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Written by M. McKenzie

October, 2012

Dogs' Homes of Tasmania

Tasmania is the little island at the bottom of the Australian continent and is seperated by BassStrait. It is famous for the extinct TasmanianTiger, the Tasmanian Devil, it's the 26th largestisland in the world and has a population of 

507,500. 

The Dogs' Homes of Tasmania (DHT) operates

as a pound facility for over 10 TasmanianCouncils. DHT are open admission and take inapproximately 5,000 dogs each year. DHT havethree centres, the largest is situated in Hobartand two other centres are in Devonport andBurnie.

In 1999, their kill rate was 29%. Since then, theyhave embraced change and have a vision of nokill. Their 2011 kill statistic with only a partialtransformation has met at a low 12%.

In 2009, the DHT seeked out shelter improvements by adopting the Getting To Zero(G2Z) program. G2Z is an Australian foundedprogram that focus' on desexing, legislation andadoptions. It utilises 4 out of the 11 no killprograms.

From the G2Z program, DHT developed acomprehensive Foster Care program whichsaw a dramatic reduction in the kill rate from23% to 14% in one year. This was madepossible with a grant from the Elsie CameronFoundation.

DHT's Pet Retention program includessocialisation and mental stimulation for adopteddogs in playgroup sessions. They provide four free training lessons with each adoption and

their centres have the ability to provide crisiscare for people who need to board their pet in

an emercency.

DHT are already embracing a Public Relationsand Community Involvement program withproviding education about care andcompassion and welfare issues for dogs toschool children and community groups. Theyhave established partnerships with Corporatebodies to promote their centres and theemployees volunteer to walk dogs andparticipate in building projects.

DHT have joined with Rotary and other 

community groups to assist in adoption centreimprovements, coordinate events and helppromote life saving programs.

Their Volunteer program involves walking,socialisation, enrichment and rehabilitation of dogs and they coordinate transport of dogs tooffsite events. Volunteers assist in social media,enabling high redemption and adoption rates.

DHT have created a medical fund called the

Healing Hearts Fund. This money goes towardsspecialised surgeries, veterinary equipment,

diagnostics and behaviour  rehabilitationresources and services. It is a basic Medical

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and Behavioural program. They have alsoestablished the Last Litter Fund which desex'sthe mother of a litter of puppies for free.

DHT's Redemption rates average around awhopping 50%. Staff and volunteers check twicedaily a 'Lost Book' against dogs entering their 

care. DHT's places images of lost dogs on socialmedia that are networked across the State. Theycreated magnets that are handed out to thepublic when they register their dog at their localCouncil. This helps to identify DHT as a sourcefor redemption. Their positive public profile hasenabled them to be a first port of call whensomeone is seeking out their lost pet.

Their success in effective marketing throughsocial media, website, community and printmedia is reflected in their high adoption rates.Their messages to the public are warm, invitingand are based on the shelter pets needs.

 An example of this type of article is called “Triolooking for a good home” that was published inThe Mercury. It begins with debunking acommon myth that shelter pets are unwanteddamaged goods.

 NOT all homeless dogs are

unwanted.

 Many are much-loved  family pets who find 

themselves homeless when

an owner dies or needs to

move into care.

 A "family" of three little

terriers arrived at the

 Hobart Dogs' Home this

month after their owner 

died.

I met DHT Welfare Manager and Foster CareCoordinator, Cathy Craw at the 2012 No KillConference in Washington DC. She said “The NoKill model has been influential for DHT to reviewtheir temperament testing, shelter management,policies and rethinking just about everything thathas to do with saving lives”.

She says that the no kill programs are mindblowing and loved the opportunity that she had atthe conference to learn from people who are

already achieving high save rates.

Cathy's favourite seminars at the Conferencewere Bonney Brown's 'Turbocharging Pet  Adoptions' and Aimee Sadler's 'Saving 98% of Dogs' . Cathy now communicates with Bonneyand Aimee to assist her with additionalquestions, topics and advice specifically for DHT.

Cathy loves the transparency and assistance

from no kill shelters. She said that ”Thesepeople are very generous to share their timeand by passing on their learnings andknowledge.Their help has formed the basis of my workplan for next year”. And adds “It reallyis the reason we are able to do so much with solittle.”

Cathy says that DHT has accomplished greatthings, but has a view to implement futureprograms that will increase their save rate to ano kill standard.

She wants to incorporate offsite adoptions,utilise pet stores, loves the idea of the pop upstore – especially around Christmas, create aspecial needs category, start a Helpline for petretention, increase rehabilitation resources andstart a playgroup program for pound pets, lookat effective adoption interviews, have the abilityto vet public dogs and have a mobilevaccination clinic.

Dog's Homes of Tasmania is going for Gold.They are loyal in maintaining their objective andare willing to listen to other people that havebeen accomplishing high save rates for years.Even if it means going against the status quoand trying something new.

Dog's Home of Tasmania will become our second no kill shelter in Australia, following theever popular RSPCA in Canberra.

www.pawproject.com.au