STRATEGIC PLAN Alpine Humane Society 2019-2021 - PO Box 1464 Alpine, TX 79831 (432) 837-2532 alpinehumanesociety.org
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STRATEGIC PLAN
Alpine Humane Society
2019-2021
PO Box 1464
Alpine, TX 79831
(432) 837-2532
alpinehumanesociety.org 1
Letter from the President:
I am pleased to present the Alpine Humane Society 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. Alpine Humane
Society (AHS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit private operating foundation dedicated to building a
community committed to the humane treatment of animals in Brewster County, Texas.
The goals, ideas, and plans put forth in this document are the culmination of more than two
years of deliberation and dialogue between members, volunteers, staff, directors, and community
members. The passion people bring to our mission is heartening. I would like to express my
sincere appreciation to the founders of this amazing organization and all the dedicated
volunteers, board members, and supporters who have worked tirelessly over the last 36 years to
get us where we are today. I would also like to thank Dr. Suzette Ashworth for her expertise in
guiding us through the strategic planning process.
My hope is that this plan will give the community a clear sense of our mission and goals. The
next three years will bring some exciting changes to Alpine Humane Society and this document
will be our roadmap.
Vicki Gibson
2019 Board President
2
AHS board members, staff, and contributors to the strategic plan
2018 Board of Directors: Staff:
Jesse Kelsch, President Carrie Branum, Enrichment Coordinator
Vicki Gibson, Vice President Dana Black, Play Group Assistant
Patsy Culver, CPA, Treasurer Leticia Fierro, Thrift Store Manager
Tobin Becker, Thrift Store Director Erin Bittner, Thrift Store Staff
Gwin Grogan Grimes Karen Collins, Thrift Store Staff
Marilyn McGhee
Consultant:
Suzette Ashworth, PhD, Fort Davis
Special thanks to all AHS volunteers, adopters, and donors!
3
Section 1
Mission, Vision and Values of the Alpine Humane Society
Mission: AHS builds community commitment to the humane treatment of animals. To achieve
this vision, we provide adoption support services, spay/neuter funding, medical assistance, and
community education.
Vision: Brewster County: Where every animal has a full and rewarding life.
Values: Six core values guide our work and decision-making:
• We do our work with passion, compassion, respect and kindness.
• We are dedicated to reducing suffering and improving the lives of animals.
• We believe community engagement and education are the best ways to eliminate pet over-
population.
• We are committed to the pursuit of successful pet adoptions.
• We believe euthanizing adoptable animals is unacceptable.
• We believe every dog and cat should be spayed/neutered until there are no homeless pets.
4
Section 2
History and Recent Accomplishments
The Alpine Humane Society was established in 1982 by a small group of citizens who were
interested in providing financial support for medical care of animals living in the city of
Alpine. This group was extremely successful and, in 1996, received a bequest that furthered
its work.
In 1982, the Alpine Avalanche published a front-page story about deplorable conditions at the
local animal shelter. Although the initial focus for the Alpine Humane Society was medical
support for companion animals in Alpine, its members were also concerned about making
changes at the city shelter. At that time, the shelter consisted of three outdoor cages (each
measuring 5’ x 7’ x 7’), no proper euthanasia equipment or protocols, typically a 72-hour
custody period (before an animal was euthanized, if not adopted or re-claimed), and a total
annual animal control budget of $4,200. Consistent with the attitude toward animal care at the
time, the “shelter” was located at the city dump.
In 2000, a group of citizens who had been working with the City of Alpine to improve
conditions at the shelter joined the Alpine Humane Society to align their efforts for the
welfare of all animals in Brewster County, both owned and homeless.
AHS is now celebrating 36 years of service to the people and companion animals of Brewster
County. Because the AHS is a 501c(3), exempt private operating foundation, donations to the
organization and its thrift store are tax-deductible. The Society is governed by a nine-member
volunteer board of directors, and there are approximately 30 members in 2018. AHS members
nominate and vote for board members and officers, as well as on matters affecting the
organization.
“Without the help of the humane
society, my elderly neighbor would
have had to give up her dog who
was injured. She loves her dog and
he keeps her going when she’s
otherwise very depressed.”
Survey respondent, 2017
5
AHS works closely with the staff of the City of Alpine Animal Shelter, but the two organizations
have distinct, different purposes:
The Animal Control Officers (ACOs) are employees of the City of Alpine, reporting
ultimately to the Chief of Police. They are responsible for the enforcement of animal
control laws within the city limits; the maintenance and operation of the Alpine Animal
Shelter on Old Marathon Highway; and adoption of pets from the shelter.
The Alpine Humane Society supplements the work of the Alpine Animal Services by:
providing financial support for food for shelter animals and spay/neuter services for
shelter and community animals; maintaining a dedicated group of volunteers who walk
dogs, arrange transports to other rescue organization and help to facilitate adoptions
through advertising/ promotion. In 2017, the Alpine Humane Society hired an employee
to enrich and socialize shelter dogs and cats, to move them from shelter to home faster.
In support of the City of Alpine, the Alpine Humane Society also operates the Trap-
Neuter-Return program for community cats, educates the public about animal welfare
issues, encourages owners to solve behavior problems rather than relinquish pets to the
shelter, and authorizes emergency medical financial aid for community pets.
Funding for the Alpine Humane Society comes from membership dues, thrift store sales,
donations, grants, and fundraising events, as well as proceeds from a trust fund established in
1996 by the late Dr. Lois Helen Cole. In 2018 the annual AHS budget was approximately
$165,000.
6
AHS works with the City of Alpine to incrementally improve the sheltering of animals at the
municipal shelter. The current shelter was built in 2011 with AHS donating more than $80,000
for the construction of the crematorium at the shelter complex. Other recent accomplishments
include:
• In July 2013, AHS opened its thrift store (706 N Fifth Street) to help fund its work and to
showcase adoptable cats and kittens in the thrift store cattery.
• In 2014, AHS funded the construction of the Kokernot Dog Park, with an investment of
$20,000 for fencing and other improvements.
• In July 2016, AHS started transporting shelter dogs to a Colorado rescue organization
where they are quickly adopted.
• In August, 2016, AHS donated and built a 100’ x100’ play yard at the shelter, and staff
and volunteers were trained by Dogs Playing For Life to conduct dog play groups, to help
increase their adoptability.
• In April 2017, AHS hired an Enrichment Coordinator to improve animal socialization,
run play groups, coordinate volunteers, and assist with the promotion of adoptable pets.
• In 2017, AHS volunteers spent more than 14,000 hours cleaning kennels, walking dogs,
operating the thrift store, assisting with adoptions, providing foster care for orphaned
kittens and other animals with special needs, writing grant applications, providing
financial oversight, transporting adoptable pets to out-of-state rescue organizations, and
the myriad other tasks needed to arrange timely adoptions and manage a cost-effective
organization.
7
The Challenge
AHS exists to serve all of Brewster County but providing services has its challenges: Brewster
County is the largest county by area in Texas (three times the size of the state of Delaware and
500 square miles bigger than the state of Connecticut). Yet the county has a very small
population (approximately 9200 residents), a long international border with Mexico, and only
one incorporated city, Alpine, the county seat. Within the county, there are three additional
census-designated towns (Marathon, Study Butte and Terlingua), but these are unincorporated
areas with few resources.
The Alpine Animal Shelter only serves the City of Alpine, leaving significant gaps in animal
services for the remainder of Brewster County. The shelter does not accept surrendered animals
from Brewster County residents who live outside the City of Alpine, nor does it provide any
animal control services outside Alpine city limits.
Alpine Humane Society, the City of Alpine Animal Shelter, and a home-based foster rescue in
Marathon are the only animal welfare organizations in Brewster County. ROMP (Responsible
Ownership of Marfa Pets) serves neighboring Presidio County, and Grand Companions Humane
Society, a private animal shelter in Fort Davis, serves the tri-county area. Jethro Homeward
Bound Pets is a local foster and transport resource serving the Big Bend area.
8
Did You Know:
For the past five years, no animals at
Alpine Animal Shelter have been euthanized for space.
302 dogs and cats were adopted or transported to our
rescue partners in 2018—25% increase from 2015
AHS volunteers provided phone assistance to 322 callers
helping 546 community pets in 2018.
Each year AHS spends approximately $60,000 for spay/neuter
surgeries and medical care for shelter and community pets
AHS is the match-maker for homeless pets through photos, flyers,
adoption events, and social media marketing
9
Section 3
Organizational Strengths and Emerging Trends
Alpine Humane Society has a successful 36-year track record of addressing the needs of
homeless animals in an extremely remote, rural part of Texas.
AHS has a dedicated team of volunteers who support all aspects of the organization’s services
and programs. The Board of Directors has secured foundation grants to expand operations,
including buying a cargo van for the safe transport of dogs and cats to out-of-state rescue
organizations.
The AHS board is committed to creating a transparent, sustainable organization by carefully
managing its finances, documenting core policies and procedures, tracking performance
measures and trends, and collaborating with local partners.
AHS members are creatively searching for ways to expand services into the rest of Brewster
County beyond the City of Alpine. To do so will require expanding the number of members and
volunteers, especially in Marathon and South Brewster County, where few services are currently
available for homeless animals.
“A major challenge is that
the Alpine shelter cannot
take animals from outside
the city limits, leaving the
vast majority of Brewster
County without many
options.”
-Resident of South Brewster
County, 2017
10Section 4
Process Used to Create This Strategic Plan
Yogi Berra once observed that “If you don’t know where you’re going, you are likely to end
up somewhere else.” The essence of planning is to not end up somewhere else, but to arrive
at our destination stronger for the journey. At the Alpine Humane Society, we see planning as
an integral component to organizational effectiveness. The directors, members, and
volunteers are dedicated to planning for a strong future. Our services will not be successful
without adequate thought and planning that must go into each step.
Over the past two years, the AHS board, members, and volunteers have engaged in a
planning process which involved diverse stakeholders. We solicited input from 98 people
through surveys and interviews with a broad range of Brewster County residents and
community leaders. Numerous work sessions focused solely on strategic planning were held
to consider the findings and to develop specific goals and initiatives.
11Stakeholder interviews and surveys yielded some particularly significant findings:
• A large percentage of those contacted had not heard of the Alpine Humane Society or
knew its main functions – and 30% erroneously thought that AHS enforces the City of
Alpine animal control ordinances.
• One-third of respondents had visited the City of Alpine Animal Shelter and expressed a
range of views on its quality.
• Only 12% of those interviewed had contacted AHS by phone and 100% of those had a
helpful, professional experience with the AHS phone representative.
• Approximately 60% of those contacted had gone to the AHS Thrift Store and all reported
a positive experience at the store.
• Very few (12%) said they had taken a dog to the Alpine Dog Park, and those who had
reported a range of experiences as well as suggestions for improvement.
12• Four areas were identified in response to the question “What does AHS do well?”
o Visibility for adoptable pets: 100%
o Great thrift shop: 100%
o Dedicated volunteers: 100%
o Good relationship with City of Alpine Animal Shelter: 80%
• Five areas were consistently cited in response to the question “What are some
short-term or long-term goals AHS should consider?”
o Play yards and runs at shelter: 85%
o More community education programs: 85%
o Greater visibility for adoptable pets: 73%
o More spay/ neuter services and feral cat services: 70%
o Dog training classes: 60%
13“Best thrift store in town. Great place to meet
and play with adoptable cats.”
-AHS Thrift Store Customer, 2016
14Section 5
Goals and Initiatives
The board also reviewed organizational successes and disappointments, acknowledged AHS’
strengths and weaknesses, and identified the most important obstacles to future viability and
vitality. This process has helped sharpen the Society’s mission, vision, and values, and has led to
the development of the following major goals for 2019-2021.
Goal 1 Current Programs and Services: AHS will evaluate, strengthen and/or modify
its core services and key management functions such as financial oversight and personnel
development.
Goal 2 Gaps in AHS Services: AHS will identify and evaluate critical gaps in services
or availability of services throughout Brewster County. Plans will be developed and
resourced to address selected services.
Goal 3 Community Partnerships: AHS will cultivate partnerships and build
relationships which support services to homeless animals in Brewster County.
Goal 4 Development, Member and Volunteers: AHS will actively fundraise to support
key initiatives. Creative ideas will be developed to grow membership, volunteers and
donors.
Goal 5 Thrift Store: The Thrift Store is both a revenue source for AHS services and the
community face of AHS in Brewster County. The AHS board will clearly define the
purpose of the TS, set financial and performance targets, and conduct staff evaluations.
Shelter cats will be well-served by their residency at the thrift store’s cattery.
Goal 6 Communication and Community Education: AHS communications are
strategic, planned, and pervasive throughout available outlets in Brewster County. There
is a public education campaign with a different theme each year.
Goal 7 Organization Development: AHS will continue to grow into a mature,
sustainable and transparent organization.
15Prior to finalization by the board of directors, a draft of this strategic plan was circulated for
review and comment by AHS members and key stakeholders, and their input was incorporated
into the final document. The strategic plan was adopted by the AHS board of directors in October
2018.
Alpine Humane Society is tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)3.
Your donation may be tax deductible. Consult your tax preparer.
Tax ID #75-2070318
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