Delaware establishes standards for animal shelters
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
By: Mark Eichmann
meichmann@whyy.org
As part of an ongoing effort to reduce the number of animals euthanized at animal shelters in Delaware, Governor Jack Markell (D) signed into law a new set of regulations to ensure abandoned or neglected animals get proper care.
Markell was surrounded by legislators, representatives from animal shelters and a handful of dogs for the signing ceremony at the Delaware SPCA. "Until now, we have had no state standards of operation in place for the animal shelters here in Delaware, and today, that changes," said Markell.
The regulations direct shelters to maintain records on animals they intake, including how many are adopted, reclaimed, transferred or euthanized. Those records must then be posted online. The law also sets up standards mandating vaccinations and veterinary care procedures. The regulations also call for animal shelters to take steps to make adoption as convenient as possible, including opening their facilities on nights and weekends. "We want to keep animals, rather than kill animals. These standards make Delaware's shelter regulations probably the most comprehensive in the country," said Markell.
The Delaware Humane Association's Patrick Carroll says the cooperative effort by the state's animal shelters to get the measure approved by the General Assembly has also caused a side benefit creating a feeling of partnership among shelter leaders. "We haven't always had a history of working together or being in the same room," said Carrol. "I think it's a great thing for our future, for the people as well as the animals."
Click on image to view a slideshow.
I COMEND THIS GOVENER FOR HELPING THE ANIMALS HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND ALL THE VOLENTERS GIVEING THERE TIME ,THERE AR SEVEAL COLONEYS HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA DOING THE TRAP AND RELEACE PROGRAM BUT THE CITY OFICIALS DONT ALL AGREY ON THIS AND WANT TO EUTHENISE THEM ,
Georgia, learn to spell! No matter what you say, you come off sounding like an idiot with such simple spellings wrong.
I wished all States did this, this is great..
I really do think more time should be spent on trying to recruit volunteers. What about the seniors? This could really bring back meaning to those who love animals. Actually any one how has a few extra hours a week or month
Debi,
The SPCAs and Humane Society have robust volunteering programs if you check out their website. The SPCA does regular volunteer orientations, usually on Thursday nights, if you are interested.
I am curious to see how the State is expecting the shelters to pay for this? I am 100% no-kill.. don't get me wrong. But if a shelter's budget is fixed and the government mandates additional work, what will happen is they will be forced to cut back on other work they did in the process of caring for animals. Or you will start to see more "full" shelters… which turns people desperate, and then we see dogs dumped on the side of a highway.
Dear State of Delaware,
Please mandate a small % of your state budget to go to ALL animal rescues operating in Delaware (even though who don't have Animal Control) contracts. Most shelters & rescues get *no* government funding. The ones who do get the funding are the "Animal Control" ones — and these are ironically the ones with the highest kill rates historically. If you really want to lower kill rates, let's shift some of that funding!
Thank you.
At the capital this was lobbied for by the shelters, not the state. It adds cost to the state and to counties who pay for animal control. I'm all for having standards, but after reading the bill I can't see any consequences if a shelter doesn't abide by the standards. Hopefully good intentions is all that's needed.