Explaining the Capacity for Care Shelter Model

Did you know the Winnipeg Humane Society has successfully followed a shelter model called Capacity for Care since its implementation in 2018?

Educating the public on what we do, how we do it, and the why behind our decision-making, is so important.

The Capacity for Care (C4C) shelter model ensures the best live outcome for each animal requiring care, enabling the shelter to find the right outcome, for the right animal, at the right time, in the right way.

Despite pre-conceived notions of the best way to help an animal – bringing an animal into the shelter is not always the best way. Utilizing programs that keep animals out of the shelter is sometimes the best option, as not all animals thrive in a shelter environment, and can become ill and or depressed.

Implementing C4C and reducing housing by half seems counter-intuitive, although, C4C considers holistically, meaning meeting the needs of each animal admitted to a shelter, whether feral or friendly, stray or owner surrendered, young or old.

Have you ever looked at our in-house animal pods and thought ‘wow that is a lot of space?’  The C4C model deems high-quality housing for animals as essential. Next time you visit you will notice there is separate space in each pod for sleep, food, and elimination. Poor housing is linked to several negative mental and physical health outcomes. By decreasing our capacity by half, we were not only able to give each animal more space, but also reduce the spread of infectious diseases.

To preserve the space for animals who have nowhere else to go, the WHS has developed several programs to support our community and their pets.

• For pet owners struggling with behaviour challenges we are offering our Help Phone Line 204- 988 8808, behaviour classes, and one-on-one training for extra tough cases;
• We have a pet food bank and low-cost vet care should pet owners struggle financially – enquire about our Urgent Care Program (use Intake number 204 982 2021 option 5);
• We offer emergency boarding for up to four weeks (free of charge) for hospitalized individuals, loss of home, or those fleeing domestic violence;
• We have a successful Care to Adopt program – finders of a stray animals who wish to adopt, may come to the shelter to have the animal spayed/neutered and vet checked at a discounted rate.

We would love if you could help us spread the word about the programs mentioned above that make the Capacity for Care model go-round. We are here for you, animals, and our community at large – in true spirit of the ‘Humane’ Society.

With love and gratitude,

You WHS CEO
Jessica Miller