Figure 25 : Cows are seen at a shelter home

 Some of the cases of animal cruelty in India are given below:

• A pregnant goat was gang raped by 8 men in Haryana. • A female street dog was raped by a man inside his home in Kolkata. • 100 stray dogs were culled and dumped in a forest area in Hyderabad. • A man had unnatural sex with three cows in Vadodara. • Eleven Monkeys were brutally killed and dumped near highway in Rajasthan. • Several stray dogs were poisoned to death in Nagpur. • A stray dog fractured its skull after being beaten with an iron rod in Mumbai. • A cow was run over by a police vehicle in Chhattisgarh. • A dog was mercilessly beaten to death by three men in Gujarat. • 21 beagles were confined in cages for scientific experiments in Pune. • A street dog was left to die when workers poured hot tar on it while it was sleeping.

An animal hospital is an institution designed, built, equipped and staffed to render modern veterinary care to animals. This care involves numerous functions and services: reception, admission and discharge; bookkeeping and payroll; purchase and account collections; outpatient services; laboratory; radiography; surgery and hospitalization services, including nursing care around the clock. These are the basic essential services which must be rendered by any animal hospital. There are others, such as grooming, boarding and providing vending machines for clients and employees, but these are secondary services not essential to modern veterinary care.

 The Outpatient or Clinical  The Surgical  The Hospital  General Services.

1. The Outpatient/ Clinical unit deals with day to day handling of patients. This unit must have proper facility to hold a large number of patients and daily footfall based on the number of Outpatient rooms available. Therefore it is important to think about the waiting areas for such spaces.

2. The Surgical unit is a sterile area and must be deal with utmost hygiene and care as it can easily transmit diseases during surgery when the wounds are open. This unit of the hospital is not open to the public and must follow strict routines of sterilization as per VCI standards. (Veterinary Council of India).

3. The Hospital refers to the treatment units and the Inpatient facility. This unit handles second degree ailments after they have been looked over by an Outpatient Veterinarian. A separate unit is to be provided for their treatment, observation and recovery .This unit is not open to the public.

4. General Services in a Veterinary Hospital refer to the Administrative department, account keeping, janitor services, and pharmacy and storage facility. Etc. These are the ancillary facilities that are necessary to support the functioning of the hospital.

 Any clinical areas such as the animal wards and surgery should be maintained at a higher temperature for animals undergoing surgery or recovering from GA and for sick patients on treatment.  There should be adequate and appropriate ventilation, open windows and doors do not help to maintain any heat and are also an escape route for patients

 Adequate ventilation also helps to release bad odor from Treatment and Isolation rooms  Recovery rooms with access to greenery either physically or visually helps in healing .

 Each room should be adequate for its function, they should be large enough for the purpose and have sufficient lighting, electrical sockets and be in a good location.  Ideally surgery rooms on higher floors should be avoided if kennel/holding areas are downstairs.  Zoning of spaces ought to be done with respect to the way they function, for example, an emergency surgery will have to go from the emergency unit to the preparation room to the OT and then to recovery and(or) In patient ward. This sequence must determine the location of various spaces and functions

 The floor plan of the hospital or clinic should be carefully considered so that there is a flow through of traffic such as from consulting room out to treatment areas and kennels and from prep room to surgery.  Having to walk through several rooms or even go outside to get from one area to another is not ideal.  Where possible the front of the hospital should be for client areas such as reception and consulting rooms, and the rear is treatment areas that are more private and secure.  It should be determined early in the design process which areas of the hospital should receive special consideration for infection control.  These areas include those used for housing or treating immune-compromised patients (e.g., patients receiving chemotherapy, geriatric patients, pediatric patients), such as operating rooms, isolation areas, intensive care units, postoperative recovery rooms, and oncology wards.  Operating rooms require a higher degree of infection control than other areas.  The design of the operating room should limit foot traffic in the adjacent areas. This mainly involves placing the operating room in a "dead end" to minimize the movement of people outside the entrance. Windows in operating rooms should never be opened.  Any windows in the hospital that are allowed to open should be well fitted with insect screens.  Because hand washing is one of the main strategies for preventing nosocomial infections, special attention should be paid to providing convenient hand washing stations in all clinical areas of the hospital.  Sinks should be as deep as possible to prevent splashing of water and scattering of organisms.  Ideally, foot pedals or infrared sensors should be installed to allow hands-free operation of all faucets and limit the role of faucet handles as fomites.  Antiseptic hand lotion dispensers can also be located in these stations to maximize staff compliance with hand hygiene policies.  If cage blankets, surgical drapes, other clinical linens, or food bowls are to be washed in-house, the hot water system should be designed to provide temperatures in excess of 160°F to ensure disinfection laundry and dishwasher cycles.

 Typical circulation of the Client:

 Upon approaching the hospital the client must be oriented so that he may go either to the main lobby or directly to the emergency entrance.  If the client enters through the reception area, he should go directly to the receptionist station to

register.  If it is necessary for the client to wait, there should be a waiting area provided.  From the waiting area the client will move to the examination room. The client should have direct access to the examination room and not allowed to circulate in the work areas of the hospital.  Following the examination and treatment of his pet, the client is directed to a separate check-out counter at the receptionist station to make additional appointments and financial arrangements.  From the receptionist station the client will leave the hospital.

 Circulation of a typical patient that is need of minor medical attention:

 The patient and client are taken from the waiting area to the examination area.  The examination room is equipped to administer vaccinations and minor medical treatment.  If more extensive treatment is necessary the patient is taken to the treatment area.  After the treatment, the patient is returned to the client at the waiting area and discharged.

 Circulation of a typical Surgical Patient:

 The surgery is always scheduled except for emergency cases.  After the patient has arrived, he is taken to the preoperative area to be prepared for surgery.  After the patient is prepared he is taken into the surgery area.  After the surgery is complete he is placed in the intensive care cages for close observation for a few hours.  From the intensive care cages he is transferred to the hospital ward until he is ready to be discharged.  If the patient expires during surgery, the carcass is placed in a plastic bag and taken to the morgue (freezer), where the animal is later picked up and taken away.

 Circulation of a typical emergency case:

 The emergency entrance is located adjacent to the treatment area for quicker treatment and to avoid any unnecessary mess in the receptionist area. Emergency cases will be received at this entrance.  While the patient is in the treatment area the injuries are determined.  If surgery is required the patient is taken to the preoperative area and prepared for surgery.

The spatial requirements of a Veterinary hospital fall under three categories:

A. Clinical areas. B. Hospital areas. C. General areas.

Much of the outpatient area is for the clients use. It is occasionally referred to as the clinical area because of the activities are clinical oriented. The functions that occur here include reception, examination, pathological services, pharmaceutical services, public toilet, and storage.

 The receptionist station should be designed for two employees and in a manner allowing them to observe entering clients, direct clients to examination rooms, collect compensation due, assist the doctors as needed, and work without disturbance from children, dogs, and talkative clients.  A small counter should be available for payment of accounts affording a limited degree of privacy so that the client feels free to discuss charges in detail.

 Equipment:  2 Rolling Chairs  Counter for Filling out Records  Separate Counter for Money Transactions And Scheduling Appointments (For Privacy)  Telephone Answering Device  Record Storing System  Intercom System  Burglar Alarm System  File Cabinets (4 Drawer)  Copy Machine

 Most of the stress and fear developed at a Veterinary hospital comes from the type of waiting room environment. Improper segregation of species, Close proximity of cat and dog waiting areas in the hospital is the top reason of creating stress in dogs and cats.  Reception areas in veterinary hospitals have traditionally been akin to standard physician‘s office waiting rooms. They‘re typically lined with chairs and benches.  Sometimes there‘s a hospitality counter with coffee and water and a television on the wall for light entertainment.  Modern veterinary practices often try to think outside the box when it comes to the waiting experience at their hospital by incorporating alternative waiting areas.  These alternative waiting areas offer more to clients—more technology, more comfort, more convenience and more choices.

 Client waiting:

 Outdoor waiting areas:

 Give clients the option to get outside for a bit instead of being cooped up inside. Clients can get some fresh air and reconnect with nature.  For pets that get stressed sitting in reception, it‘s an opportunity to go to a more open and natural environment, which might help them feel less confined and potentially calmer and happier.

 Long-term waiting area:

 Some people prefer to wait for their pets while they undergo medical procedures as opposed to leaving and coming back later when the procedure is over.  For these people, it‘s nice to offer a long-term waiting area—a separate, quieter and more private space than standard waiting rooms.  They should be extra comfortable, with sofas and arm chairs, and equipped with TVs, Wi-Fi and maybe even some computers for public use.  Having snacks and beverages available is also nice, as well as private restrooms, if possible.

 Patient waiting:

 DOG waiting area:

 Provision of sufficient space to help patients pass by each other without too much contact.  The ability to look outside and have a view of the outdoor environment reduces stress in dogs and pet owners.  Availability of natural light and outdoor spill out areas can reduce the amount of anxiety developed in the waiting room environment.  Configuration of the seating and availability of varied options to clients and pets can contribute to a better waiting room environment.  Availability of play toys and distracting elements.  TV screens and displays of humane education/ healthcare/ etc.

 CAT waiting area:

 A private, quiet waiting area dedicated to cat clients is a must in modern veterinary hospitals.  It gives cat clients the ability to escape the noises and smells associated with dog customers, who can help lower the stress levels of both the cats and their owners.  Cats are smaller than dogs and thus cat waiting areas can be relatively small.  Enclosing them in glass allows visibility from staff, while still keeping the odours and noises away  Provision of scratch pads and play toys help distract the cats and keep them occupied.

 The examination should be done in privacy allowing the doctor to consult with the client.  A minimum amount of treatment should be done here to minimize in cleaning and to aid in the scheduling of work, therefore increasing the number of patients that can be seen in one day.  The treatment is generally carried out in another area of the hospital, preventing the client from experiencing the sometimes unpleasant sights and odours.  Since they require a syringe and needle, the injectable should be stored so that the doctor can reach all three without having to take a step. The injectable should be kept in a small counter top  Refrigerator with the syringe and needles nearby.

 Indoor/outdoor examination rooms are great for Fear Free practices, as some dogs are calmer and happier when being seen in an outdoor environment instead of an indoor exam room.

 Examination Equipment:  Sink, For Washing Hands  Counter Top  Refrigerator, To Store Injectable And Meds  Examination Table  Small Cabinet, For Storing Examination Instruments  Instruments To Perform An Examination Such As:  Diagnostic Set; Thermometer; 2 Artery Forceps; 2 Dressing Forceps; Cotton Wool Jar; 5 Inch

Curved Scissors; 1 S/S Kidney Dish; Is/S Bowl; Stethoscope.  Oxygen, Emergency Supply  Seating For Clients  X-Ray Viewer, Wall Mounted  Small Supply Of Drugs In Everyday Use  Examination Lamp  Syringes And Needles  Weighing Scale

 Services:  Air conditioning  Water supply

The pharmacy should be located adjacent to the examination rooms and located in the exit way of the client so as provide easy access without having to go out of the necessary circulation area.  The biological will be stored in a refrigerator.  Ointments are best stored in a drawer 4 to 5 inches deep.  Small glass or plastic dropper bottles of solutions are best stored in a drawer.  Injectable generally are not dispensed; they are kept in the examination rooms.

Services: Air conditioning

The lab needs to be fully equipped in order to conduct and provide results within the hospital itself. It should be in close proximity to a diagnostic unit with a pass through cabinet to transfer samples. The machines are not allowed to heat over 30 degree Celsius.

 Equipment:  CBC Hematology analyzer  Serum Bio Chemistry Analyzer  Computerized radiography  Centrifuger  Anti-Coagulant Analyzer  Hormone assay  Uri scan  Binocular microscope

 Refrigerator  Sink Services: Water supply, Air conditioning.

 A separate room should be allocated for taking X-rays.  It must consist of a storage unit to hold the dressing and another unit to store records.

 Equipment:  Stationary digital X-ray system  Storage units  Computer

 A space for the storage of cleaning equipment and supplies is needed by every hospital.  The most appropriate location for this storage is near the OP rooms, ICU, Treatment rooms .  A minimum area of 18 to 20 square feet is necessary to contain a mop or service sink, mop bucket, and a place to hang mops and brooms, etc.

There needs to be two types of storage areas in the hospital:  A clean storage room to store clean linen, equipment and bedding.  A soiled storage room to store dirty linen that is to be taken to the laundry room.  A storage room needs to be provided for storing medicine stock; this room should be adjacent to the pharmacy to easy restocking. A general store room adjacent to the office area is to be provided to store records and medical details of the patients.

 There should be a toilet that is convenient for the public's use.  A separate restroom should be provided for the staff, adjacent to a staff lounge.

The treatment of a patient follows the examination and can occur either during the examination or in another centrally located and better equipped place depending on the type and extent of treatment necessary. Usually the veterinarian chooses to take the patient to a treatment table away from the client to prevent him from experiencing unpleasant sights and to have more equipment at his disposal. Such procedures as minor surgery and dental work are done, and here emergency cases can be received and evaluated. These facilities should be located adjacent to where the examination rooms and the pharmacy-laboratory.

 Equipment:  Winged stainless steel table  Examination lighting  Puppy /Kitten incubator(18"x18"x24")

 Small refrigerator (2'x2'x2')  Wall mounted X-ray viewer  Bulletin board

 Should be designed with an anteroom to provide a place for donning barrier clothing (e.g., gloves, gown, and booties) as well as disinfectant footbaths and a hand washing station.  The anteroom also limits the movement of air from the isolation room to the general population of patients and provides storage for contaminated linens. If space allows, the dedication of two separate areas for isolating patients enables the separation of animals with different infectious diseases.  A separate bathing tub within the isolation unit is also useful if there is enough space.  Isolation rooms and soiled areas of the hospital (e.g., areas where dirty laundry collects) should be under negative pressure (<2.5 Pa) in relation to adjacent areas.  This prevents infectious particles from being transmitted to clean areas of the hospital by air currents.

Isolation areas should receive six to 12 air changes per hour, and all air should be exhausted directly outdoors with no recirculation.  If this is not possible, the air should pass through HEPA filters before being added to general circulation.  Ventilation professionals (usually the provider of the HVAC system) should routinely check the balance of airflow in the various areas of the hospital, ideally when the building's climate control changes from predominantly heating to predominantly air conditioning or vice versa, or at least once a year.

 The most tedious and exacting work is done here and requires a high degree of sterilization and freedom from all distractions.-All unnecessary circulation or unrelated activities must be prohibited to maintain this high degree of sterilization and freedom from distraction.  The surgery must be located adjacent to the pre-operative preparation area and postoperative area.

Only one entrance is recommended to the surgery with a scrub sink adjacent to this entrance.  The introduction and use of such equipment as anesthetic machines, heart monitor, and automatic resuscitator means that more space is required for surgery.  Ample space- ability to navigate the patient around without interrupting the surgeon  It should be located adjacent to an emergency entrance, to receive emergency cases to be evaluated.

This prevents any undesirable sights and mess at the receptionist station.

 Equipment:  Shadow less lamp  Anesthetic machine  Gas manifold  Autoclave sterilizing machine  Surgical trays  Portable X-ray machine  Wall mounted X-ray viewer  Stainless steel surgical table  Storage cabinets

 Rooms:  Sterile corridor

 OT  Scrub up area  CSSD  Pre-operative room (for surgeon)  Preparation room (for patient)  Dirty corridor  Dirty linen storage  Staff lounges  Recovery room  ICU  In patient wards (separate for dogs and cats)

 Services:  Water, Sterile Air conditioning, Oxygen lines

 This ward is basically for critical postsurgical patients that need the extra care to assure rapid recovery. It should be located so that the veterinarian can observe while passing by or while performing other duties.  An observation window should be provided Wards and runs should be given special consideration in respect to ventilation, Cleaning and sound control.  From the standpoint of ventilation and for the purpose of noise isolation, they are best located at the rear of the hospital.  The ventilation rate of the kennel should be determined on a different basis than the rest of the hospital because of the large concentration of odor sources.  Entering into the amount of odor sources is the number of animals, physical condition of those animals, and frequency of compartment and run clean-up.  The quantity of outside air for ventilation of the kennel and runs should be based on an estimated percentage of animal occupancy and types of animals.  The wards and runs should have exhaust fans to assure positive exhaust and maintain a negative pressure between these areas and other parts of the hospital.  The exhaust is larger than the supply to maintain a negative pressure It should be located in close proximity to a nurse station.

 They provide a place for the animals while the cages are serviced, and they serve as a place to exercise the animals of the wards.  The runs are best located adjacent to the wards to minimize the time and effort needed to exercise the dogs.  One run for each six or seven cages is recommended.  Although the minimum size for a run is 3' by 5', runs for larger dogs should be provided at a minimum size of 4' by 7'.  Extremely large dogs are occasionally kept in the runs rather than a cramped cage.  Divisions between runs should be constructed to discourage any contact between occupants.  A four inch concrete block wall properly coated with glazed wall coating is the most satisfactory, particularly in terms of long-range wear and use.  It is recommended that these walls should be constructed approximately 5'-6" high with cove base

and rounded cap.  The gate should be constructed of a galvanized chain-link fence material to prevent corrosion and to allow the animal to see out.  To facilitate cleaning, the floors of the runs should slope to the rear for positive drainage and made of a smooth hard surface. Water for cleaning and consumption should be available.

 Receptions with adequate waiting areas are key to a good hospital design.

 General accounts room for record keeping and Office room in close proximity to the reception.  The veterinarian should have a private office for consultation purposes with Clients, for a place to concentrate on personal business, and relax privately.

 The staff members need a place they can relax privately during a break or during Lunch.  It should be furnished with a sleeper-sofa, refrigerator, micro-wave oven, and a Table with chairs for the convenience of the staff.

 The wards require a place to prepare the animal's food.  Very few animal hospitals go to the trouble of cooking and preparing the food for The patients.  The prepared canned diets today are more than adequate and require much less Time and expense.  A counter space, sink, can opener, refrigerator, storage and refuse disposal are the Necessary items for this function.  The cabinet space above the counter top will be used as secondary storage of the Canned diets; adjustable shelving is recommended.  The cabinet space below the counter top will be used as storage of the dry food, Bowls and refrigerator.

 A provision for washing and drying soiled clothing is necessary.  Preferably to be placed out of the sight of visitors.

 AHU:

Adequate Air Handling Units for both general air conditioning as well as Surgical air conditioning is necessary.

 WASTE DISPOSAL:

Proper facilities for the collection and disposal of waste generated in the hospital are to be provided.

Proper segregation of waste should be maintained.

 As the working center, such functions as instrument cleaning, storage, minor surgery, post-operative treatment and observation have cumulatively made this the busiest part of the hospital.  The preoperative and postoperative functions should be performed adjacent to the surgery and wards for convenience and ease of operation.  These functions include the preparation of both the patient and equipment.  The equipment consists of the surgical linens, instruments and electronic devices.

 The preoperative procedures deal with the preparation of the patient.  This takes place in the Preparation room.  The veterinary assistants begin with the administering of the pre-anesthetic medication followed by anesthesia.  The surgical area of the patient is clipped and the loose hair is removed.  The surgical area is cleansed, and the animal is transported to the surgery table.  Hair, dust and other debris are left behind keeping the surgery clean, therefore maintaining a high sterilized state during the surgery.

 All staff involved in surgery must change into sterile clothing and must have washed their hands and feet with disinfectants.  This takes place in a separate pre-operative room outside but abutting the sterile area.

 All equipment to be used must be thoroughly sterilized in an Autoclave and be kept in the CSSD (central sterile services department).  The CSSD must be abutting the sterile area.

 The patients undergoing Minor surgery will be taken to the recovery area and then can be sent home.  Patients undergoing Major surgery will be taken to the recovery room post surgery and then moved to the In-patient wards, in the case of needing medical attention, the patient will be taken to the ICU post-surgery and then to the In-patient wards.

 The surgeon and veterinary staff assisting during the surgery will need to change from soiled scrubs and take a shower in the provided staff lounge.

 Postoperative procedures include the cleaning and sterilization of the surgical linens and instruments.  The operating gowns, gloves, towels and drapes are first cleaned in a washing machine then dried.

 Then they are loosely folded and sterilized in the autoclave.  After sterilization they are stored for future use.  The surgical instruments are cleaned in soap and water.  Then they are sterilized with dry heat, because steam or boiling dulls the cutting edges.  Surgical packs of instruments are made up, containing the proper selection necessary to perform certain surgical procedures.  These packs are stored for future use and should be such that easy access from the operating room is provided.

 Rolling stainless steel table (2' x 5')  Surgical prep-tub (18"x 20")  Stainless steel prep, counter (28" x 70")  Bulletin board  Wall clock  Monocular microscope  Weighing scales surgical scrub-up sink  Surgical Cleaning and Sterilization Equipment  Electro sonic instrument cleaner and tray (24"x18"x20")  Autoclave (24"x18"x20")  Washer (25"x25"x36")  Dryer (25"x25"x36").

The choice of flooring material depends on the area of the hospital. Floors in Clinical areas should be easy to clean. This requires that the surface be relatively Smooth, nonporous, water resistant, and not physically affected by germicidal Cleaning solutions.

 Public areas- tiles

 Tile is a popular choice for reception areas, but it is important to select a Nonporous tile that has minimal texture because small ridges or crevices Can trap dirt and bacteria.  Tile also requires the use of grout, and the grout selected should be smooth And waterproof.  A tile floor should be well sealed; periodic professional cleaning and Resealing is recommended (based on the installer's recommendation).  Tile is not a good choice for the clinical areas of the hospital because the Grout-filled cracks between tiles can trap bacteria.

 Clinical areas – epoxy or sheet vinyl

 Ideally, the floors in clinical areas should be monolithic (seamless).  Appropriate choices for clinical areas are poured epoxy or methyl methacrylate flooring or sheet vinyl products.  It is important to avoid a completely smooth surface; although ideal for infection control, it can create a serious slip hazard for clients and personnel when wet, and some dogs may have difficulty walking on it.

 Vinyl composition tile is available with low-grade textures, but the joints between tiles can trap bacteria. The manufacturer or installer should be consulted on any type of flooring with seams to determine a method and frequency of sealing.  The wall base should also be selected with infection control in mind.  Base should be coved, as right-angled corners between the wall and the floor are difficult to clean.  If a rubberized base is selected, the joints between the floor and the base material must be tightly sealed. A better choice for clinical areas is an integral base.  Poured epoxy flooring and sheet vinyl flooring both allow for continuation of the floor material up the wall, avoiding any joints that could harbor bacteria. A minimum of four inches of cove base above the floor is recommended to facilitate contact with mop heads.

 The use of floor drains is controversial. Drains provide the opportunity to wash an area with large volumes of water and disinfectant or even highpressure washers, which may be more effective than a mop. However, drains provide a potential site for bacterial colonization that can be difficult to eliminate. If floor drains are used, they must be disinfected routinely.  Alternatively, wet vacuums allow the use of large volumes of water and disinfectant without relying on floor drains.

 Wall finishes also depend on the area of the hospital. Textile or fabric wall covering should be avoided, except perhaps in administrative areas.  In clinical areas where walls are likely to be soiled, the finish should be washable. Vinyl wall covering is a good choice, as long as the texture is relatively smooth for cleaning.  For areas where the walls require frequent cleaning, a nonporous, smooth surface is recommended.  Good choices in these areas are:  Painted, sealed concrete;  Laminates (e.g., melamine);  In sensitive areas of the hospital (e.g., isolation units, surgical suites, oncology wards), wall finishes should be free of fissures, open joints, or crevices that could harbor dirt particles. Wherever plumbing penetrates the wall, the joins should be well sealed.

 Ceilings are less likely to be directly contaminated with infectious body fluids than walls or floors.  It is therefore advisable to install a hard ceiling that is smooth and washable (e.g., painted drywall) in operating rooms. Joins at any ceiling perforations (e.g., for surgical lighting, ventilation ducts) should be sealed.

The shelter should provide the most comfortable, stress-free environment possible for the animals in your care. Animals should have access to clean, fresh water at all times and be fed according. Food and water bowls should be properly disinfected every day. Cages and kennels should be Commercially manufactured, in good condition, cleaned and disinfected daily, and free of sharp or broken edges. Dogs and cats must be housed separately, and the housing should reflect their different Needs.

The shelter should strive to place animals in loving, responsible, and permanent homes. Adoption fees for purebred or obedience-trained animals or for animals with distinguishing characteristics should be the same as those charged for other animals. In addition, adoption fees for cats and dogs should be identical

Complete and accurate records are essential for the responsible, efficient, and legal operation of your animal shelter. A record should be prepared for every animal entering the shelter, giving a full description of the animal and any information about the animal's background that is available. These records should be numbered and filed so that all staff can easily retrieve them. An animal should have the same record or tag number throughout his or her stay at the shelter, and each animal must be clearly identified with a temporary collar and tag. Accurate record keeping is also necessary for an effective lost-and-found program as well as for tracking animal control calls, cruelty complaints, and the disposition of the animals in the shelter's care.

Shelter activities should be based on the best interests of the animals and the community. The role of staff members is to provide humane care of the animals and to carry out the shelter's programs effectively. Staff members should provide commissioners or board members with information or assistance that will promote the development of responsible animal care and control programs.

It is imperative that shelters have a mandatory spay/neuter program for all adopted animals, preferably one that incorporates both sterilization at adoption and earlyage spay/neuter. Shelters should make it a top priority to ensure that the animals they place for adoption do not contribute to companion animal overpopulation.

Every community should have trained personnel to investigate animal cruelty issues and enforce animal protection laws. All calls and complaints must be handled in a professional, courteous, and timely manner. Personnel should be able to respond twenty-four hours a day in cases of emergency.

Every shelter should make every effort to provide humane education for local residents, especially children. From sponsoring community-wide awareness campaigns to sending shelter staff into classrooms for presentations, your shelter can embrace a variety of strategies to teach responsible pet ownership and instill a humane ethic in all members of the community.

Volunteers can be an invaluable asset to any shelter and its animals. All volunteers must be properly trained for the duties they are assigned and should be supervised at all times.

One of the basic goals should be to reduce stress and disease transmission. Separation of the animals in the care of the facility in the following manner is critical:

 Dogs from cats  Infectious from healthy animals.  Aggressive animals from all others  Nursing mothers and their young from all others  Newly arrived owner relinquished and stray from adoptable animals  Recently recovered or mildly ill animals from seriously ill, infectious animals  Animals with respiratory illness separate from those with skin (such as ringworm) or gastrointestinal illness.

 Provide enough space for the animal to move around and be comfortable.  Do NOT use double or triple decker cages for animals as they are difficult to clean and also pose a danger to kennel staff when animals need to be placed in or removed from the cage.

 Flooring:

 Appropriate flooring materials are vital to maintaining a clean facility in which microorganisms and odours are minimized. Poured floors with a minimum of seams are best.  Ceramic tile is not a good choice for kennel or housing areas because grout is permeable and therefore impossible to clean adequately.  Sheet vinyl (for kennels) - durable, easy to maintain exposed concrete (for corridors and utility areas).

 Lighting:

 Lighting fixtures in kennels should be placed over dog runs rather than down the middle of the aisle separating facing runs.  This makes it easier for visitors and staff to view the animals.  Positioning the fixtures in this way should allow sufficient light to spill over to the walkways so that no safety hazard is created for the public or staff.

 The drainage system must be designed so that waste from one kennel never contaminates another.

Drain openings should be at least 4" in diameter.  Lead-away pipes should be at least 6" in diameter. Drain covers should be of stainless steel or other non-corrosive and easily cleanable material.  These should be easily removable for cleaning but otherwise kept in place to prevent puppies, other small animals, the public, or staff from falling or slipping into them.  Drain Traps should also be installed and cleaned on a regular basis.

The perfect surface would have these characteristics:  Pleasing visual impact.  Durable.  Easily cleanable.  Resilient.  Non-absorbent to liquids and odours.  Prevents microbial growth.  Sound absorbent

 Epoxy paint (animal holding, high maintenance areas, high moisture areas)  ceramic tile (for backsplash areas)  vinyl wall covering (decorative areas and client areas)  kydex acrylic PVC sheet (heavy duty areas).