Colorado Animal Rescue is proud to be a part of the Socially Conscious Sheltering Community.
WHAT IS A SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ANIMAL COMMUNITY?
Our society is at a critical point in shaping the future of animal welfare. Pets matter deeply to us, and protecting pets is vital to a healthy community. While most people mean well in their attempts to change public policy around how we care for homeless pets, sometimes good intentions lead to unintended suffering for the very pets that people are trying to protect. We must educate colleagues, friends, family members, neighbors and policy makers so public policy results in animals receiving the care and respect they deserve.
The Socially Conscious Animal Community is a framework that allows each of us to understand our role in creating best outcomes for pets. This concept is based on respectful treatment of animals. It—s about placing every healthy and safe animal that ends up in a shelter or rescue. It—s about transparency and leadership. It—s about thoughtful public policy. It—s about safe communities. We must work together to create the best outcomes for all animals while nurturing the human-animal bond.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are the tenets of Socially Conscious Sheltering
A: There are eight tenets of Socially Conscious Sheltering. Shelters across the country have committed to this way of caring for animals and, as a result, animals in these shelters and rescues are having superior outcomes. Every community has a responsibility to its animals and should demand that animals receive the care and respect they deserve. To learn more about each tenet, click here.
Q: Does Socially Conscious Sheltering ONLY allow the placement of healthy and safe animals?
A: SCS requires the placement of healthy animals, but it does not preclude the placement of any animal. Any animal who isn—t considered “safe†or “healthy†(per the definitions) can still be placed by a shelter or a rescue if that organization feels that the community is equipped to handle that pet—s unique needs. In fact, to fulfil the tenet of “aligning shelter policies with the needs of the community,†adopting an animal with chronic medical needs might be appropriate to create alignment.
Q: Is Socially Conscious Sheltering requiring a canine behavior assessment for each dog that enters the shelter or rescue? Does it allow for the dog to get acclimated to the shelter before an outcome decision is made?
A: There is nothing in SCS that dictates the timing of, or outcome to, behavior assessments. A tenet of SCS is that behavioral needs are addressed while the animal is housed in the shelter or rescue.
Q: What is the difference between Socially Conscious Sheltering and Socially Conscious Animal Communities?
A: For Socially Conscious Sheltering to truly be successful, it must also be embraced by veterinarians, law enforcement, community members and policymakers. So, while Socially Conscious Sheltering is tied to the philosophy of shelters and rescues, Socially Conscious Animal Communities includes each of these broader community cohorts.
Q: How did the Socially Conscious Sheltering movement begin?
A: The movement began because shelter leaders recognized the need to create a shared set of values to guide organizations—values that could be communicated easily and that would share the responsibility for animal welfare with the entire community. Four large animal shelters in Colorado came together to discuss their animal welfare beliefs, including shelter practices. Out of that conversation came the Socially Conscious Sheltering model. The model was then shared with shelter CEOs from across the United States for their feedback, each shelter with different communities, intake policies and levels of community engagement. The insight was incorporated into the fundamental goals of Socially Conscious Sheltering, and a website, scsheltering.org, was created. Socially Conscious Sheltering is being embraced by communities across the United States, and it is also being considered in Australia. Additionally, the Association for the Advancement of Animal Welfare will be shepherding Socially Conscious Sheltering as a national initiative. This movement will be most effective when it is owned by the entire animal welfare community. Hundreds of communities are going through the process of engaging their stakeholders to officially join the movement. Find out how you can become a Socially Conscious Sheltering community.
Q: How many shelters and rescues have adopted Socially Conscious Sheltering?
A: Animal welfare organizations around the world are embracing the Socially Conscious Sheltering model to create best possible lives for companion animals. Socially Conscious Sheltering has been adopted by shelters and rescues across the United States, and it is also being considered in Australia. Additionally, the Association for the Advancement of Animal Welfare will be taking on Socially Conscious Sheltering as a national initiative.
Q: Will shelters and rescues of all sizes (urban and rural) be able to implement the SCS model?
A: While it is true that rural shelters may not have the same resources as some larger, urban shelters, all shelters that take on the care of animals have the ethical imperative to ensure the animals for which they are responsible do not suffer in their facility.SCS also requires shelters and rescues to address severe signs of anxiety, such as obsessive-compulsive or self-mutilating behavior. Addressing this behavior could mean providing enrichment, exercise, placing a dog in a foster home or, in cases of extreme and unrelenting anxiety, require a humane euthanasia decision. Addressing anxiety should be something every shelter and rescue prioritizes for the health and welfare of cats and dogs.
