Three Things to Know
Historically, U.S. animal shelters primarily focused on protecting public health by managing free-roaming dog populations and controlling the spread of zoonotic diseases. However, evolving societal values have fundamentally transformed their role, shifting the emphasis towards live outcomes. This study meticulously tracks this transformation within a municipal shelter in Memphis.
Following a significant leadership change in 2016, Memphis Animal Services proactively implemented a series of best practices. These included a heightened focus on reunification efforts, the introduction of pet safety net programs, and the development of community cat programs.
The impact of these interventions was substantial. Prior to 2017, the median live release rate for dogs at the shelter stood at just 25%. Post-intervention, this rate dramatically increased to a median of 87%. Similarly, the median return-to-owner rate for dogs, which was 10% between 2008 and 2016, saw an increase to 13% from 2017 to 2021.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
Critics have long argued for a transformative shift within the American animal shelter system. This study powerfully highlights the impact achievable when management commits to implementing new programs focused on supporting pet owners. The use of foster and the removal of adoption barriers also further improves the live release rate.
With a wealth of resources now available detailing these best practices, animal shelters around the globe that have yet to adopt such approaches must investigate these possibilities.
The Full Picture
Historically, U.S. animal shelters were established to protect public health, primarily from rabies, and operated under a “catch and kill” model with high euthanasia rates. However, shifting societal values and the eradication of canine rabies led to the evolution of modern shelters, which now emphasize live outcomes, reunification with owners, and overall animal welfare.
Over time, best practices have emerged, including managed strategic intake (which limits non-urgent admissions), safety net programs (which keeps people and pets together, or rehome pets without shelter intake), return-to-field programs for community cats, and transforming animal control from punitive to supportive services. Simplifying adoption and reducing financial barriers for rescues are also key.
The study, titled “The Impact of Incorporating Multiple Best Practices on Live Outcomes for a Municipal Animal Shelter in Memphis, TN”, focuses on Memphis Animal Services (MAS), which underwent reform in 2016 following a community mandate and leadership changes. With support from Target Zero, MAS implemented these best practices, aiming to improve life-saving rates and align with modern shelter goals. The study documents the impact of these changes on outcomes for animals and shelter operations.
Study Methods
The study documents reforms implemented at Memphis Animal Services (MAS) starting in 2017 to align with modern animal sheltering goals and improved live release rates. Key interventions included:
- Managed Strategic Intake: Appointments became required for non-emergency owner surrenders, limiting unnecessary intake.
- Safety Net Programs: Initially focused on providing referrals and educational materials to help pet owners avoid surrender. A formal Pet Resource Center (PRC) was launched in 2020 to provide direct financial and practical support, with subsidies up to $300 per case to prevent intake.
- Community Cat Return to Field: Instead of euthanizing healthy stray cats, MAS began sterilizing and returning them to their original locations, which cost less than standard intake. Staff were trained to educate the public on this approach.
- Field Services Reform: ACOs shifted from a punitive role to a supportive one, making efforts to reunite lost dogs with their owners in the field, rather than defaulting to shelter intake. A new protocol required PRC specialists to triage calls before dispatching ACOs, promoting in-community solutions like the Found Foster Program.
- Streamlined Adoption and Transfers: Barriers such as background checks and home inspections for certain breeds were removed, and transfer fees for rescue groups were eliminated to facilitate more live outcomes.
Study Results
When Memphis Animal Services (MAS) overhauled its sheltering strategies in 2017 — focusing on intake prevention, community support, and progressive field services — the results were dramatic:
Live Release Rates Soared
Before the 2017 changes, only 1 in 3 cats and 1 in 4 dogs left the shelter alive. After the intervention, MAS saw live release rates climb to 92% for cats and 87% for dogs — a massive shift that shows what’s possible when shelters move away from outdated models. Importantly, this improvement on live release rates broke the old link between intake numbers and euthanasia: more animals coming in no longer meant more animals dying.
Intake Stayed Stable — but Smarter
MAS didn’t need to drastically cut intake to improve outcomes. Instead, it managed who came in and why. By requiring appointments for non-emergency owner surrenders and investing in safety net resources, they avoided unnecessarily displacing pets, which led to a steep drop in owner surrenders. Contrary to initial concerns, this didn’t lead to more abandonment.
The Safety Net Made a Real Difference
The creation of a Pet Resource Center (PRC) gave MAS a way to help pet owners before they reached a breaking point. In 2021 alone, PRC staff responded to over 4,300 calls, offering rehoming support, pet food and supplies, medical help, behavior advice, and more. This direct community support not only kept animals out of the shelter — it helped people keep the pets they love.
Return-to-Field Reduced Cat Euthanasia
Community cats, once routinely euthanized, were now sterilized and returned to their neighborhoods. MAS returned a median of 101 cats per year through its RTF program, and kitten euthanasia plummeted — from 59% before the intervention to just 3% after.
Even though only a few hundred cats were returned to the field each year, the impact was meaningful. Resources were reserved for cats who truly needed sheltering, and staff morale improved as they no longer had to euthanize healthy cats.
Field Services Became Field Support
MAS reimagined its Animal Control Officers as community helpers rather than enforcers, transforming their roles from impounding pets to reuniting them in the field. The cultural shift required staff training and personnel changes but paid off in more targeted, humane outcomes.
By knocking on doors and talking to neighbors, MAS returned 161 dogs directly to their homes in 2021—without ever entering the shelter. This not only reduced length of stay but avoided fees and barriers for owners, especially those living nearby. (The average dog picked up as a stray was found just 0.5 miles from home.)
Adoption and Transfer Success Grew
With fewer barriers and a friendlier process, adoptions surged. Cat adoption rates rose from 28% to 72%, while dog adoptions increased from 17% to 36%. Transfer partnerships also strengthened: 39% of dogs were transferred to other groups post-intervention, up from just 3%.
Other Findings
Once MAS moved out from under the Parks and Neighborhoods department and gained independent leadership, shelter decisions became faster and more aligned with lifesaving goals. This structural change helped accelerate the implementation of best practices already gaining momentum.
Conclusion
Memphis Animal Services (MAS) achieved a powerful transformation: they broke the long-standing link between intake and euthanasia, reaching over 90% live release rates for cats and nearly 90% for dogs.
MAS’s data tells a powerful story: when shelters invest in their communities, shift away from punitive models, and rethink their operations, lifesaving outcomes become not just possible — but sustainable. For other shelters looking to evolve, Memphis offers a roadmap rooted in compassion, strategy, and measurable success.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Reducing Shelter Intake > Efforts to Reduce Intake
Year of Publication:
2022
External Link:
Kreisler RE, Pugh AA, Pemberton K and Pizano S (2022) The Impact of Incorporating Multiple Best Practices on Live Outcomes for a Municipal Animal Shelter in Memphis, TN. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:786866. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.786866