Three Things to Know
A study investigated the impact of implementing Capacity for Care (C4C) across three Canadian shelters, analyzing data from before and after its adoption.
Following C4C implementation, the average in-shelter cat population decreased. Isolation use dropped, and the average length of stay (LOS) decreased. Cats also saw a higher adoption probability, while euthanasia rates decreased.
These positive results were supported by changes in housing, daily population, and LOS, all of which shifted in concert. This was achieved through simplified processes (e.g., placing friendly cats directly into adoption rather than holding them in areas inaccessible to the public) and enriched housing environments.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
Capacity for Care is a crucial method for optimizing the shelter environment. Calculating an optimal daily population based on intake, adoption, and a targeted length of stay (LOS) helps shelters set a clear benchmark to determine if they are over or under-capacity, providing staff with a concrete goal. The key then becomes identifying methods to achieve this target LOS, which necessitates crafting an individualized plan for each animal through pathway planning.
The Full Picture
Overcrowding at an animal shelter can lead to disease and stress, while under-population can reduce adoption opportunities. The Capacity for Care (C4C) model, developed by BC SPCA and later supported by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), is a shelter management model designed to optimize the number of pets housed at any given time by balancing animal welfare needs with operational goals like adoptions. It focuses on calculating an optimal daily population, improving housing quality (e.g., adding cage portals), and managing length of stay (LOS).
Preliminary implementation of C4C showed increased adoptions and decreased LOS and isolation use. The current observational study, titled “An observational study of the relationship between Capacity for Care as an animal shelter management model and cat health, adoption and death in three animal shelters”, aims to formally evaluate the C4C model’s impact on cat outcomes across multiple shelters.
Study Methods
Three Canadian animal shelters participated in the C4C pilot project led by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the University of California–Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. During site visits, veterinarians worked with staff to calculate optimal monthly cat populations based on historical intake, adoptions, and targeted length of stay (LOS). Shelters then implemented housing modifications — mainly by adding cage portals — to improve welfare and meet recommended space standards. The researchers also collected data from each shelter covering at least two years before and one to two years after implementation (2012–2016), which included 17,634 cat intake records.
Study Results
Following the implementation of the Capacity for Care (C4C) model, all three shelters experienced substantial improvements. Temporary and overflow housing became unnecessary. Guided by newly calculated optimal population levels — which were 44%, 28%, and 17% lower than pre-implementation levels at Shelters A, B, and C respectively — the post-implementation animal populations significantly decreased.
Isolation use dropped by 84%, 46%, and 39%, indicating improved cat health. The average length of stay (LOS) decreased by 31%, 11%, and 9%, with adoption happening significantly faster at all shelters. Cats also had a higher probability of adoption post-C4C, and fewer shelter deaths were reported. Overall, C4C led to better housing conditions, reduced crowding, improved outcomes, and enhanced operational efficiency across the shelters.
Enhanced housing and management practices supported these outcomes, with shorter LOS reducing crowding and allowing better use of housing. Adoption-focused changes, such as simplified processes (e.g., moving friendly cats straight to adoption instead of keeping them in hidden areas) and enriched housing, likely contributed to higher adoption rates. Anecdotal benefits included improved staff morale, reduced cleaning time, and more opportunities for cat socialization.
Despite reduced capacity, no increase in euthanasia was observed, dispelling fears that fewer housing units might lead to worse outcomes.
Conclusion
The implementation of the Capacity for Care (C4C) model, which integrates improved housing, reduced daily population, and shorter length of stay (LOS), led to significant improvements in cat welfare and shelter outcomes. Key results included decreased isolation use, reduced LOS, higher adoption probabilities, and lower euthanasia rates. These findings align with broader research on the benefits of reduced animal density in improving health and welfare across species. Overall, the results affirms the impact of implementing Capacity for Care, and suggests that C4C is an effective model for improving both shelter operations and animal welfare.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Optimizing Shelter Operations > Refining Intake Practices
Year of Publication:
2017
External Link:
C.L. Karsten, D.C. Wagner, P.H. Kass, K.F. Hurley,An observational study of the relationship between Capacity for Care as an animal shelter management model and cat health, adoption and death in three animal shelters, The Veterinary Journal, Volume 227, 2017, Pages 15-22, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.08.003.