The new resources were developed in partnership with NACA and other field services experts to create a united standard of care 

(AUSTIN, TX) December 10, 2024–Human Animal Support Services (HASS), an international project bridging the gap between human and animal welfare, announced today the inclusion of 11 new toolkits to the HASS Playbook. Developed in partnership with the National Animal Care Association (NACA) and other animal welfare industry experts within field services, the new resources aim to provide shelters with easy-to-implement initiatives to build a new or improve upon existing field services programming from a social service perspective. 

“Reimagining field services as a social service anchored in community engagement is something we hope becomes the gold standard in animal welfare,” says Jenifer Reed, HASS Senior Education & Program Specialist. “These toolkits are a great first step for shelters to partner with their field service departments to continue keeping both people and pets supported and safe.”

Rooted in compassionate enforcement and a human-services approach, HASS believes that field service officers are among the most important animal welfare advocates in any community. Historically, their roles have often been wrongly stigmatized as the “neighborhood dog catcher” focused on punitive measures only. However, HASS, in alignment with NACA’s philosophy, advocates for field services programming to be a community engagement opportunity where prioritizing public and pet safety remains precedent. 

Created by HASS industry partners with extensive in-field experience and innovative field services programs of their own, the new HASS field services toolkits are built to ensure shelters have customizable programming options at their fingertips for lost pet reunification, pet support services, supported self-rehoming and intake-to-placement. From practical measures such as pet identification or microchipping and fence repair to participation in pet pathway planning, the goal is for shelters to collaborate directly with their local field services department to develop a program best suited for their community’s needs and keep pets from unnecessarily entering the shelter system. 

Pet Support

Lost Pet Reunification

Supported Self-Rehoming

Intake-to-Placement

For more information on these initiatives visit humananimalsupportservices.org. 

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About Human Animal Support Services (HASS): 

The Human Animal Support Services (HASS) project is a movement seeking to revolutionize the animal welfare industry by leading with and embracing a community support model. By providing both private and municipal animal shelters with equitable access to data-driven resources, education, and implementation tools, HASS aims to create pathways toward unified support systems for pets and their people in every community. HASS encompasses a network of more than 1,500 animal and human welfare professionals. A project facilitated by Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), HASS’s 41 pilot shelters and 300+ partner organizations have joined the movement by committing to implement the HASS model. To learn more, visit www.humananimalsupportservices.org.

Source: Human Animal Support Services