Presented at the American Pets Alive No-Kill Conference 2014.

1. CAT ADOPTIONS 2.0CAT ADOPTIONS 2.0
HIGH VOLUME CAT ADOPTIONSHIGH VOLUME CAT ADOPTIONS
Monica Frenden - Austin PetsMonica Frenden - Austin Pets
Alive!Alive!
monica.frenden@austinpetsalive.orgmonica.frenden@austinpetsalive.org

2. APA! IN 2013APA! IN 2013
• 2,539 cats adopted2,539 cats adopted
• 6% return rate6% return rate
• 1 main shelter facility housing up to 70 cats1 main shelter facility housing up to 70 cats
• 1 FeLV Sanctuary housing up to 10 cats1 FeLV Sanctuary housing up to 10 cats
• 8 offsite adoption centers housing up to 84 cats8 offsite adoption centers housing up to 84 cats
• 2 feral cat enclosures housing up to 10 cats2 feral cat enclosures housing up to 10 cats
• Nursery ward for neonatal kittens and nursing queensNursery ward for neonatal kittens and nursing queens
• Ringworm Ward housing up to 40 catsRingworm Ward housing up to 40 cats
• Hundreds of cats in fosterHundreds of cats in foster

3. POPULATION MANAGEMENTPOPULATION MANAGEMENT

4. PASSPASS
FOSTEFOSTE
RR
RESCUERESCUE
TEAMTEAM
CAT ADOPTION MANAGERCAT ADOPTION MANAGER
ON SITEON SITE
CATTERCATTER
YY
OFFSITEOFFSITE
CATTERIECATTERIE
SS
NURSERNURSER
YY
RINGWORRINGWOR
MM

5. NIGHTLY EOD EMAILS (END OF DAY)NIGHTLY EOD EMAILS (END OF DAY)
EACH SITE SENDS AN EMAIL EACH NIGHT WITH A CENSUS UPDATE, LISTSEACH SITE SENDS AN EMAIL EACH NIGHT WITH A CENSUS UPDATE, LISTS
ADOPTIONS THAT HAPPENED, AND SPACE AVAILABLEADOPTIONS THAT HAPPENED, AND SPACE AVAILABLE

6. OFFSITE POPULATIONOFFSITE POPULATION
FORMFORM
SPACE TO LIST HOW MANY CATS/KITTENS EACH SITE HAS ROOMSPACE TO LIST HOW MANY CATS/KITTENS EACH SITE HAS ROOM
FOR, AND SPACE TO ASSIGN CATS TO LOCATIONSFOR, AND SPACE TO ASSIGN CATS TO LOCATIONS

7. ADOPTION CENTER REQUEST FORMADOPTION CENTER REQUEST FORM
FOSTERS USE A GOOGLE FORM TO REQUESTFOSTERS USE A GOOGLE FORM TO REQUEST
INTAKE OF THEIR ADOPTABLE FOSTER CATSINTAKE OF THEIR ADOPTABLE FOSTER CATS

8. POPULATION MANAGEMENTPOPULATION MANAGEMENT
YEYE
SS NONO

9. SITE MANAGEMENTSITE MANAGEMENT
• 2 full time staff members, 22 full time staff members, 2
part-time staff members,part-time staff members,
totaling 105 hours per week,totaling 105 hours per week,
plus full-time Cat Adoptionplus full-time Cat Adoption
Manager (me!)Manager (me!)
• Average 60 hours per weekAverage 60 hours per week
of volunteer timeof volunteer time
TLAC houses up to 100 cats on campusTLAC houses up to 100 cats on campus
(not including Ringworm Ward or Nursery) with:(not including Ringworm Ward or Nursery) with:

10. THE IMPORTANCE OF OFFSITETHE IMPORTANCE OF OFFSITE
ADOPTION LOCATIONSADOPTION LOCATIONS
• Offsites generate 36% of ourOffsites generate 36% of our
adoptionsadoptions
• Audience who might notAudience who might not
normally come to a shelternormally come to a shelter
• Additional housing spaceAdditional housing space
• Additional quarantine spaceAdditional quarantine space
ON SITE ADOPTIONS - 1,625ON SITE ADOPTIONS - 1,625
OFF SITE ADOPTIONS - 914OFF SITE ADOPTIONS - 914

11. INCREASING ADOPTIONSINCREASING ADOPTIONS
• Smartly managedSmartly managed
populationspopulations
• MarketingMarketing
• EventsEvents
• VisibilityVisibility
• AccessibilityAccessibility
• Make it easy!Make it easy!

12. MARKETINMARKETIN
GG
• Promotions & themesPromotions & themes
(with reduced fees)(with reduced fees)
• Great flyersGreat flyers
• Social media (utilize ALLSocial media (utilize ALL
of them!)of them!)
• Traditional media (TV,Traditional media (TV,
radio, newspaper)radio, newspaper)

13. EVENTEVENT
SS
• 1-4 events per month1-4 events per month
• Every holiday/special occasionEvery holiday/special occasion
• Locations with lots of footLocations with lots of foot
traffictraffic
• Don’t do events that don’t yieldDon’t do events that don’t yield
results or make senseresults or make sense

15. VISIBILITVISIBILIT
YY
• The public needs to know youThe public needs to know you
exist!exist!
• Share the good work you do!Share the good work you do!
• Be a part of the community.Be a part of the community.

16. ACCESSIBILITYACCESSIBILITY
• Good locations - high traffic areas, conveniently located toGood locations - high traffic areas, conveniently located to
where people live, work, and playwhere people live, work, and play
• Good hours - weekends and evenings mandatory.Good hours - weekends and evenings mandatory.
TLAC - 11:30am-7pm every day.TLAC - 11:30am-7pm every day.
Tarrytown - 12-6pm every day.Tarrytown - 12-6pm every day.
Offsite catteries - 4-8pm weekdays, 12-6pm weekendsOffsite catteries - 4-8pm weekdays, 12-6pm weekends

17. MAKE IT EASY TOMAKE IT EASY TO
ADOPT!ADOPT!

18. MAKE IT EASY TOMAKE IT EASY TO
ADOPTADOPT
• Outstanding customerOutstanding customer
serviceservice
• Warm, welcomingWarm, welcoming
environmentenvironment
• Yes, please hold andYes, please hold and
touch the cats!touch the cats!
• A cat for everyone! YouA cat for everyone! You
want young, senior,want young, senior,
outdoor only, lazy, oroutdoor only, lazy, or
playful? We have that!playful? We have that!

19. MAKE IT EASY TOMAKE IT EASY TO
ADOPTADOPT
• Set adopters up for success. (Show them how to trim nails,Set adopters up for success. (Show them how to trim nails,
medicate a cat, offer assistance from Cat Behavior Team.)medicate a cat, offer assistance from Cat Behavior Team.)
• Match your adopter to their ideal catMatch your adopter to their ideal cat
• Stop demonizing the public! Embrace progressive adoptionStop demonizing the public! Embrace progressive adoption
guidelines! (Yes to same-day adoptions, no to mandatory homeguidelines! (Yes to same-day adoptions, no to mandatory home
checks!)checks!)
Reasons APA! would decline an adoption: declawing, history ofReasons APA! would decline an adoption: declawing, history of
poor care or untimely pet losses, very unstable environment orpoor care or untimely pet losses, very unstable environment or
unsafe living arrangements.unsafe living arrangements.

20. ADOPTINGADOPTING
SPECIAL-NEEDS CATSSPECIAL-NEEDS CATS
• Special needs, specialSpecial needs, special
price.price.
• Identify your long-stayIdentify your long-stay
cats and implement a plancats and implement a plan
for their adoptionfor their adoption
• Some cats will need to beSome cats will need to be
adopted out of fosteradopted out of foster
homes.homes.

23. RINGWORM CATSRINGWORM CATS
• Remove stigma from ringworm,Remove stigma from ringworm,
explain in layman’s termsexplain in layman’s terms
• Ringworm adoption fee = 50% offRingworm adoption fee = 50% off
• Provide training on dipping & meds.Provide training on dipping & meds.
Allow adopters/fosters to come dipAllow adopters/fosters to come dip
at your location.at your location.
• Special events: Put the Fun inSpecial events: Put the Fun in
Fungus, Adopt a Fun-Guy, RING inFungus, Adopt a Fun-Guy, RING in
the New Year, Love is Contagious -the New Year, Love is Contagious -
$15 adoptions$15 adoptions

24. CATS WHO DON’T DO WELL IN SHELTERSCATS WHO DON’T DO WELL IN SHELTERS
Angry declaws, very shy cats, sassy singletons, hospice catsAngry declaws, very shy cats, sassy singletons, hospice cats
• Adopt out of fosterAdopt out of foster
• Help fosters promote their cats! (Photo contests, foster of the week,Help fosters promote their cats! (Photo contests, foster of the week,
fosters promote via social media, photo days, etc)fosters promote via social media, photo days, etc)

25. LONG STAY CATSLONG STAY CATS
• Progressive feeProgressive fee
structure based onstructure based on
Length of Stay:Length of Stay:
• 100 days - 25% off100 days - 25% off
• 200 days - 50% off200 days - 50% off
• 300 days - 75% off300 days - 75% off
FeLV cats - $0, Incontinent cats - $0, Petzillas - $0FeLV cats - $0, Incontinent cats - $0, Petzillas - $0
Medical consult cats - 50% off, Ringworm - 50% offMedical consult cats - 50% off, Ringworm - 50% off

26. ADOPTING FELV+ CATSADOPTING FELV+ CATS
• Market to college students, seniors, those who move oftenMarket to college students, seniors, those who move often
or cannot commit to 15+ years of pet ownershipor cannot commit to 15+ years of pet ownership
• Provide medical coverage and end of life services at noProvide medical coverage and end of life services at no
costcost
• Sanctuary + foster homes. 50% of FeLV cats at APA! areSanctuary + foster homes. 50% of FeLV cats at APA! are
adopted by their fosters.adopted by their fosters.
• Waived adoption feeWaived adoption fee

27. Cats and kittens infected withCats and kittens infected with
FeLV are often the last tier ofFeLV are often the last tier of
animals to leave the shelteranimals to leave the shelter
alive.alive.
Dr. Ellen JeffersonDr. Ellen Jefferson

38. MORE THAN 50 FELV+ CATSMORE THAN 50 FELV+ CATS
ADOPTEDADOPTED

44. The Feline Leukemia Sanctuary at AustinThe Feline Leukemia Sanctuary at Austin
Pets Alive!Pets Alive!

45. The Feline Leukemia Sanctuary at AustinThe Feline Leukemia Sanctuary at Austin
Pets Alive!Pets Alive!
• Dedicated spaceDedicated space
• Separate from Cat AdoptionSeparate from Cat Adoption
CenterCenter
• Totally self-containedTotally self-contained
• Open to public, potentialOpen to public, potential
adoptersadopters

46. The Feline Leukemia Sanctuary at AustinThe Feline Leukemia Sanctuary at Austin
Pets Alive!Pets Alive!

56. FELV+ ADOPTIONS MADE EASYFELV+ ADOPTIONS MADE EASY
• No adoption feeNo adoption fee
• FeLV-related treatmentsFeLV-related treatments
coveredcovered
• Detailed medical historyDetailed medical history
providedprovided
• Counseling offeredCounseling offered

57. INFORMATION IS THE KEYINFORMATION IS THE KEY
• Virus weakens immuneVirus weakens immune
system, shortens life spansystem, shortens life span
• Contagious only between catsContagious only between cats
(not humans, dogs)(not humans, dogs)
• Health and Wellness, e.g.Health and Wellness, e.g.
diet, stress, indoor-only,diet, stress, indoor-only,
regular vet careregular vet care
• PalliativePalliative treatment fortreatment for
quality of lifequality of life

58. COMMITMENT IS THE ANSWERCOMMITMENT IS THE ANSWER
• Nurturing foster homesNurturing foster homes
• Shared sense of compassionShared sense of compassion
• Promoting understanding andPromoting understanding and
empathyempathy
• Integrity with our missionIntegrity with our mission

59. I think how we treat our animals reflectsI think how we treat our animals reflects
how we treat each other.how we treat each other.
President Barack Obama (2008)President Barack Obama (2008)

60. Add mp4 video hereAdd mp4 video here