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Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

  • 1.  Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 12-14-2023 04:52 PM

    Updated 12/18/23 at 1:32pm: Recording now available to watch on-demand!

    We hope to see you on Monday, 12/18/23 at 11am PT for our final Community Conversations call of 2023! We will hear from Kate Meghji, COO of Humane Rescue Alliance and Katie Barnett, Founder of Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and Animal Cruelty Prosecution Clinic for a presentation on, "Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation."

    Animal shelters continue to expand services without expanding compensation from their contracting local governments. We will discuss varying contractual models (flat rate, per animal, per capita) and tactics to ensure you get the financial support from your government that mirrors the dynamic work you do in the community. Legal issues covered include threshold for qualified immunity in certain states, open records/meetings acts, and educating local attorneys on shelter requirements.

    Register here for our Weekly Community Conversations Calls taking place on Mondays at 11am PT: maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration
      
    If you are unable to make it live on Monday, this thread will be updated with the recording and resources so you can watch and share whenever you'd like.  After you watch the recording on-demand or attend the call live, be sure to complete this December entry form to enter to win up to a $5,000 grant: https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-dec23-giveaway.htm. As a reminder, we will be taking a two week break after this call. If you plan to catch up on any of our previous Community Conversations calls, you can still complete an entry for the December grant giveaway each time you watch a call live or a replay during the month of December!


    #CommunityPartnerships*
    #EducationandTraining
    #OrganizationalManagement
    #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

    ------------------------------
    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 12-18-2023 01:54 PM

    Thanks to the 171+ people and pets who joined us on our final Community Conversations call of 2023! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. As a reminder, we will be taking a two week break and will be back in action on January 8, 2024. These two weeks are a great time to catch up on any of our previous call recordings so be sure to complete the grant giveaway form for December each time you watch a recording to enter to win up to a $5k grant - https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-dec23-giveaway.htm. 

    Below is a recap of today's call. Thanks for all you do for people and pets and we'll see you again in the New Year!

    Call Recap

    • Welcome from Hosts
    • Question of the Day: For organizations that are municipal organizations, do you think you are adequately funded?
      • "No" - Phil Zimmerman, City of Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter
      • "NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" - Jennifer Webbar
      • "Not in any way" - Brenda Mooney
      • "no!" - Shannon Roebuck
      • "Never" - Susan Ellis
      • "No! We definitely need more funding!" - Lucy Biesenbach
      • "Nope" - Vaughn Maurice
      • "Nowhere near enough!" - Ernest Hagan
      • "Of course not, lol…CARE Humane Society™ Auburn, AL" - Jill Gilbert
      • "Nope - Dane County Humane Society (Madison, WI)" - Doug Brown
      • "I'm a volunteer. Not paid at all. From Newnan Coweta Humane Society in GA" - Angie Whitlock
      • "That's the funniest question all year! 😂" - Hope Winograd DVM
      • " James Terry from Hernando County Animal Services. No we are not properly funded" - James Terry
      • "Nope! I'm Disa, from Saline Animal League, managing Marshall Animal Shelter in Marshall, MO. HI!" - Disa Farris
      • "Not at all . Humane Society of the North Bay Vallejo CA." - Brenda Mooney
      • "Question about your question - are most city funded or are some county/parish funded instead?" - June Thomas

    • National Updates
    • Today's Presentation: Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation- Weekly Community Conversations 12/18/23
      • Guest Speakers:
        • Kate Meghji, COO of the Humane Rescue Alliance, D.C.,
        • Katie Barnett, Founder of Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and Animal Cruelty Prosecution Clinic

    • Highlights from the Chat:
      • "June Thomas here from Central Arkansas Rescue Transport. Celebrating our last transport of 2023 completed this morning at Minnesota! Almost 1,100 cats and dogs transported through our Coalition this year" - June Thomas
      • "Wish government entities would cover that at 100% sense it's a complete cost savings to them at the end of the day!" - Mehnaz Aziz
      • "I feel some teen could build an app for comms with police." - Norma Wallace
      • "I saw one where the county would subtract the amount the shelter fund-raised from their payments" - Elizabeth Berliner
      • "Thanks to all for staying on-this is great info!" - José Ocaño
      • "This is great information." - Michelle Russillo WAGS Pet Adoption
      • "Thank you so much!" - Jill Pitts
      • "Action Items:  
            [ ] Research current per capita rates for animal shelter funding nationally and compare to Dogville and Cat City rates (<Kate>)
            [ ] Draft proposed multi-year contract with annual funding increases for flat fee funding model to present to Dogville officials (<Kate>) 
            [ ] Research public health and safety data on impacts of intake diversion and other outreach programs to support funding request (<Katie>)" - Curious Cat's OtterPilot
      • "Fantastic presentation!" - Teresa Johnon
      • "Happiest of Holidays, everyone!!!" - Jenna Riedi, Faunalytics


    ------------------------------
    Charlotte Otero
    Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
    she/her
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-18-2023 01:55 PM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "For Katie Barnett, what can be done to change the Animal Law in Kansas to approve the transportation of FeLV+ cats?. Healthy young positive cats are still being euthanized throughout Kansas because of this law." - Margaret Tompkins




  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 12-19-2023 08:25 AM

    I'll let Katie pop in on this as well, but during my time running a shelter in Kansas, I found that the best way to navigate this issue was to stop testing. FeLV testing should be used as a diagnostic tool for symptomatic cats, not as a screening tool. The resources for testing are better used elsewhere. The percentage of positive cases was so low that we felt it wasn't a good use of resources. 

    We all worked very hard on changing this legislation, and we're able to remove FIV from the list of contagious conditions, but FeLV is still a struggle. 



    ------------------------------
    Kate Meghji
    Chief Operating Officer
    Humane Rescue Alliance
    DC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 12-21-2023 10:00 AM

    Thanks for responding to my question.  I know that many shelters in Kansas have stopped testing for FeLV which is definitely saving the lives of many FeLV+ cats. However, many shelters in Kansas are still testing and then euthanizing healthy young cats just because they test positive for a virus.  I wish HASS or Maddie's Fund would address this issue.  The Department of Agriculture regulates animal shelters in Kansas and the governing law is KSA 47-624.  This law was enacted years ago to prevent a diseased cow, hog etc.  from infecting a healthy herd of animals and jeopardizing the food supply for Kansans.  Until 2019, this law also covered FIV+ cats.  Cats aren't a food source!  Only 2-3% of all cats have FeLV.  It's not nearly as contagious as once thought.  We also know that regressively infected cats can live for many years as their immune systems are keeping up with the virus.  Most FeLV is spread from queen to kitten.  Adults can also spread the virus through deep bite wounds from fighting and mating.  Just getting cats spayed/neutered substantially reduces the spread of FeLV.  For fixed cats, the primary method of spreading the virus is long term mutual grooming and that's rare. The American Association of Feline Practitioners in their 2020 Guidelines for Cats with retroviruses like FeLV and FIV recommend adoption for FeLV+ cats. This is the guideance given by shelter medicine professionals.  The time has come for the Kansas law to change!  Please take up this issue in 2024!



    ------------------------------
    Margaret Tompkins
    Tompkins Foundation for FeLV Advocacy
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 12-21-2023 10:54 AM

    Dr Brad Crauer runs the shelter medicine program at K-State and is awesome at talking to shelter directors to help them make changes. He's a great resource for many things as well!



    ------------------------------
    Kate Meghji
    Chief Operating Officer
    Humane Rescue Alliance
    DC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 01-04-2024 08:48 AM

    Several years ago we ran a bill to change the sick animal movement statute. The bill didn't get out of committee, but we were able to push the KS Dept. of Ag. to allow transfer of sick dogs to foster homes (but not adoption, or other licensees) through a temporary commissioner's order which is still in effect, and FIV cats to adoption or transfer with a signed acknowledgement and release. (now KAR 9-18-32). You might ask around to see what HSUS is running this upcoming session and see if this is something they would consider!



    ------------------------------
    Katie Barnett
    Attorney
    Barnett Law Office LLC
    KS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-18-2023 01:57 PM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "I'm curious to know if anybody calculates based on the estimated population of pets in their community instead of only intakes?" - Maria S




  • 9.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 12-21-2023 10:56 AM

    You can definitely do that, but since we know that roughly 67% of American households have pets, it still ends up being a human population (per capita) model. 



    ------------------------------
    Kate Meghji
    Chief Operating Officer
    Humane Rescue Alliance
    DC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-18-2023 01:57 PM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Unanswered question from the chat,

    "Is there a good rate to aim for of % covered by contract?" - Kim Adams




  • 11.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 01-04-2024 08:48 AM

    In my experience it really depends on the development and donor support the community gives that shelter (excluding one time grants or bequests). 30%-100% should be sought and an average shelter should try for 50%-75% covered.



    ------------------------------
    Katie Barnett
    Attorney
    Barnett Law Office LLC
    KS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-18-2023 01:58 PM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Unanswered question from the chat,

    "the county I used to live in took over animal services/shelter from a nonprofit and built a whole new shelter building. I'm curious how that worked/what happened now!?" - Maria S




  • 13.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-18-2023 01:58 PM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Unanswered question from the chat,

    "All of the dog intakes started mid-contract...what now?  We have a ton of community support and well liked but struggling financially mid-contract." - Michelle Russillo




  • 14.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 01-04-2024 08:51 AM

    One way to handle that is to use the most recent average monthly intake (e.g. if intakes were 20 dogs/mo. for the first half of your contract, but they're ramping up to 50 dogs/mo. now, then use 50/mo.) to indicate a shift in need for services. You can usually ask to amend your contract for an increase that reflects the growing demand for sheltering services the next time budget talks come around. Don't feel pressured to just take what you negotiated last year if you need more. Just ask.



    ------------------------------
    Katie Barnett
    Attorney
    Barnett Law Office LLC
    KS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-18-2023 02:00 PM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Unanswered question from the chat,

    "how do you feel about adding in terms or situations that would prompt contract reopeners?" - Nancy McKenney




  • 16.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-18-2023 02:00 PM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Unanswered question from the chat,

    "Is NACA doing any tracking of contract costs, models, or other key benchmarks that would be helpful to see in one place?" - Nancy McKenney




  • 17.  RE: Community Conversations - 12/18/23 - Government Contracts: Negotiating Fair Compensation

    Posted 01-04-2024 08:53 AM

    I've found that a lot of their intake models have disappeared from the website. It's been hard to find the animal services officer response time/staffing model calculation. I wish they had more about this as well!



    ------------------------------
    Katie Barnett
    Attorney
    Barnett Law Office LLC
    KS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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