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ACCATWhat  you  See  is  What  you  Get

August   10,    2015

The  Michigan  Rescue  Certification  Program

Introductions

• Deborah  Schutt§ Chair  Michigan  Pet  Fund  

Alliance

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Michigan  Pet  Fund  Alliance

• Who  are  we?

• Our  Mission

To  save  all  healthy  and   treatable  homeless  cats  and  dogs  in  Michigan

• What  we  do…

Designed  to…• Save  more   lives  at  shelters  -­

NKE

• Encourage  more  collaboration  between  rescues  and  shelters

• Establish  best  practices  and  a  Code  of  Ethics

• Advance  Michigan  to  become  a  no-­kill  state  –instituting  best  practices

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Designed  by…  • Linda  Gardiner  

Board   of  Directors  Michigan   Pet  Fund  Alliance

• Courtney  Protz-­Sanders  Executive   Director  and   Founder   Paws  for  Life  Rescue

• Mary  C.  RupleyDVM  Senior   Consultant,   Director   of  Surgery  Humane   Societyof  Huron   Valley

• Debbie  M.  Salinas  Volunteer   Humane   Society  of  Huron  Valley

• Deborah  Schutt  ChairmanBoard   of  Directors  Michigan   Pet  Fund  Alliance

• Kelly  Schwartz  Director   of  Volunteer   Programs  and   Operational  Support   Humane   Society  of  Huron   Valley

• Mike  SegnaPresident   and   Founder   House  of  Critters  Animal  Rescue

Initial  Task  Force  and  Current  Committee  Members

• Pam  Sordyl  Founder   Puppy   Mill  Awareness   of  Southeast   Michigan

• Ellen  Stuban  President  and  Founder  PapAdopters

• Jaime  Wolfe  Co-­founder   N.B.S.  Animal  Rescue

Looked  for  models.  .  .  

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Program  Design

• Over  a  year  of  monthly  meetings,  research  and  data  gathering

• 2-­month  review/comment  solicitation• Discussion  of  all  comments  -­ written  

responses• Exceptions  – Waivers• Grievance  Process• Benefits• Program  Marketing

End  Products

• Rescue  Certification  Program  Book

• Best  Practices  Handbook

• Application  Checklist• Online  Application• Model  Documents

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Who  can  apply?

• All-­breed  rescues• Purebred  rescues• Dog-­only  rescues• Cat-­only  rescues• Small  companion  

mammals§ Rabbits,  ferrets,  hamsters,  

gerbils,  guinea  pigs,  mice,  rats

Shelters  too?

Wholly  Voluntary

Requirements

ü Approved  501(c   )…organizationü Able  to  meet  model  standards  of  best  

practicesü Can  provide  annual  animal  statistics  ü Is  not  the  subject  of  any  complaint  

substantiated  by  documented  and  verified  tangible  evidence  and/or  being  actively  investigated  by  another  organization/  agency,  such  as  the  IRS  or  Michigan  Attorney  General’s  office

ü May  not  have  any  cruelty  complaints  against  any  person  associated  with  the  organization

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How  to  apply

How  to  apply

http://www.michiganpetfund.org/rescue-­certification/

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Review  Process

• Committee  review  of  applications§ Evaluated  against  criteria§ If  needed,  request  additional  information

• If  rescue  does  not  meet  criteria,  an  explanation  is  given  § Opportunity  for  change

• If  criteria  is  met,  recommendation  goes  to  the  Michigan  Pet  Fund  Alliance  Board  for  approval

Current  Benefits  to  Rescues

• Kroon  Grant

§ Michigan  Certified  Rescue§ $100  Grant  Awards

Any  animal  7  years  of  age  or  older  pulled  from  a  Michigan  AC  shelter,  sick/injured,  behavior  issues,  rescue  only

§ $200  Grant  AwardsVeterinary  or  Training/Behavior  expenses  exceed  $500

• Registration  Discounts  at  MPFA  Workshops  and  Conferences

• State  of  Michigan  Employee  Planned  Giving    

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Challenges  &  Opportunities

• Who  are  you  to  tell  me  what  to  do?

• Program  Duplication

• Myths  and  Rumors

• Shelter  support

• Recognition  by  Department  of  Ag  &  Rural  Development

• Being  here!

Today  and  Tomorrow

• 15  Certified  Rescues• 3 Recognized  Shelters• Continual  Improvement

§ Program  review  &  adjustments§ Process  review  &  adjustments§ Increase  benefits§ Getting  the  word  out

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Best  Practices  for  Rescues

• Animal  Care  Standards

• Animal  Related  Protocols

• Organization  Standards

• Operation  Standards  &  Legal  Requirements

• Training  and  Education

Animal  Care  Standards

• Care  Philosophy  

• Basic  Care

• Environment

• Dietary  

• Exercise  &  Socialization

• Basic  Daily  Health  Checks  

• Use  of  Boarding  Kennels

• Transport  

• Events

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Animal  Related  Protocols

• Animal  Records

• Medical  Protocols  

• Spay/Neuter  

• Behavior  

• Euthanasia  

• Identification   /  Licensing

• Foster  to  Adopt  

Organizational  Standards

• Public  Description  &  Purpose  

• IRS  Charitable   501(c)3  Organization

• Breed  Club  501(c)7  Rescue  Organizations

• Insurance

• Financial  Records

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Operational  Standards  and  Legal  Requirements

• Animal   Intake  – Strays– Obtaining  Rescue  Animals  

• Applications,  Manuals,  Contracts,  Criteria,  Job  Descriptions– Adoption,  Volunteer  &  Foster  Care  

Programs  

• Adoption  Events

Training  &  Education

• Emphasize  continuous  education  • Provide  resources• Promote  opportunities

– Conferences– Online  Webinars  &  Workshops– Online  Resources– Non-­profit  Books

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Code  of  Ethics

• Animal  Bill  of  Rights  • Rules  of  Conduct• Adopter  Bill  of  Rights• Donor  Bill  of  Rights

Terms  &  Definitions

• Rescue  vs shelter  • Open  admission  vs limited  

admission• Adoption  guarantee   vs No  kill• Euthanasia  vs killing• Asilomar Accords• Broker,  flipper,  hoarder

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Training

• Training  will  be  provided  at  Michigan’s  No-­Kill  Conference,  workshops,&  seminars.

Example  Standards

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Application  Checklist

Resources

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Best  Practices

Learn  more  about  each  best  practice  

Best  Practices  (continued)

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Acceptable  Sources

Check  legal  require-­ments  for  strays!  

Code  of  Ethics

See  appendix  for  full  list  of  codes..

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QUESTIONSDeborah  Schutt,  Michigan  Pet  Fund  Alliancechair@michiganpetfund.org877-­FUR-­PALSwww.michiganpetfund.org

Michigan  Rescue  Certification  Program