Q: Is the SDS only for private animal shelters?
The SDS can be used for any public or private animal welfare organization or animal control agency with at least 10 part-time or full-time employees.

Q: My agency only has five employees. Why can’t we participate?
The SDS is designed for shelters with at least 10 employees; this minimum number has been established to help protect the anonymity of respondents.

Q: Does the SDS evaluate all aspects of our organization—such as our standard operating procedures and our adoption protocols?
No. The SDS analyzes employee attitudes, perceptions, and opinions on key issues related to organizational health and well-being. Some of those issues include communication effectiveness, supervisory style, teamwork, peer support, euthanasia practices, morale, trust, and the stress of hands-on work in a shelter environment.
For information on other types of evaluation services, visit The HSUS Animal Services Consultation Program.

Q. Can the SDS be used to replace or act as our managerial performance appraisal?
No. Although the SDS does assess employee attitudes and perceptions of shelter management (as a unit), it is not designed to provide data regarding the actual performance of specific individuals.

Q. Are volunteers included in the assessment?
Employees at all levels of the organization—including the senior leadership—are encouraged to participate. The standard SDS is not designed for volunteers, but we do have a separate volunteer survey available if interested.

Q: Will my organization’s data and results be shared with HSUS, other organizations, or other people?
Absolutely not. The privacy of our clients will be fully protected. At no time will your organization’s data or results be seen by anyone outside the University research team. Of course, you are free to share the results with whomever you choose, but we report your results only to you.

Q: What is the role of The HSUS in all of this?
Funding for the program came from The HSUS, which provided a grant to the University of North Carolina Charlotte researchers to design and develop the SDS. The grant also helps subsidize and underwrite the costs to shelters and will help promote the system to potential clients. The HSUS is not involved in the administration of the system and will not receive any specific organization’s results or any part of the fees collected.

Q: To what extent is SDS customizable to my individual agency?
The SDS assessment survey was not built to be customized for specific organizations. However, because the SDS has been developed after three years of research in animal welfare and animal control organizations, it is applicable to most organizations. Additionally, organizations may opt to include open-ended questions (one of our additional services) to optimally customize our services to fit unique organizational needs.

Q: What is the turnaround time?
Typically, an organization completing the online survey will receive a data report and guide 3 weeks after survey administration is complete.

Q: How are results delivered?
A trained professional from UNC Charlotte will hand deliver the results to you, provide a brief presentation of the findings, and provide suggestions on ways to implement changes in your organization.   The research team will also send a copy by mail or email, and all postage costs are included in the program fee.

Q: If I have questions about the results, who will answer them?
A trained professional from the University of North Carolina Charlotte is available to answer any questions you may have about the results and their potential application. Trained professionals can be contacted via SDS e-mail: .

Q: Are all employees required to complete the survey?
No. Survey participation is entirely voluntary. However, we need at least five survey responses to assure anonymity.

Q: Can we use the SDS more than once?
Yes. In fact, it is recommended that organizations purchase SDS services once every 12 months. Periodic reassessment allows a shelter to monitor progress and identify potential areas for growth.

Q: Why is the SDS cost so much less than market value?
The SDS is offered as a public service by the HSUS, the University of North Carolina Charlotte, and the specific professors involved in the project. The HSUS has no intention or desire to make a profit from this system; the organization is dedicated to helping animal care and control organizations and is excited to make this tool available for a minimum fee. There are no strings attached and no hidden agendas.