Video Length: 54:15
Many shelters collect an extensive amount of data, only a fraction of which they ever use. In this workshop, we look at examples of where data can be used to help control overcrowding, maximize the use of shelter housing, monitor the effectiveness of spay/neuter programs, detect shifts in the health of incoming community animals, improve the welfare of fostered animals and target efforts to improve outcomes. In short, metrics are another tool to help improve the welfare of shelter animals and allocate resources more effectively. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.
Dr. Scarlett is a Professor Emerita of Epidemiology, and former Director and founder of the Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University. In the mid 1990's she became interested in the health and welfare of homeless animals. With funding from the National Council on Pet Population and Policy she helped design and conduct some of the first studies of factors leading to relinquishment of animals to shelters. She has worked on shelter-related projects including those involving infectious disease, effectiveness of spay/neuter programs, and the use of metrics to improve shelter animal welfare. After retirement, she continues her interest in the use of shelter metrics to improve animal welfare and is co-author of the recently published, Every Nose Counts, Using Metrics in Animal Shelters, A Maddie's® Guide.