Determining the right number of staff for your dog shelter is crucial for ensuring the well-being of your animals and the smooth operation of your facility. While there’s no single magic number, this post will guide you through the factors to consider, from legal requirements to best practices.
The Short Answer: Staffing needs depend primarily on the shelter location, number of animals and the complexity of their care. A common starting point is to use a staff to animal ratio of 1:20, or to estimate at least 15 minutes of staff time per animal per day for basic care (only feeding and cleaning). However, this is just a starting point. The Capacity for Care model offers a more comprehensive approach, though it requires a calculation of staffing needs for both daily care and “flow through” (intake, medical, behavioral assessments, adoptions, etc.).
Legal Requirements: Often Vague, Sometimes Specific
Shelters must comply with geographic-specific regulations. Yet, many jurisdictions don’t explicitly define staff-to-animal ratios. Instead, they emphasize the need for “sufficient” staff to ensure animal welfare. Here are a few examples:
- New Zealand (Code of Welfare: Temporary Housing of Companion Animals): Requires a “sufficient number of staff” with the “appropriate ability, knowledge and competence” to maintain animal health and welfare. The number is considered “appropriate for the situation.”
- Wales (Code of Best Practice for Animal Welfare Establishments): Mandates “sufficient attention” be given to each animal, considering all aspects of their care and relevant legislation.
In some instances, the regulations are more specific:
- Tasmania, Australia: Specifies a minimum staff-to-animal ratio of 1:20 during business hours, with a dam and litter counting as two units.
- Victoria, Australia: In contrast to Tasmania’s staffing ratio, the state of Victoria deems one full-time animal attendant to be sufficient for 50 animals.
- New Mexico, USA: Recommends a minimum of 15 minutes of care per animal per day for county, municipal, and private shelters.
Recommended Staffing Levels: Beyond the Minimum
Humane care standards advocate for more than just basic care. Here’s what leading organizations suggest:
- Humane Society US and National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA): Recommends approximately 15 minutes per animal per day for minimum basic care (cleaning and feeding). ASPCA also provide a handy formula sheet for calculating staffing needs based on this standard.
- Capacity for Care (UC Davis): Breaks down staffing needs into two categories:
- Daily Care: Time spent on routine tasks like feeding, cleaning, and basic health monitoring.
- Required Staff for Daily Care = Minutes per animal * average daily population / 60
- Flow Through: Time allocated to intake procedures, medical care, behavioral assessments, adoptions, and other processes that move animals through the shelter.
- Average daily staff hours required for intake = Minutes per intake / 60 * Monthly daily average intake number
- Daily Care: Time spent on routine tasks like feeding, cleaning, and basic health monitoring.
- International Guide Dog Federation: Mandates appropriate minimum staffing levels, such as a staff-to-dog ratio of 1:20 in kennels, to ensure adequate care and attention.
Staffing Requirements in Other Animal Care Settings
Looking at other animal care facilities can provide additional context:
- UK (Home Boarding / Dog Day Care): Requires a staff-to-dog ratio of 1:10 and mandates that dogs have human company and are not left alone for more than 3 hours in a 24-hour period.
- UK (Kennel Boarding): Allows a staff-to-dog ratio of up to 1:25.
- Ireland (Dog Breeding Facilities): Recommends one full-time equivalent (FTE) staff member per 25 breeding bitches.
Beyond Staff Numbers: Training and Expertise
The number of staff is only part of the equation. Their training and competence are equally important. Some regulations address this directly:
- New Zealand: Staff must have “relevant knowledge and training or appropriate supervision” to meet the animals’ health and welfare needs.
- UK (Home Boarding): Staff must be trained in animal welfare, handling, behavior, hygiene, disease prevention, recognizing sick animals, and providing first aid. The standards recommend formal qualifications, and a Level 3 qualified person should be present during working hours if a business wants to receive a higher quality care rating.
Conclusion
Calculating appropriate staffing levels for your dog shelter requires careful consideration of numerous factors. Start with the basic care guidelines, but prioritize a comprehensive approach like the Capacity for Care model. Remember that legal requirements are often minimum standards, and prioritizing animal welfare necessitates going beyond the bare minimum. Finally, invest in training and development to ensure your staff has the skills and knowledge to provide the best possible care for your animals.