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Government Command Center 18 items

Municipal Animal Shelter Operations Checklist

Helps a municipal animal shelter or animal-control agency evaluate intake, housing, disease control, holding periods, euthanasia, and adoption practices against recognized shelter medicine standards and state law.

ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal SheltersState Animal Control StatutesUSDA/Rabies Control Regulations

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Intake & Identification

  • Is every animal logged at intake with source, description, and microchip/ID scan? *
  • Are stray animals held for the state-required minimum hold period before disposition? *
  • Is a reasonable effort made to locate and notify owners of impounded animals? *
  • Are intake vaccinations and parasite treatment administered per protocol? *

Housing, Sanitation & Capacity for Care

  • Are primary enclosures sized to allow animals to stand, turn, and rest comfortably? *
  • Is a daily cleaning and disinfection protocol using appropriate agents documented? *
  • Does population remain within the shelter's capacity for humane care? *
  • Are animals observed and health-checked at least once daily? *

Disease Control & Veterinary Care

  • Is there a veterinarian-directed medical program including isolation of sick animals? *
  • Are rabies-suspect and bite animals quarantined per state health department requirements? *
  • Are outbreaks (parvo, panleukopenia, upper respiratory) managed with documented protocols? *

Euthanasia & Controlled Substances

  • Is euthanasia performed only by trained/certified staff using approved methods? *
  • Are controlled substances secured, logged, and reconciled per DEA registration? *
  • Is a euthanasia decision and record maintained for each animal? *

Adoption, Return & Records

  • Are adopted animals spayed/neutered or under an enforceable sterilization agreement? *
  • Are outcome statistics (live release, return-to-owner, euthanasia) tracked and reported? *
  • Are impound, disposition, and license records retained per the records schedule? *
  • Document deficiencies and corrective actions: *

Download the full Municipal Animal Shelter Operations Checklist checklist

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