Programs: Court case dogs. The safe humane chicago (shc) court case dogs program is a first-of-its-kind in the country, and it improves the quality of life for dogs - in fact, saves their lives - and engages local community members in creating safer, more humane communities. It is a collaboration of shc with chicago animal care and control (cacc), law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and the animal rescue community and depends on funding from grants as well as numerous individual and business cash and non-cash donations. "court case dogs" (and other such animals) are impounded as "evidence" associated with the criminal court cases of their owners, whether their owners were abusive, neglectful or convicted felons. Each year hundreds of these dogs are trapped in the legal system and suffer from the unjust and incorrect perception that they are "damaged goods. " in fact, they are dogs who have "done the time but not the crime". The court case dog program is a first step toward justice for these animals. What began in january 2010 as a partnership between shc, best friends animal society and cacc to advocate for, support and re-home these animals is now a thriving program managed by shc with funding from multiple and diverse sources and with support from other programs built to engage under-resourced communities. Court case dogs are given a second chance at a great life, thanks to a long line of heroes: police; animal control officers; the justice system; court advocates; cacc; veterinarians; shc volunteers, professional dog trainers and behavior consultants; partnering rescue groups; and the families that welcome them into their homes. Shc offers them lifetime behavioral support, free of charge to their fosters or owners. Court case dogs deservedly beat the odds. Whereas about 2% of these dogs made it out of impoundment alive before the program began, the program saved 90% of them in 2017. During its first eight years ending 12-31-2017, the program has saved 1,124 dogs, 995 of whom had been adopted. With 12 dogs in the program at cacc as of 12-31-2017, 1,110 have been transferred to more than150 partner rescue groups for rehoming. Their average length of stay at cacc (part of which they were not yet owned by cacc because of ongoing legal matters) is now just 18% of the average when the program started: a change from an average of 256 days at cacc to an average 47 days by the end of 2017. Keep in mind that length of stay at cacc is affected by many different actions, decisions and communication, legal constraints, shelter and adopter perceptions, and available resources of a village of professionals, staff, community members and organizations, including the following: offenders / owners at time of impoundment; laws and policies; police; cacc; prosecutors; judges; available veterinary, behavioral, transportation and homing resources; inter-agency communications; social networking; and marketing, all of which is not under the control of any one organization but is monitored by shc and part of our extensive network. In addition, all the court case dogs give back to our communities by being model companions, service dogs, therapy dogs, ambassador dogs, sports stars, and demonstration dogs, among others. You can read their stories on our website (http://safehumanechicago. Org) and on social media. All of this requires recruiting, training, managing and supporting community volunteers, and our staff devotes considerable resources to this. The reason is not difficult to understand. Numerous dedicated volunteers are needed for the program's successes, which can be measured in numbers of court case dogs saved and successfully homed, without returns; the decrease in time they are impounded or fostered; and successful rehoming. In 2017, 75 volunteers donated approximately 1,750 hours to court case dog program activities. But that's not all. Court case dogs are also included in the playgroups that shc manages at cacc. In 2017, 55 volunteers devoted approximately 3,000 hours in playgroups with court case and other cacc dogs. Including all activities with the court case dogs at cacc in 2017, some 175 volunteers donated approximately 7,000 hours to the program. Demographics of program beneficiaries: a majority of the animal victims helped by the court case dog program are, of course, dogs and of those, approximately 70% are perceived to be "pit bull" dogs. A small number of cats were saved as well. But four-legged animals are not the only ones who benefit. The court case dog program brings numerous community members together to help animals as well as people and their families; and the program serves as a center and a foundation for all the other safe humane programs: lifetime bonds, community re-entry, valor - veterans advancing lives of rescues, youth programs, collaborative justice and community outreach efforts.
program services at chicago animal care and control other than court case dogs include playgroups, manners classes, in-kennel enrichment activities, out-of-kennel enrichment/walking, corporate volunteer days and zarada's cacc medical fund. Safe humane chicago (shc) partners with chicago animal care and control (cacc) in other programming than the court case dogs program reported elsewhere. In 2017 shc continued to manage and maintain playgroups for cacc dogs' mental and physical exercise. As reported in 2012, shc received funding from animal farm foundation to build playlots at cacc and begin running and managing play-groups. Every year, additional funding helped maintain the playlots. Then in 2016 a court case dog adopter and shc donor and volunteer donated funds for a second playlot to be devoted to dogs who are recovering or exposed mainly to upper respiration infections, dogs who cannot be mixed with the healthy population. By end of 2017, shc hosted 6 days of playgroup per week, 2 formalized enrichment sessions per week, and additional enrichment opportunities throughout the week as they arise. Current metrics track how many dogs are evaluated each month, number of times in group for each individual dog, and each individual dog's outcome. By the end of 2017, we were in a position to help a large majority of dogs at cacc by providing more accurate evaluations of dog-dog sociability and handling, as well as providing regular mental and physical exercise. Total dogs in playgroup in 2017: 826 (43% increase from 2016) while maintaining an average live release of 95% for all dogs evaluated in group (pass, retest, or decline). 102 were court case dogs (31% increase from 2016). Some 55 volunteers devoted approximately 3,000 hours in playgroups with court case and other cacc dogs. Total human-canine interactions in enrichment activities for year ending 12/16/17: more than 7,500. Shc also engages volunteers to help adopt out animals or transfer them to rescue groups, provide support for low-cost and free services for companion animals, and provide education and training for community residents or cacc visitors. In addition, through the initiative of a longtime cacc volunteer, safe humane zarada's cacc medical fund continued to save cacc animals. Donations were specifically and solely for use by the medical/ veterinary department for supplies and medical equipment as well as for diagnostics and treatments for individual animals in need. Including all activities at cacc in 2017, some 150 volunteers donated approximately 8,500 hours. The populations served/included in shc programming at cacc are diverse in species, race/ethnicity, income, education, employment and age; and they live throughout cook and its collar illinois counties.
outreach and education. Safe humane chicago (shc) programming other than that reported by individual program name includes community outreach and education, special events that raise awareness about safe humane while also raising needed funds to manage and implement programs, and special projects mainly with government agencies. Community outreach and education include presentations for children, youth and adults outside of the program areas discussed elsewhere. These presentations are designed to empower community members to further our mission. There are three main types of outreach: (1) "kids, animals and kindness" presentations that teach children how to connect with animals safely, including proper techniques for approaching and handling animals, thus helping to avoid bites; humane treatment and proper care of animals, including the importance of spay/neuter programs and adequate veterinary care; why dog fighting and animal abuse are bad; and beneficial activities with dogs; (2) corporate or group volunteer days which introduce corporate employees or other groups to chicago animal care & control (cacc) and shc programs there and provides these volunteers the opportunity for hands-on work with the animals and our volunteers; and (3) participation in community events and professional conferences that further our mission. In 2017, more than 50 volunteers gave more than 1,000 hours to support other safe humane outreach efforts, special projects with other agencies and organizations, and critical administrative tasks. Overall in 2017, shc successes are due in large measure to the commitment of approximately 300 volunteers who gave more than 10,000 hours and to the generous donations of individuals and businesses that were allocated among all the shc programs according to need. We continued to distribute our first book, a ruff road home: the court case dogs of chicago, which documents the stories from rescue by police to adoption of 21 of the first half of court case dogs. By the end of 2017, more than 2,300 books had been distributed for donations that went entirely to shc programs. Demographics of program beneficiaries. The populations served/included in shc programming are diverse in species, race/ethnicity, income, education, employment and age; and they live throughout cook and its collar illinois counties.
