Form 990, Part III, Line 4d: Other Program Services Description |
OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Behavior and training: Shelter behavior programs were improved by the addition of an online training video manual for new dogs walkers and the implementation of a skilled training team to work with challenging dogs. Volunteer training classes are held weekly and higher level dog walkers are assessed monthly. New inter-departmental procedures were developed to effectively communicate the needs of shelter dogs and the Canine Classroom was upgraded with safe rubber flooring. WHS offers behavior screening and pre-adoption consultations about dogs with specific behavioral needs in order to advise and instruct potential adopters. A seminar, Dog Smart is offered bi-weekly to all adopters and the public and was attended by 254 people.WHS public class canine training curriculum includes basic and advanced training, puppy socialization and training, therapy, behavior solutions and trick classes, and off-leash supervised play groups for sheltered and owned dogs. Behavior help via phone and email inquiries reached more than 650 individuals. There were 553 public class registrations, not including playgroups. There were 38 private behavior consultations and 12 obedience lessons with WHSs certified dog trainers. We assisted in the training of one mini-pig who is becoming a therapy animal. Youth Camps offered by the behavior department include spring break Pet Sitter camp with 8 youth enrolled and Winter break Shelter Elves, which 27 youth attended. Day camps held during the summer months teach training skills to youth, working with a wide variety of companion pet species. Three sessions were held, with 46 total number of youth enrolled.252 people attended 9 PET Talks by local experts with topics including cat training, movie animal training, whole pet health, dog park safety, veterinary exam conditioning, selecting puppies and tips for great relationships between kids and dogs. A new television series, Pets and People, is produced bi-monthly and airs on Salem CCTV. An annual visit to the OSCI prison brought 9 dogs to 30 inmates. WHS reputation as a behavior and training mentoring facility is growing. Three students from professional dog training courses sought mentoring or assistance for completion of their requirements. Fourteen Chemeketa Community College students participated in the Professional Dog Trainer Certification Preparation course this year, resulting in several becoming long-term volunteers and our building better relationships with other shelters and trainers in our community. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Volunteers: 1000 volunteers contributed 64,164.90 hours last year, equal to approximately 31 FTE (equivalent full-time workers) or approximately 41% of our total workforce. Volunteers provided pets with compassionate care and training, cleaned kennels and staffed events, walked dogs, assisted in adoptions and administration, provided grounds maintenance, facilities improvements and professional in-kind services, drove animals to veterinary specialist appointments and transfers, helped with spay/neuter clinic operations, staffed several retail locations, conducted trainings for new volunteers, and led the organization through service on the Board of Directors. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Community Spay Neuter Assistance: WHS Spay & Neuter clinic conducted 2,000 spay and neuter surgeries for owned pets, 1,307 community cats and 1,497 for shelter pets, for a total of 4,804 surgeries. 152 WHS sheltered pets received additional procedures at the time of spay/neuter such as dental cleanings and extractions, amputations, growth removals, etc. to enhance adoptability, and 108 surgical procedures were performed on shelter pets that were already sterilized at intake. WHS, in collaboration with another cat shelter and two other community cat groups, is a key coordinator of the Marion Polk Community Cat Program. The goal of the group is reducing shelter euthanasia rates for cats by increasing access to free or highly subsidized spay and neuter surgeries for free-roaming community cats (feral/stray/at large/un-owned). 1307 cats were brought to the clinic for this service. The community cat package includes the sterilization surgery, flea, ear mite and deworming treatments, vaccines including Rabies, and ear-tipping (to identify sterile status). OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: Foster Program: We expanded our sheltering services with 968 pets entering into our foster program. Our foster coordinator recruited, trained and managed 106 new foster families who opened their hearts and homes to our special abandoned or surrendered pets in need of extra time and attention to become suitable for adoption. A total of 329 foster families provide the additional time, medical treatment or rehabilitative training necessary for these special pets with individualized barriers to adoption. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 8: Total people and animals served 51,283 people (includes visitors to WHS and the Thrift Store not counted elsewhere) and 8,874 animals. This fiscal year, our shelter and services reached 13% of the population and households of Marion and Polk counties.Note that the above expenses are for all program services listed. |