Draft Pet Evaluation Matrix - Animal Welfare League of Arlington

Draft Pet Evaluation Matrix
In August of 2004, a group of animal welfare industry leaders from across the nation convened at
Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California, for the purpose of building bridges across varying philosophies,
developing relationships and creating goals focused on significantly reducing the euthanasia of healthy
and treatable companion animals in the United States.initions: To
The group developed definitions of “Healthy,” “Treatable/Rehabilitatable,” “Treatable/Manageable,”
and “Unhealthy/Untreatable” to facilitate the data collection process and assure consistent
reporting across agencies. The Asilomar participants hoped that these definitions would be
applied as a standard for categorizing dogs and cats in each organization. The definitions,
however, were not meant to define the outcome for each animal.
Most shelters that adopt the Asilomar Accords create a Pet Evaluation Matrix (PEM) that gives
greater specificity to the definitions. A Pet Evaluation Matrix, which may take the form of a
simple set of guidelines, a comprehensive table of medical and behavioral conditions, or any
combination in-between, can be indispensable to shelter staff who must apply the definitions
and categorize the animals who come through the shelter’s doors.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington created a simple PEM in 2006 in consultation with four
other animal welfare organizations in the area. Now the League is in the process of updating
that PEM. Our first step was to convene an advisory committee consisting of those in our
community who are in a position to know the typical level of care provided by animal
guardians. Our panel consists of veterinarians, animal behaviorists, feral cat advocates, rescue
group members, shelter volunteers, and shelter staff members.
The panel has created a draft Pet Evaluation Matrix. We are now seeking public comments on
the draft. We invite you to read the draft PEM and send your comments to PEM@awla.org
and/or attend a public meeting on May 31, 2012 at 7pm at the Animal Welfare League of
Arlington, 2650 S. Arlington Mill Dr., Arlington, VA 22206.
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AWLA Draft Pet Evaluation Matrix
The following definitions and the categories of conditions within these definitions do not define
the outcome for each animal.
Healthy: The term "healthy" means and includes all dogs and cats eight weeks of age or older
that, at or subsequent to the time the animal is taken into possession, have manifested no sign
of a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that could pose a health or safety risk or
otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of
disease, injury, a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the
animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future.
Treatable Rehabilitatable
Treatable: The term "treatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are "rehabilitatable"
and all dogs and cats who are "manageable."
Medical
Rehabilitatable: The term "rehabilitatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who
are not "healthy," but who are likely to become "healthy," if given medical, foster,
behavioral, or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by
reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
Ear infection, non surgical
Kennel cough
Fatty tumors
Cystitis
Pneumonia
Sarcoptic mange
Minor/closed wound broken bone(s)
Heartworm stage 1 and 2
Demodectic mange
Cherry eye
Conjunctivitis
Intestinal parasites
Ear mites
Coccidiosis
Upper respiratory infection
Pyometra
Ringworm
Parvo
Open wound/compound/severe broken bones
Unweaned infants without nursing mother
Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease)
Malnourishment
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Treatable/Manageable
Manageable: The term "manageable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are not
"healthy" and who are not likely to become "healthy," regardless of the care provided; but
who would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life, if given medical, foster, behavioral, or
other care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by
reasonable and caring owners/guardians in the community; provided, however, that the term
"manageable" does not include any dog or cat who is determined to pose a significant risk to
human health or safety or to the health or safety of other animals.
Medical
Chronic ear infection (non surgical)
Bladder stones
Mild dysplasia
Non severe arthritis
Cushings disease
Spinal cord injury
Hyperthyroidism
Congestive heart failure
Heart murmurs
Allergies
Controlled seizures
Controlled diabetes
Hip dysplasia with osteoarthritis
Cancer
Life threatening wound/injury
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus +/exposed
Kidney failure
Liver failure
Treatable/Manageable—Behavioral
Mild to moderate shy dogs/cats with no
concern regarding aggression
Dogs/cats with minor/moderate handling
problems
Dogs with mild/moderate separation anxiety
Resource guarders that do not pose a significant
risk to the safety of humans or other animals
Serious dog to dog aggressive behavior
Serious cat to cat aggressive behavior
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Unhealthy/Untreatable
Unhealthy and Untreatable: The term "unhealthy and untreatable" means and includes all
dogs and cats who, at or subsequent to the time they are taken into possession,
1) Have a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that poses a health or safety
risk or otherwise makes the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and are not
likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided
to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or
2) Are suffering from a disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that
adversely affects the animal's health or is likely to adversely affect the animal's health
in the future, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided
the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in
the community; or
3) Are under the age of eight weeks and are not likely to become "healthy" or
"treatable," even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and
caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
Medical
Heartworm stage 3
Urethral block in cats
Any infectious disease not responding to
treatment
Feline Infectious Peritonitis suspect or exposed
Feline Leukemia Virus + or exposed
Panleukopenia
Uncontrolled diabetes
Uncontrolled seizures
Chronic demodex mange not responding to
treatment
Rabies exposure
Acute or end stage kidney or liver failure
Distemper
Parvo + (if moribund)
Malignant, untreatable tumors
Unhealthy/Untreatable -- Behavioral
Habitual house soiling not responsive to
behavior modification
Serious anxiety including self-destructive
behavior
Serious stranger/barrier issues
Very shy cats/dogs with concern regarding
aggression
History of serious injury to people or other
companion animals
High likelihood of causing serious injury to a
person
Feral cats/dogs
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