Strategies for Successful Animal Shelters is the first book to assess the relationship between shelter traits, activities and critical outcome variables, such as live release or save rates. This book provides a data-based evaluation of shelter processes and practices with explicit recommendations for improved shelter activities. Using a survey of licensed animal shelters, case studies, and data on state inspections, complaints, and save rates, this book provides an assessment of the activities, processes, and procedures that are most likely to lead to positive outcomes for a variety of animal shelters. The book also contributes to community debate around animal sheltering and provides best practices, methods and means to assess local shelters to ensure the highest level of animal welfare. It is a valuable resource for animal shelter professionals and rescue groups, as well as students in disciplines such as animal science, animal welfare and shelter medicine. Offers best-practice recommendations and how they are used in animal shelters - Analyzes which shelter traits, programs and activities are most strongly associated with optimal outcomes, including live release rates - Includes an assessment of future research and activities to optimize animal welfare within shelters Focuses on traits, activities and techniques within animal shelters to ensure optimal animal welfare Strategies for Successful Animal Shelters Focuses on traits, activities, and techniques within animal shelters to ensure optimal animal welfare. Laura A. Reese Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science, Global Urban Studies Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA Strategies for Successful Animal Shelters is the first book to assess the relationships between shelter traits, activities, and critical outcome variables such as live release or save rates. This book provides data-based evaluation of shelter processes and practices with explicit recommendations for improved shelter activities. Using a survey of licensed animal shelters, case studies, and data on state inspections, complaints, and save rates, this book provides an assessment of the activities, processes, and procedures that are most likely to lead to positive outcomes for a variety of animal shelters. This book also contributes to community debate around animal sheltering and provides best practices, methods, and means to assess local shelters to ensure the highest level of animal welfare. Strategies for Successful Animal Shelters is a valuable resource for animal shelter professionals and rescue groups, as well as students in disciplines such as animal science, animal welfare, and shelter medicine. Offers best-practice recommendations and how they are used in animal shelters Analyses which shelter traits, programs, and activities are most strongly associated with optimal outcomes, including live release rates Includes an assessment of future research and activities to optimize animal welfare within shelters About the Author Laura A. Reese is a professor and the Director of Global Urban Studies Program at Michigan State University, under the Departments of Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science. She has written and contributed to hundreds of journal articles and publications, and has co-authored more than ten books to-date. Dr. Reese has been a Board Member of the Humane Society of Livingston County, has provided shelter services research support to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, the Detroit Department of Health, and the Detroit Animal Care and Control. She has also provided training for local officials on economic development and for shelter and animal control professionals on dog bite prevention and shelter practice. Related Elsevier Titles Breed, Animal Behavior, 2nd ed ., February 2015, 9780128015322 Kaminski, The Social Dog: Behavior and Cognition , May 2014, 9780124078185 Grandin, Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals , June 2013, 9780123945860 Dr. Laura A. Reese currently serves as the director of the Global Urban Studies Program and is a professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science at Michigan State University, United States. She received her PhD in political science from Wayne State University, United States. She has written and contributed to hundreds of journal articles and publications, and has coauthored more than 10 books to date. Dr. Reese has been a board member of the Humane Society of Livingston County, has provided shelter services research support to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, the Detroit Department of Health, and the Detroit Animal Care and Control. Dr. Reese has provided training for local officials on economic development and for shelter and animal control professionals on dog bite prevention and shelter practice.