Calculations
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Capacity Calculations
Acronyms: PBC
Definition: The percentage of total intakes that have had an outcome
How to Calculate:
Total Outcomes / Total Intakes
Considerations: Determining what portion of animals entering the shelter have left with an outcome helps to understand population in the shelter and whether or not that population is remaining in balance
Acronyms: LOS
Definition: How long are animals staying in your care before having an outcome
How to Calculate:
Date of Outcome – Date of Intake
Considerations: This only includes animals that have had an outcome. Averages or medians are typically used when discussing length of stay at an aggregate level. Length of stay can be calculated on various sub-populations of animals such as by species, age, foster vs. in-shelter, etc. to see if there are any populations that are experiencing a bottleneck.
Definition: How long are animals currently in your care
How to Calculate:
Current date – Date of intake
Considerations: This only includes animals that have NOT had an outcome. Averages or medians are typically used when discussing days in care at an aggregate level. Days in care can be calculated on various sub-populations of animals such as by species, age, foster vs. in-shelter, etc. to see if there are any populations that are experiencing a bottleneck.
Intake and Outcome Calculations
Definition: The percentage of total intakes that are a specific intake type
How to Calculate:
[Intake Type] / Total Intakes (gross)
Considerations: Understanding what your organization’s intakes consist of allow for better program development.
Use Cases:
– Your organization has a large percentage of owner surrenders which could indicate that there is an increased need for pet support in your community
– Your organization notices that a high percentage of cat intakes are strays, which may indicate a need for spay/neuter, TNR or return to owner resources in a specific service area
Definition: The percentage of total outcomes that are a specific outcome type
How to Calculate:
[Outcome Type] / Total Outcomes
Considerations: Understanding what outcome types make up the majority of your organization’s total outcomes allows your organization to identify areas of strengths and improvements for programming.
Use Cases:
– If adoptions are decreasing as a percentage of total outcomes, what outcomes increased? Is there a need for concern or program changes?
Definition: The percentage of animals entering the shelter that are leaving by a certain outcome type
How to Calculate:
[Outcome Type] / Total Intakes (gross)
Considerations: Outcomes as a percentage of intake allow you to see that portion of animals actually coming into your organization’s care, leave by a specific outcome. For example, if your intake is decreasing, outcomes will also decrease. Therefore, if you look at the outcome rate of intake, you may find that more animals entering the shelter are leaving via specific outcomes.