(If you got this directly from MAC, you are already on the list)
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MAC's License Plate Program
Awards 28 Grants
By Adrienne Linnell
We have good news for Massachusetts animals! Funds raised through the sale of MAC's "I'm Animal Friendly" specialty license plates are supporting 28 spay/neuter projects across the Commonwealth in 2019. A total of $185,000 in grants were awarded to Massachusetts shelters, rescue groups and animal control agencies for spay/neuter surgeries which curb overpopulation and improve the health and behavior of the cats, dogs and rabbits assisted through these projects. Unfortunately, as is always the case, there were not enough funds available to fully fund all requests.
Successful grant applicants had applications that detailed a clearly defined plan with attention to efficient use of funds, impacted overpopulation in their targeted areas, negotiated lower cost spay/neuter surgeries, and demonstrated collaborative partnerships with other organizations and/or with animal control officers. The grant projects run from August 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The award list can be found on the MAC website using this link.
Despite increases in the number and type of specialty plates available from the RMV, MAC's license plate grant funding has held at a fairly consistent level over the last 10 years, thanks to animal lovers across the state.
While over $2.2 million has been granted out since the program began in 2005, it is MAC's responsibility to periodically assess if there may be a better and more effective way to award funds that will address current issues facing Massachusetts animals in a more targeted and strategic way. With not enough dollars to fund every request, it's important to look at this through a different lens. MAC's "I'm Animal Friendly" License Plate Program team is exploring ways to have the greatest impact and affect the animals and people most in need. Therefore, the MAC board has decided that the best way to accomplish this goal is to put a hold on funding while we devote our time to reevaluating the Program.
MAC will not be awarding license plate grant funding in 2020, and will use the year to reevaluate all parts of the program. Funds collected by the RMV will be held for use upon the program's re-launch. The MAC Board hopes you will understand our rationale for this decision. MAC remains committed to funding spay and neuter surgeries around the state and we look forward to serving animals and the people who help them in 2021.
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FREE AniMatch Canine Body Language and Behavior Observation Training - September 16, 2019
at Thomas J O'Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center
Class Information
Canine Body Language and Behavior Observation Training
Video presentation of Kelley Bollen*, facilitated by AniMatch volunteers
The morning video lecture will provide trainees with a foundation of dog behavior knowledge consistent with the AniMatch program's model for evaluating shelter dogs. Attendees will learn to read and interpret dog body language and what's involved in performing the AniMatch Behavior Observation procedure.
The afternoon observational training video will allow attendees to view Kelley Bollen* handling and evaluating several dogs using the AniMatch Behavior Observation procedure. Attendees will be asked to comment on the various body language and behavioral reactions displayed by the dogs during the observation process.
This training is for Animal Control Officers, Shelter/Rescue staff and volunteers.
Please register by September 13 using this link:
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MAC Shelter Stats Task Force Study Has Been Published
By Joann Lindenmayer
MAC has long supported national efforts to describe shelter animal populations such as Shelter Animals Count. In 2015 MAC recognized that in Massachusetts, it was mainly the larger, better-equipped and funded, organizations that contributed to this database, leaving smaller shelters and rescues unrepresented. MAC formed a Shelter Statistics Task Force to identify barriers to smaller shelters collecting, analyzing and using their data for reporting to Shelter Animals Count and donors, and for writing grants to help fund their shelter and rescue efforts and initiatives.
With assistance from a student in the Animals and Public Policy Program at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, MAC surveyed 119 animal sheltering organizations about their data management practices and attitudes towards sharing data. Analysis revealed that the animal welfare community held favorable attitudes toward data management and sharing, but desired additional resources and training to manage data more efficiently and effectively. Public agencies were the least likely to use electronic data-keeping means, and often cited lack of resources as a barrier. These results should prove useful not only in Massachusetts but for other regions hoping to improve data collection practices and for the collection and evaluation of shelter statistics systems nationwide.
MAC is in the process of identifying steps to improve data management and reporting practices among public and smaller private shelters in Massachusetts. Programs and statewide policies that aim to improve these features of data collection will strengthen the evidence base for local, state, or national programs and policy decision-making and evaluation, and support animal welfare advocates everywhere to prevent and reduce homelessness in our animal companions, thereby saving more lives.
Stay tuned for more on this from MAC!
***The peer-reviewed article "Survey of Massachusetts Animal Shelter Record-Keeping Practices In 2015" by Vinic, T, Dowling-Guyer S, Lindenmayer J, Lindsay A, Panofsky R, and McCobb, E. was published online on August 8, 2019 in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, DOI:10.1080/10888705.2019.1646135***
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Save the Date:
MAC's All About Dogs Meeting
Sunday, October 20, 2019!!
(Please note this date has changed)
The Everyday Impacts of Complex Placement for Dogs
WHEN: Sunday, October 20, 2019
TIME: 8:30 AM Registration and light breakfast
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Workshop
A vegetarian/vegan lunch will be served. Please email us if you have special needs at
[email protected].
WHERE:Agnes Varis Campus Center and Elmes Cafe, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, N. Grafton, MA
01536
ABOUT THE MEETING:
Please join us for a fascinating discussion about complex placement issues for shelter dogs - and the struggles the dogs and their adopters go through - with a focus on how to address this issue more humanely and responsibly.
Introduction
Case studies of adopters who have struggled with difficult dogs.
Lindsay Hamrick will discuss the consequences of balancing local dogs and transport programs, the disturbing results of ineffective adoption follow up programs, the amount of time dogs are waiting to be adopted, and national trends, including the increase in legislation of dangerous dog laws.
Erika Lessa and Katenna Jones will talk about the role of behavior assessments, the importance of getting an accurate history to get a clear picture of a dog, how to build an accurate profile of a dog, and what the impact of complex dog placement is on our adopters.
Seana Dowling-Guyer will look at the science and research related to aversive versus positive training methods, their effectiveness and successes, and related risks.
Group Brainstorm
What have we learned? What are you seeing in your community? What can we do to improve on existing programs? How do your programs stack up? How can they be improved to result in better outcomes for dogs and adopters?
STAY TUNED FOR AN EMAIL WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO SIGN UP FOR ALL ABOUT DOGS!!
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Give the Gift of the License Plate!
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Have you been working with a hoarding situation?
Don't forget, MAC had a meeting about hoarding and we have some information for you
here.
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Spay/Neuter Resources
on MAC's Website
Are you aware of how much MAC has to offer beyond educational meetings, programs and task forces? Have you ever checked out our Resources pages? We offer information about Lost Pets, Rabies, Adoption, Wildlife, and so much more!
If you are looking for spay/neuter services in your area check out "
Find a Spay/Neuter Clinic" on
the dropdown menu on MAC's homepage and you will be brought to our SpayMass page. There
is a map with pins showing locations of clinics all over the state, you can enter your zip code to
locate a clinic close to you, and you will find addresses and contact information for a clinic you
choose.
MAC is here for you! Be sure to take advantage of all that we have to offer!
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Fo
r $10 A Year You Can Be A MAC Member!
Joining MAC is a great way to become more involved in animal welfare, meet others who are doing similar work, make friends and connections, and hear from experts in the field. For more info visit our
membership
page.
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Do you have a great story about using your grant from MAC's License Plate Fund? Or a fun idea for an article?
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