What does it take to G2Z?

What does it take to G2Z? – Sharon Harmon (Oregon Humane Society)

Sharon Harmon has been an animal welfare professional for almost 30 years.

She has been the leader of Oregon Humane Society, the state’s largest and oldest animal protection organisation since 1998. OHS has a 98% combined save rate.

Is G2Z realistic? Hellz yeah. If you don’t hold this dream central to your actions every day, we’re not going to get there.

We need to demonstrate that we have to hold every life

Hurdles
– More money
– New shelter
– More staff & programs

Resources are an excuse not to step up.

– Values

How we treat cats is so different to how we treat dogs. Are your values getting in the way of G2Z

– Programs

Have your policies changed in the last five years. Are we still putting up obstacles to adoption? Are we a barrier to G2Z.

– Shelters

Where animals die. If we want to stop killing animals, we have to keep them out of the shelters. We need to keep animals in their homes. Preserving the bond, may be the best way to getting to zero.

Do not take in more animals that you can care for. Find other strategies. Strategic admissions. If people took in more animals than they could reasonably care for, we would call them hoarders. If they killed those pets, we’d call them….?

Shelters are dangerous places for animals. If we want to G2Z we have to reduce the danger we present to pets.

Take them from the admission counter to the euthanasia room. That was customary. 1989 article ‘Shelters are contributing to the problem of euthanasia’ hurt our feelings. But we have a choice.

Support vision where animals are treated with kindness and compassion. That starts with shelters.

Euthanasia is an effective tool. But the first step is making the choice on how we do our jobs every day.

Critical resources
– Culture
— Trust
— Leadership
— Honor
— Respect for intent (volunteers, adopter

– Compassion
for people who have less, but still love their pet

– Commitment
that pet belongs to you. You are responsible for it. Commitment to a live outcome

– Curiosity
find resources/research which challenge your beliefs.
ie. pets as gifts (stay in the home longer than those who weren’t given as gifts)
the free cat (‘acquired’ cats just as loved – cats are already ‘choosing’ their owners and getting great homes, why should shelters be different?)
we have to be open to new information

Who owns the problem. We all do. To own the problem is to solve the problem

Do we have the right people on the bus? Or do we have people who don’t believe in G2Z? Do they believe it can’t happen? Do they like people. Do they want pets to go home? Customer service focussed employees.

Personal accountability. Don’t walk by it, fix it.

If humane society’s don’t lead the way with our actions, who will? Pet stores? Breeders? Vets?

We have to lead those values. Who’s responsible for live outcomes? No one but us.

How far do you go? End of life care and cancer treatment? Hospice? Bottle babies and foster carers? Behavioural rehabilitation. Go as far as you can go.

Set goals. Not at ‘some point’ – put a date and a time on it.

Do your programs have integrity. What does this program do to get us to zero? If not, why are you spending money on it? Don’t get distracted.

Commitment – holding true the ideal of ending euthanasia.

We got to a 94% save rate in a crappy facility. You don’t need posh digs to make miracles happen.

Sell success. Program results (success) means fundraising success. When you reframe the discussion to commitment and compassion, that is what donors want to hear. ‘Dead animals’ promotions fail to inspire the community to action.

The power of networking – leverage each other’s skills. Share resources. Not everyone needs to do everything. Help the groups around you. What can you teach. Don’t be a silo. Share what you have, learn from others. Open to others with different ideas – unless you’ve stopped killing, you’ve not got all the answers.

Your donors are supporting you because they love animals. Stop showing them sad animals. You’re just making them sad!
You’re setting up your brand as where pets go to die. Your donors want to hear you help animals. Show them the good work you do.

Tell them a story – not about numbers. They want to hear about Buffy and how she is now in the perfect home, thanks to you!

Tell them about perfectly healthy pets that are now saved. We are more than the broken and sad and dejected.

Inspire your public. Give them the chance to talk about your happy stories.

Resources
Association for Shelter Veterinarians
ASV Guidelines
ASPCA Pro
PetSmart Charities

Don’t have to invent it – it exists. Knowledge is power.

That curiosity is what will get you there. If you’re doing the same things as five years ago – you are behind the times.

Good
– Stay curious
– Being commited
– Putting your whole focus on getting to zero
– Invest and acknowledge the loss of every life
– Celebrate every adoption
–

Bad
– Being a victim
– Getting distracted
– Putting all your hopes on something ‘external’ that you need

We don’t have a dog overpopulation problem. No one brings us puppies. We get giddy if they do. Thanks to pro-dog policies and desexing.

If we want to stop seeing animals die – we have to stop killing them. We are the solution. Set the bar. After this day, no more. We’re going to change our admission policies. Expand our foster care.

Have discussions internally. Across our industry. How we’re going to get to zero is our problem to solve. Put our minds together.