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Helping Shelters Help Communities
Does your shelter need assistance in addressing animal control effectiveness, adoption programs, euthanasia policies, shelter crowding and/or staffing issues?
Whether your organization is large or small, government or nonprofit, rural or urban, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) understands the variety of problems you face. Animal care and control agencies often struggle to find the necessary balance between community expectations and available resources. The HSUS Shelter Evaluation Program can help you acquire the tools for long-term stability and success.
Through our Shelter Evaluation Program we offer affordable, customized assessments to animal care organizations seeking assistance in making their shelter a better place for both animals and employees.
The HSUS uses a tailored evaluation approach to meet your specific needs by utilizing a team of experts in the field of animal sheltering. Our team examines each issue, program, or policy in the context of your entire operation. We recognize that the success of any animal services agency hinges on tightly integrated programs.
Use the links below to learn about the Shelter Evaluation Program or scroll down for more information.
Our Qualifications
The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization, with more than eleven million constituents. Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals – a world that will also benefit people. We are America's mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation, and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human animal bond.
The HSUS provides numerous programs and services related directly to animal care and control agencies to help them better serve their animals and their communities. The vast majority of our assistance to agencies is in the form of training and professional development, publications, and campaigns.
The HSUS's wide array of programs and services includes Animal Care Expo, our annual educational conference and trade show; Animal Sheltering magazine, our bimonthly publication featuring the latest news and developments in the animal sheltering field; Humane Society University, our training and education arm; animalsheltering.org, our comprehensive website; and Emergency Services, a premier resource for community disaster preparation, education, and emergency response.
Our Clients
Since 1998, The HSUS Shelter Evaluation Program has performed comprehensive evaluations for a wide range of organizations, including some of the largest in the nation, helping them provide the most humane, responsive, and cost effective services possible. Our past clients include:
- The Animal Foundation Lied Animal Shelter (NV)
- Denver Animal Care and Control (CO)
- Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter Department (LA)
- Macon County Humane Society (NC)
- San Luis Obispo County Animal Services (CA)
- Valencia County Animal Shelter/Control (NM)
- Carthage Humane Society (MO)
Our Evaluations
We believe that an objective examination of shelter procedures and operation is best accomplished through independent consultations. The HSUS Shelter Evaluation Program uses a tailored approach with three different levels of service to meet your needs.
How Does an Evaluation Work?
Whether comprehensive, compact, or module, each evaluation has three main phases: information gathering, site visit, and report writing and delivery.
Phase I: Information Gathering
The information-gathering phase begins after The HSUS has been awarded a contract. During this phase, we assemble a team, request background information from your agency, and solicit public comment, if applicable, through media releases.
Phase II: The Site Visit
The Shelter Services team conducts a comprehensive and thorough review of animal care, control, and sheltering performed by your agency. Team members meet with administrators and staff, shadow employees, observe standard practices, gauge workloads, study roles, and evaluate community engagement—enabling the team to assess the agency’s ability to provide services to the animals and people in the community. In addition, The HSUS may request to meet with local veterinarians, placement partners, and/or members of a citizen advisory committee (if applicable) as part of the evaluation process.
Phase III: The Report
Following the site visit, the Shelter Services team compiles individual notes, documents, and photographs into a comprehensive written report, complete with observations, recommendations, supporting data, and materials that address immediate concerns as well as long-term goals and future challenges. However, our commitment does not end there—we remain your partner, providing ongoing support and guidance to meet your goals.
The Comprehensive Evaluation
The Comprehensive Evaluation is most often performed for medium- to large-size organizations. During a multiday site visit, we study and evaluate 10 key components pertaining to facilities and operations, animal control and field services, and management/administration. Specific topics include:
- Shelter Operations
- Animal Care, Housing, and Handling
- Shelter Health and Disease Control
- Adoptions
- Euthanasia
- Community Programs
- Field Services/Animal Control
- Human Resources
- Executive Leadership
- Financial Management
Included with the comprehensive evaluation is the shelter diagnostic system, an assessment tool designed to help private and public animal shelters run better by surveying employees and making specific recommendations based on the results. Developed in a partnership between the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and The HSUS, this system examines employee attitudes, perceptions, and opinions that have direct implications for organizational effectiveness and well-being.
The Compact Evaluation
The Compact Evaluation provides an abbreviated assessment for smaller organizations. It is designed for shelters with 12 or fewer employees that handle fewer than 10,000 animals annually.
Through discussions with your agency’s representatives before the site visit, our Shelter Services staff determines the five core areas from the above list with which your agency needs the most help. Our Shelter Services team then conducts a short site visit followed by a report that addresses the targeted topics.
The Module Evaluation
The module evaluation typically concentrates on a single topic, such as adoptions, human resource management, volunteer services, or euthanasia. Or you may opt to select one management or planning issue that impacts the entire agency. Your focus area is determined during a consultation with Shelter Services staff before the site visit.
This one- to two-day site visit includes one expert consultant and is followed by a report that addresses the focus area.
All images: Michelle Riley/The HSUS.
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