Crafting a Consensus-Based Transfer Program

Building partnerships based on fairness and trust to save animal lives

Recognizing the critical role that animal rescues and sheltering organizations can play in saving homeless animals, the Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC) in Austin, Texas, brought representatives from these organizations together to develop a highly-structured, mutually agreed-upon transfer program.

Crafting a Consensus-Based Transfer Program

Recognizing the critical role that animal rescues and sheltering organizations can play in saving homeless animals, the Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC) in Austin, Texas, brought representatives from these organizations together to develop a highly-structured, mutually agreed-upon transfer program.

Cool Quote

"We realized that the quality of placement needed to be as high a priority as the saving of a life." Town Lake Animal Center

What it Takes

• Concern for quality over quantity of placements.
• Honest assessment of the existing conditions and relationships.
• A strong trusted leader to build consensus.
• Mutual respect among all participants.
• Qualified staff to manage relationships with the partner organizations.
• As long as two years to build consensus and develop detailed program guidelines.

What We Like

The collaborative spirit that enabled TLAC and area rescues to develop such a highly-structured program. And did we mention that there are 85 partners in the program?

Step by Step

• Download the complete profile (.pdf)
• Assess for yourself whether this program is right for your agency.
• Grab the sample materials and get started.
• Tell us how it goes.