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4 <br /> Second, the health department staff has gathered inforrfiation on a comprehensive external <br /> review of shelter operations. There are at least two organizations that conduct these <br /> assessments nationally. One is the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the other <br /> is the American Humane Association. Both conduct assessments that address such areas as <br /> shelter operations, adoptions, spay/neuters, field services, community outreach, governance, <br /> management and leadership, human resources, and financial information. A description of <br /> each consultation service is attached. <br /> An external assessment would provide an unbiased view of shelter operations and offer <br /> benchmarks with other organizations providing shelter services nationwide. To the health <br /> department's knowledge there has not been an external assessment of operations since the <br /> inception of the contract with the APS for the operation of the shelter. In addition to the usual <br /> areas of operations, management, and leadership, Staff is proposing that the assessment <br /> address the issues outlined below specifically, and seeks Board feedback or clarification on any <br /> other areas of concerns. <br /> • Program and management improvements <br /> • Public interaction and customer service/satisfaction <br /> • Considerations for the design, maintenance, and programming of any new facility <br /> • Continued review and consideration of best disease management practices <br /> • Adoption policies (ensuring that healthy animals are adopted) <br /> • Provisions for effective, low-cost spay/neuter operations <br /> • Operational policies, procedures, protocols <br /> • Records-keeping <br /> • Rules codification and review <br /> • Governing structure <br /> • Other systems to support the humane treatment of animals and that promote public <br /> understanding and trust <br /> Either agency would require the organization being studied to submit the formal request for an <br /> assessment; therefore the APS Board will consider the proposal at their meeting on October 14. <br /> The Board of County Commissioners would be entered as a co-requestor and receive the full <br /> report of findings for in depth consideration. The entire assessment process beginning after a <br /> contract is established would take from four to six months. <br /> Additionally, staff has attached the following reports for your review and reference: <br /> • Background Information <br /> • APS Funding Request and Contract <br /> • Shelter Statistics <br /> • Financial Statement <br /> • Organizational By Laws <br /> • Minutes from the Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee of the Board of <br /> Health when it dealt specifically with shelter performance issues, <br /> • County Attorney memo re: open meetings and public records law applicability to APS <br />