by transporting animals from one humane society or rescue group to another - this might happen when a particular facility is experiencing intake beyond their capacity (in the case of an animal hoarding case, for example). In the case of some pure bred dogs, a humane society may transfer the dog to a breed rescue group where it will be fostered until a successful adoption placement is made."
OCHS will also transfer dogs of a particular breed to areas where that breed has a higher adoption rate, increasing the animals' likelihood of finding a home.
"When we have an animal that has not been as adoptable here and another shelter has the ability to adopt them out, we'll transfer them out as well as if we know of an animal that the public is looking for and we find it at a different shelter we oftentimes transfer them in," Swartout said.
This movement of animals is made possible by BRATS (Badger Rescue Animal Transport Service).
"People should know that one facility in Wisconsin, MADACC (Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission) - also a member of A.W.A.R.E. - relies greatly on it's state partners to help save the lives of the thousands of animals they take in each year," Ortman said. "In 2014, more than 3,400 MADACC animals were transferred out to other adoption facilities; however, more than 3,700 were euthanized, a number that all A.W.A.R.E. members would like to see reduced. All of these efforts help to save lives, increase adoptions and shorten the amount of time animals spend housed in shelters and foster care."
OCHS is raising awareness about the shelter through events like Jog for Dogs, the Furball, brat sales, bake sales, low-cost vaccination clinics and more.
"We are more out in the public doing fundraisers and we are doing off-site pet adoptions so the community sees more of us than in the past," Swartout said. "I hope that these changes are positive and help with the adoptions. I feel that it has increased more positive adoptions and less animals being returned."
Ortman is thrilled with the transformation of the shelter since Swartout became director.
"We are proud of the growth made in the two plus years that OCHS has been operating the Adoption Center with Bria as director," she said. "One of the challenges has been informing the residents of Oneida County that the facility is now a private, nonprofit and is no longer a city facility."
Swartout is equally happy with the shelter's progress. She said she will continue to provide the best care she can for the animals.
"There is always room to grow and get better, but I think we're doing well," Swartout said.
Ortman believes Swartout has "one of the most difficult jobs in the world."
"On any given day, she can see both the best and the worst side of human behavior. Think of the person who comes in and wants to adopt the cat who has been waiting the longest for a home, and then think of her having to retrieve a dog from an abusive situation, where the dog has been malnourished and is near death," she said. "The emotional roller coaster is, at times, unbearable. And yet, she perseveres. I think I can speak for all of the members of the OCHS board when I say that we have a great deal of respect for what Bria and her staff do each day and we are extremely fortunate to have them."
Despite the ups and downs, Swartout is doing what she has always wanted to do.
"I love [being director of the OCHS]," she said." "It was always my dream."
She has been involved in the shelter since she was 11 years old. At age 16 she started working for the city of Rhinelander and in 2012, when the OCHS took over the shelter, she became director.
"Bria is the face of OCHS and is an outstanding ambassador for the animals," Ortman said. "Bria and the Adoption Center staff and volunteers care for the animals as though they are their own. They become attached, they fall in love with them and want to see them find loving forever homes."
Swartout said the support of the community, volunteers and staff has been great.
"I have a really great staff and volunteer support and we all kind of brainstorm on how we can help these animals the best," she said.
OCHS, as an organization, was established in 1913 but did not operate a facility until July 2012.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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