JCARL focuses on renovations, programs in 2018

Following significant changes within the Jasper County Animal Rescue League in 2017, the facility is well on its way to being named a “no-kill” shelter.

When Rachel Long became the director of JCARL, there weren’t a lot of records or paperwork to review, but she does have information to believe a large number of animals were being euthanized each month in 2016.

“When I started here January of last year, there were a lot of animals that were being euthanized at this facility,” Long said. “When I came in, I said we were going to take a new mindset to embody the no-kill movement.”

The animals that were euthanized in JCARL’s care in the last year were for severe behavioral concerns that made them unsafe for adoption or if there were severe medical concerns that were not treatable.

“In the year of 2017, there were only 20 animals euthanized in our care,” Long said. “If we can treat it, we treat it — we will do whatever we can to save an animal.”

In addition, Long said the shelter is looking to officially be named a no-kill animal shelter. To accomplish that goal, animal shelters have to meet a certain percentage of a live-release rate.

“That rate is a calculation of the number of animals you take in versus the number of animals that leave your facility,” Long said.

JCARL received a 99.1 percent live-release rate for dogs and a 96.3 percent live-release rate for cats with an overall total of 98.1 percent.

“For us, that means 98.1 percent of animals that come into this building leave here with a positive outcome,” Long said. “The goal for most shelters is to be 90 percent or above.”

To be named a no-kill shelter, Long said JCARL will have to achieve the same standard in 2018.

JCARL is also considered an open admission shelter. Long said the shelter doesn’t turn away stray animals.

“Owners who are surrendering their animals will be put on a wait list if we are tight on space,” Long said. “We would never euthanize an animal for space reasons here.”

One large project JCARL will be working on this year is a renovation to change how the animals are housed within the building. The building will also be fitted to include two meet-and-greet rooms, one for cats and one for dogs.

“We are really focusing this year on giving our animals a better experience while they are here in the shelter,” Long said. “The shelter experience is never ideal for an animal, and it’s never what we hope for but it’s the inevitable in some instances.”

JCARL took in nearly 500 cats and 706 dogs last year while seeing 358 dogs adopted and 230 cats adopted. There were 224 dogs returned home and 25 cats returned home and 73 dogs and 106 cats transferred to licensed organizations.

According to Long, cats can be overlooked and are usually harder to find owners. She said a lot of kittens are transferred to rescue groups.

“That is how we can prevent things like euthanasia when we partner with other organizations,” Long said.

The goal in 2018 is to create a serene space for cats in the shelter.

“We are working to amp up our cat programs and also give them a better experience by installing portals that will go from cat kennel to cat kennel,” Long said. “When we get cats that come from the same household they are allowed interaction.”

For the canines, Long said the shelter will be working on outdoor large runs to give the dogs a safer and less stressful experience when they are in the outdoor space.

Another positive aspect at JCARL is the growth among staff — the shelter started with four last year and has nearly doubled.

“It has been great to just watch our staff grow and learn and develop,” Long said. “We started with a very small staff with a big learning curve on taking this no-kill mindset.”

Jennifer Mouchka, shelter manager, brought in a drastic number of volunteers in 2017. The program was launched in the spring and has recently grown in the last couple months.

“We always need more volunteers,” Mouchka said. “There is such a wide variety that we really have something for every skill set.”

The foster program consists of individuals who are willing to help take animals that belong to the shelter into their homes.

“Those volunteers help reduce the stress of a shelter setting, improve stimulation for the animals and give them some activities to do,” Long said. “Volunteers really provide consistency for the animals in their day.”

To become a part of the foster program at JCARL, there is a screening process and there are home visits.

“Foster parents help us market the animal and provide information about them and getting them ready to go on to their forever home,” Long said.

To get involved as a volunteer, an on orientation class is required. Those classes are offered twice a month. Volunteer orientations in February will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5 and 10 a.m. Feb. 17.

“In 2017 we had 130 volunteers complete orientation,” Long said. “We are always needing more.”

Aside from volunteering, the community can lend a hand by donating monetarily toward the upcoming projects. Long said anyone with handyman skill sets are welcome to help out with those projects.

Other items include canned dog and cat food and non-clumping cat litter.

JCARL will be expanding their hours in February. The shelter’s hour will be noon to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Contact Kayla Singletary at
641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or ksingletary@newtondailynews.com