Animal Sheltering magazine Summer 2017: Table of Contents

There’s been so much tangible progress for animals in recent years—national euthanasia numbers continuing to decline, felony-level penalties for malicious cruelty enacted in every state, and major food retailers pledging to phase out purchasing animal products from farms that use extreme confinement systems.

Until recently, Miami-Dade County Animal Services in Florida was drowning in cats and burdened with low live-release rates. Yet today, the shelter is achieving largely positive outcomes. The turnaround can be traced to a commonsense change in policy: The shelter now vets and returns the majority of cats it receives. Learn why the return-to-field approach is sometimes the most logical and humane strategy for overburdened shelters.

When it's just 72 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can quickly soar to 116 degrees, even with the windows open and even in the shade. Download this Mouthpiece to let your community know how dangerous leaving a pet in a car during warm weather can be.

So you started a small rescue, and people love your work! Your phone is ringing nonstop, you might have accidentally deleted a few voicemails, and your unread email count seems to multiply by the minute. Are you handling those calls and emails appropriately, or are you focusing on the animals ... and alienating the people who want to help save those animals? Here's how phone and email management techniques can take your rescue's customer service from zero to hero.

Ideally, all veterinarians would work in harmony to ensure animals in their communities receive the medical attention they need. Unfortunately, relationships between shelter veterinarians and private practitioners are often marked by misunderstanding or mistrust. The persistent, misguided stereotypes—private vets are greedy, shelter vets provide inferior care—can make cooperation difficult. In Southern California, the veterinary community is trying to improve communication between the two camps—with the goal of greater understanding and partnerships to benefit animals.

Hidey loses her locks and comes out of her shell.