Animal Welfare Professionals

I'm interested is seeing examples of SOPs and/or written protocols covering the following topics:

• Animal Handling

• Behavioral Assessment

• Enrichment and Stress Reduction

• Management of Bite/Scratch Cases

• Sanitation

• Nutrition and Feeding

• Physical Examination

• Emergency Veterinary Care 

• Pain Management

• Vaccinations

• Parasite Control

• Anesthesia and Surgery

• Humane Euthanasia

• Outbreak Management/Control of Infectious Diseases

If you have SOPs/protocols that you are proud of and would like to share as editable files, I would greatly appreciate see them. You can submit links to Google docs here or send files to me directly at csfitz1972@gmail.com

Thanks in advance,

Chris Fitzgerald

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CommunityCatManagement
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#PetSupportServices*
#Rehoming
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)
#TransfersandTransport

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Chris Fitzgerald
Consultant
Rochester NY
cfitzgerald@animalsfirst.com
------------------------------

I would be interested in seeing an example of an Emergency Veterinary Care and Pain Management SOP as well! 

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Maria Putnam
Founder/CEO
All About the Animals Foundation
CT
------------------------------

I did not specifically look through the list in this spreadsheet (link below) but maybe it would be of use:

American Pets Alive! Resource Table

@Chris Fitzgerald

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Michelle Grimes | CPDT-KA, LVT, CVT, Elite FFCP-V, FFCP-T

Animal Control Officer #275
Keene Police Department
Bureau of Special Services
400 Marlboro Street
Keene, NH 03431
P: 603.357.9815
------------------------------

Thanks for sharing, Michelle!

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Leah Collingwood
President and ED
Cavalli's Husky and Wolfdog Rescue
CO
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-25-2025 06:15 AM
From: Michelle Grimes
Subject: SOPs and protocols

I did not specifically look through the list in this spreadsheet (link below) but maybe it would be of use:

American Pets Alive! Resource Table

@Chris Fitzgerald

------------------------------
Michelle Grimes | CPDT-KA, LVT, CVT, Elite FFCP-V, FFCP-T

Animal Control Officer #275
Keene Police Department
Bureau of Special Services
400 Marlboro Street
Keene, NH 03431
P: 603.357.9815
------------------------------

I would be interested as well.

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amber francisco
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Our protocol for animal handling safety! :)

ANIMAL HANDLING SAFETY

When handling animals, be sure to:

• Take your time.

• Don't over stimulate the animal.

• Remember that the animal may perceive a threat even though you do not intend to threaten.  

• If you do not feel comfortable handling an animal, DON'T! Get someone to help you-don't risk getting scratched or bitten! 

CATS

 

• When removing a cat from a cage, be sure to get the cat's attention before opening the gate.

• Allow the cat to check out your fingers before you pick it up. The cat should come to you, not the other way around.

• Talk to the cat calmly and softly to avoid over-stimulating the cat

• When handling a cat, control the head and neck at all times.  Hold the cat firmly-left hand controlling the head and neck, right elbow supporting/gripping the hindquarters, right hand controlling the front paws.

• Take a moment to readjust your grip if you need to.

• Keep the cat's face away from other cats

• Keep the cat's face away from your face.

• Always use a carrier to transport the cat more than a few feet.

• Watch for signs of stress/fear-enlarged pupils, thrashing tail, growling, hissing, and attempting to hide or escape.  If these signs appear, carefully remove the cat from the source of stress.

• If a cat is fearful, do not make direct eye contact.

• Approach the cat at his or her level.  Do not reach over the cat's head.

• Move slowly because rushing the cat only adds more stress, leading to unpredictable behavior and increasing the likelihood of injury.

DOGS

• When removing a dog from a kennel, distract the dog and enter the kennel with your leash ready.

• Attempting to "noose" a dog through the gap in the gate can lead to an escape be the dog.

• Approach the dog from the side.  Do not attempt to "noose" it over the top of its head, as this will only intimidate the dog.

• Talk calmly to the dog to avoid overstimulation

• When moving the dog, keep the dog away from other kennels, and break his or her line of vision.

• Keep the leash short and use both hands for better control.

• Only small dogs and puppies should be carried, and then only as you carry a cat.  Carrying a dog like a baby is not permitted.

• If the dog won't move on the leash, coax the dog by moving in front and down low.  Dragging a dog is never permitted.

• Watch for signs of stress/fear: ears back, hackles raised, tail down, dilated pupils, lifted lip, submissive posture, growling, barking or lunging.

------------------------------
Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor
Private, Nonprofit Animal Welfare Organization
Friday Harbor, Washington
------------------------------

Thanks!

------------------------------
Chris Fitzgerald
Director of Animal Services
Greece, NY
cfitzgerald@greeceny.gov
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-29-2025 09:07 AM
From: Alex Forgie-Williams
Subject: SOPs and protocols

Our protocol for animal handling safety! :)

ANIMAL HANDLING SAFETY

When handling animals, be sure to:

• Take your time.

• Don't over stimulate the animal.

• Remember that the animal may perceive a threat even though you do not intend to threaten.  

• If you do not feel comfortable handling an animal, DON'T! Get someone to help you-don't risk getting scratched or bitten! 

CATS

 

• When removing a cat from a cage, be sure to get the cat's attention before opening the gate.

• Allow the cat to check out your fingers before you pick it up. The cat should come to you, not the other way around.

• Talk to the cat calmly and softly to avoid over-stimulating the cat

• When handling a cat, control the head and neck at all times.  Hold the cat firmly-left hand controlling the head and neck, right elbow supporting/gripping the hindquarters, right hand controlling the front paws.

• Take a moment to readjust your grip if you need to.

• Keep the cat's face away from other cats

• Keep the cat's face away from your face.

• Always use a carrier to transport the cat more than a few feet.

• Watch for signs of stress/fear-enlarged pupils, thrashing tail, growling, hissing, and attempting to hide or escape.  If these signs appear, carefully remove the cat from the source of stress.

• If a cat is fearful, do not make direct eye contact.

• Approach the cat at his or her level.  Do not reach over the cat's head.

• Move slowly because rushing the cat only adds more stress, leading to unpredictable behavior and increasing the likelihood of injury.

DOGS

• When removing a dog from a kennel, distract the dog and enter the kennel with your leash ready.

• Attempting to "noose" a dog through the gap in the gate can lead to an escape be the dog.

• Approach the dog from the side.  Do not attempt to "noose" it over the top of its head, as this will only intimidate the dog.

• Talk calmly to the dog to avoid overstimulation

• When moving the dog, keep the dog away from other kennels, and break his or her line of vision.

• Keep the leash short and use both hands for better control.

• Only small dogs and puppies should be carried, and then only as you carry a cat.  Carrying a dog like a baby is not permitted.

• If the dog won't move on the leash, coax the dog by moving in front and down low.  Dragging a dog is never permitted.

• Watch for signs of stress/fear: ears back, hackles raised, tail down, dilated pupils, lifted lip, submissive posture, growling, barking or lunging.

------------------------------
Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor
Private, Nonprofit Animal Welfare Organization
Friday Harbor, Washington
------------------------------

Hi Chris! The Association of Shelter Veterinarians has peer-reviewed, regularly updated Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters &  Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs that are readily accessible.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.sheltervet.org/assets/docs/SNGL.pdf

https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/issue/view/2

These documents contain lots of useful information based on EBM (evidence-based medicine) and a robust body of peer-reviewed research and literature!

The ASV is also getting ready to launch a "Repository of Protocols" that will be accessible to ASV member veterinarians, where shelter veterinarians from all types of animal welfare organizations will be able to share their specific protocols. I am on the ASV Board and am spearheading this project. We are hoping the repository will be active by the end of the year! Stay tuned...

I would highly encourage all organizations working in the Community Animal Health, HQHVSN and Animal Shelter/Rescue spaces to encourage their veterinarians to be become ASV members if they are not already. ASV is not just for "shelter veterinarians" anymore!

------------------------------
Rachel Powell DVM
Director of Surgery
Greenhill Humane Society
Eugene, OR
------------------------------

A Repository of Protocols is a great idea! Thank you for spearheading that project!!

------------------------------
Mary Vargas
Veterinarian
Burlington County Animal Shelter
NJ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2025 02:14 PM
From: Rachel Powell
Subject: SOPs and protocols

Hi Chris! The Association of Shelter Veterinarians has peer-reviewed, regularly updated Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters &  Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs that are readily accessible.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.sheltervet.org/assets/docs/SNGL.pdf

https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/issue/view/2

These documents contain lots of useful information based on EBM (evidence-based medicine) and a robust body of peer-reviewed research and literature!

The ASV is also getting ready to launch a "Repository of Protocols" that will be accessible to ASV member veterinarians, where shelter veterinarians from all types of animal welfare organizations will be able to share their specific protocols. I am on the ASV Board and am spearheading this project. We are hoping the repository will be active by the end of the year! Stay tuned...

I would highly encourage all organizations working in the Community Animal Health, HQHVSN and Animal Shelter/Rescue spaces to encourage their veterinarians to be become ASV members if they are not already. ASV is not just for "shelter veterinarians" anymore!

------------------------------
Rachel Powell DVM
Director of Surgery
Greenhill Humane Society
Eugene, OR
------------------------------