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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nStatement by PCSO – <\/strong>\u201cThe social media post regarding Polk County Animal Control is complete fiction, and we are outraged with this woman\u2019s bald-faced lies. Our cats and dogs are housed in a kennel with thousands of square feet, a very high ceiling, huge fans, and a ventilation system, and all of the animals have food, water, and shelter, as well as an on-site veterinarian. There were not, and are not, any cats in distress. Our Animal Control staff members are singularly focused on providing medical support and tender loving care to the pets in our facility, with the goal of finding each and every one of them a loving home. Perhaps the woman who was so concerned about the cats she saw there should have focused more on adopting them than trying to \u2018go viral\u2019 on social media with her lies.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Excerpt for Page 18 of the ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (Second Edition)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is essential that housing areas allow each animal to comfortably maintain normal body temperature. To ensure humane and comfortable conditions, environmental temperature must be maintained between 64\u00b0F (18\u00b0C) and 80\u00b0F (26.6\u00b0C.)<\/strong> Breed, body condition, medical health, haircoat, facial conformation, and age impact an animal\u2019s ability to regulate their body temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Animals must be monitored individually to ensure the environmental temperature is comfortable, and necessary measures must be taken if an animal appears too cold or too hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If an animal cannot be kept comfortable with adjustments to the thermostat and airflow, additional measures need to be taken. These might include the provision of additional bedding if too cold, providing frozen treats or ice if too hot, or relocating the animal. The relative humidity should be maintained between 30 and 70%.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Proper ventilation removes heat, dampness, odor, airborne microbes, and pollutant gasses such as ammonia and carbon dioxide while allowing for the introduction of fresh, oxygenated air. Fresh air is essential for the well-being of shelter animals and personnel, as well as for limiting the spread of infectious diseases.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ventilation must be maintained at a high enough rate to ensure adequate air quality in all areas of the shelter including in the primary enclosure. Ventilation rates may need to be adjusted seasonally, especially if air movement occurs primarily through active heating or cooling. Ventilation must not compromise recommended ambient temperatures. The standard recommendation for ventilation of animal facilities is between 10 and 20 room air exchanges per hour with fresh air. Ventilation requirements vary depending on population density and the presence of pollutants in the air. A facility may require a higher ventilation rate when it is at full capacity compared to when it is relatively empty, as animals themselves are a major source of heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide. All ventilation systems must be regularly maintained based on manufacturer recommendations. Carbon dioxide monitors may be useful in monitoring the success of ventilation equipment and use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To improve ventilation, barred enclosure doors are recommended over plexiglass doors or fully enclosed units. When housing units are fully enclosed, they require individual-unit mechanical ventilation. Barred doors improve airflow and also allow for adopter inter[1]action and behavior training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because canine respiratory pathogens can be easily transmitted through the air, air from isolation areas should be exhausted outside and not recirculated. Separate air exchanges for feline isolation areas are a lower priority since cats do not readily transmit pathogens through the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Air purification technologies, such as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), may act as an adjunct to a traditional HVAC system to improve indoor air quality. However, ultraviolet irradiation must not be relied on as the sole method for ensuring good air quality or infectious disease prevention. Although attention to ventilation and air quality is important, it will not overcome the harmful effects of inadequate housing, poor sanitation, or lax population management.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Editorial Statement by PCSO – \u201cThe social media post regarding Polk County Animal Control is complete fiction, and we are outraged with this woman\u2019s bald-faced lies. 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