Jump to: Establishment Considerations | Shelter Standards of Care | Assessment Tools
Establishment Considerations
Guidelines for the Design & Management of Animal Shelters
This booklet, written by RSPCA International in 2017, guides the process of building an animal shelter, covering key topics including establishing shelter policies (neutering, rehoming, euthanasia), designing the shelter, establishing shelter routines, and addresses staffing needs.
Standards of Care By Country
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Australia
Requirements for Shelters and Pounds (Victoria) &
Code of Practice for the Management of Dogs and Cats in Shelters and Pounds (Victoria)
Together, these two Victorian documents specify the shelter standards of care requirements, including staff roles and responsibilities, daily procedures, and animal enrichment.
NSW Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 5 – Dogs and cats in animal boarding establishments
New South Wales has a code of practice for animal boarding establishments, including commercial boarding facilities, council pounds, and veterinary hospitals. The code covers animal housing, hygiene, management, healthcare, diet, exercise, transport, and disposal.
Animal Welfare Guidelines – Dogs (Tasmania)
Tasmania’s standards of care apply to animal shelters, pet shops, and dog breeding facilities. These standards cover caregiver responsibilities, quality management systems, housing, animal management, cleaning and disinfection, transport, animal health, and transfer of ownership.
C
Canada
Canadian Standards of Care in Animal Shelters
A coalition of over 40 Canadians from 22 animal welfare organizations (including shelters, animal services, veterinarians, and NGOs) recommended adopting the ASV Guidelines, supplemented by a Canadian Shelter Reference Guide.
Best Management Practices for Animal Rescues and Shelters in the Province of Alberta
Developed by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) in collaboration with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, this guide interprets Alberta’s Animal Protection Act and outlines the dog shelter standards of care requirements.
China
Basic Management Guidelines for Dog and Cat Shelters
Created by Animal Asia and Humane Society International for the 2010 Second Companion Animal Welfare Conference in China, this comprehensive shelter establishment guide provides detailed information on design (building specifications, space requirements), procedures (intake, feeding, hygiene), disease control, record keeping, and even adoption card creation.
N
Netherlands
Animal Welfare Requirements
In the Netherlands, a single set of animal welfare requirements applies to breeders, traders, intermediaries, pet stores, animal shelters, and boarding kennels. These requirements cover housing and handling, breeding, health and vaccination, selling and supplying animals, and record-keeping.
New Zealand
Code of Welfare: Temporary Housing of Companion Animals
This code of practice applies to all companion animals housed temporarily in facilities such as boarding establishments, animal welfare centers and pounds, quarantine/isolation facilities, and pet shops. It outlines standards for health, food and water, housing, behavioral needs, and transportation.
U
United Kingdom (UK)
Association of Dogs and Cats Home (ADCH) Minimum Welfare & Operational Standards
The ADCH, a leading force in raising animal welfare standards across the UK and Ireland, has published operating standards to safeguard animal welfare. These shelter standards of care apply to all members and applicants for membership.
Code of Best Practices for Animal Welfare Establishments (Wales)
The Welsh Government’s Code of Best Practice guides animal welfare organizations subject to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It outlines standards for exemplary animal care, covering governance and management, animal management, animal health and disease, rehabilitation, rehoming/release, and animal transport.
United States (USA)
The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ (ASV) Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, Second Edition
The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ (ASV) Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the well-being of companion animals in shelters, addressing issues such as overcrowding, stress, disease prevention, and medical care.
Maryland Animal Shelter Minimum Standards of Care
These minimum standards of care define sanitation practices, medical standards, equipment requirements, and record-keeping procedures for government shelters, shelters with government animal control contracts, and shelters receiving Maryland Spay and Neuter Grants.
Michigan Laws and Regulations Concerning Animal Shelters
In Michigan, Public Act 287 and Regulation 151 detail the requirements for operating pet shops, dog pounds, and animal shelters, including standards for animal care, facilities, personnel, and record-keeping.
New Mexico Minimum Sheltering Standards
These standards define requirements for animal sheltering providers, covering minimum animal care time (15 minutes per animal per day), facilities (premises, structures, enclosures, and foster housing), sanitation, animal care and handling, disease control, vaccination protocols, record-keeping, and public access.
Shelter Operations: Best Practices for Pet-Friendly Sheltering During Emergency Situation
These U.S. government standards apply specifically to pet shelters established during natural disasters and emergencies.
Assessment Tools
ASV Checklist of Key Statements
The ASV checklist helps shelters and their consultants evaluate operations against the 2022 ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, and prioritize and advocate for needed changes.
RSPCA Kennel PawPrint Checklists
The RSPCA Kennel PawPrints awards offer public sector bodies a unique opportunity to gain recognition for impactful work and to inspire reflection on their animal welfare services. The award’s must- and should-criteria checklists also serve as a valuable tool for dog shelters to assess the quality of their shelter environments.
Shelter Quality – Welfare Assessment Protocol for Shelter Dogs
Developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, with help from RSPCA International, IFAW, and other organizations, and funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, the protocol empowers shelter operators to assess their environment and welfare of dogs in their care