Shelter’s Edge

Wordless Wednesday

What’s wrong with this picture of a shelter’s food preparation area?P.S. Leave your response in the comment box and we’ll follow up next week. Looking for the answer to last week’s question? Find it here!

UPDATE, January 11: Thanks for your great responses—and no, we won’t  leave you without your morning pick-me-up! We’ve revealed the answer in the comment box.

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11 Responses to “Wordless Wednesday”

  1. The coffee mug is empty. Always fill the coffee mug prior to starting to fill the bowls or the day will get away from you and you will never get your cup of coffee…

  2. Hmmmm…that spoon is a little too big to stir the coffee.


  3. Amber Luttrell Says:

    You’re supposed to take the wet food OUT of the can.

  4. Human food prep (coffee pot) and cup-unsanitary or contamination possibility. Dog food can in bowl-unsanitary,even worse if it’s an open can. Spoon left in bowl with food and can. Water bottle laying there unsanitized, it seems. Plastic bag coozy thingy in food prep area. Generally unsanitary for animals of all sorts.

  5. No creamer


  6. Aprille Tew Says:

    You do not prepare food in the same area as your break area. The can is sitting on top of already poured food, the bowl on left looks like something is in it, the water bottle just lying there probably not sanitized, and the metal spoon is not good either breeding ground for germs

  7. My training tells me that the people food and animal food in the same area is a no-no. That bag cozy thing is a potential fomite and that second bowl does appear to have something icky in it.

    But my common sense tells me the same as Kim and Brad. No creamer + no coffee = no fed dogs… ;-)

  8. um animal food is not supposed to be near coffee or human food because someone can accidently pour the coffee or something into the food and it can make the animal sick also try to keep animal food away from connections


  9. Motely Wiggins Says:

    No one should be making coffee in a Mr. Coffee Maker any longer. It’s an insult to coffee.

  10. Hmmm…all of the things previously mentioned…and the “extension” cord. They are a real no-no especially next to a liquid. And…I don’t see a GFI switch on the outlet. (I know…not near as creative as the other comments! :)

  11. Wow, sounds like all of you had your coffee—and then some! You brought up some great points.

    We asked the ASPCA’s Miranda Spindel, DVM, MS, Senior Director, Shelter Medicine, for her take on this photo: “As important as it is to take good care of the animals in our shelters, it is just as important to take good care of ourselves, too! Zoonotic diseases are a real concern for people who spend time in animal shelters. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a good hot cup of coffee—but it does mean that areas should be designated for eating, drinking, and storing human food, drink and dishes away from animal care and animal food preparation areas.”

    Jill A. Buckley, Esq., ASPCA Senior Director, Government Relations & Mediation, shares her thoughts about the scenario in this photo: “In addition to zoonotic concerns, shelters should be concerned about liability issues that could arise,” says Jill. “We all like to believe we are careful, but what if dirt, fecal matter or medications contaminated the coffee as the bowls were being cleaned or dried? If an employee became ill as a result of drinking a cup of the tainted coffee and was unable to work, the shelter might have to pay a worker’s compensation claim. If a guest at the shelter were served a cup of the coffee and became ill, the shelter would also be exposing itself to a liability claim for injury, medical bills and other related bills the guest may have suffered as a result.”

    Thanks, Dr. Spindel, for sharing this photograph with us. And everyone, keep those comments coming every Wednesday!

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