As it approaches the 25th anniversary of its local shelter, the Humane Society Yukon has made major changes to its animal adoption process.

It has shifted to what it calls “a conversation-based adoption process” rather than one that’s policy-based.

The primary changes to the process include:

• discontinuing reference checks and trial adoptions from the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter;

• first-come, first-served and same day adoptions;

• conversation-based appointments to support successful adoptions; and

• issuing reimbursements on returned animals within a month instead of organizing trial adoptions.

“The goals for these changes are to reduce the length of stay for animals in the shelter without compromising animal care and to reduce barriers for potential adopters,” the society said Tuesday.

Additional processes that have been reviewed are cleaning protocols, vaccination and deworming protocols, volunteer opportunities, public accessibility to the shelter, staff capacity and more.

To help improve animal and staff welfare and continue to strengthen community relationships, the society invited a shelter consultant, Dr. Alexandre Ellis, to visit the local facility in early November 2022.

Ellis assessed shelter operations and made recommendations to improve practices and policies – including the adoption process.

“We are always striving to improve and be efficient and evidence-informed in the work we’re doing at the shelter,” said Samantha Salter, the president of the society’s board of directors.

“Dr. Ellis’ expertise has been invaluable to our organization, and we’re looking forward to implementing changes throughout the next year to improve the care for the animals, the staff’s well-being, and create less barriers for the public.”

In February, Marie Rowe became the Tlingit Street facility’s executive director after having moved here in October 2022 from Peterborough, Ont. with her family.

“She brings eight years of management experience to the shelter, with a wealth of knowledge in working with a team to create a positive atmosphere and achieve shared goals,” the society said.

“It’s been a great experience working with the team at the shelter,” said Rowe.

“I’ve been learning a lot, listening to feedback from the staff, board, contractors, and public and am excited to build on the hard work and success of the shelter to date, and work towards an even brighter future.”

The shelter staff have and will continue to work to implement changes over the next year to foster an overall positive experience for the animals, public, staff and community, the society said.

The shelter opened in November 1998. It currently has about a dozen dogs and three cats, with some other pets living in foster homes in the region.

Meanwhile, the Victoria Gold Klondike Gold Ruff Virtual Run is back for its third annual 5k, 10k and a half-marathon to raise money and awareness for the society.

The virtual run or walk can be completed anywhere, on any surface, and anytime between Friday and Victoria Day (Monday).

“Participants are encouraged to include their furry four-legged friends and can make their achievement mean something even more by donating and helping raise funds for animal welfare and care in Yukon,” the society said.

Those registered are invited to send photos of their training/preparation runs and walks, as well as their involvement during the coming weekend.

Photos can be emailed to klondikegoldruff@humanesociety-yukon.ca or posted to Facebook or Instagram, tagging @HumaneSocietyYukon.

Rowe and shelter staff members will be walking from the shelter with some animals at 9:30 a.m.

Those interested in walking with them are asked to call the shelter so staff can arrange to have a dog harnessed up and ready to go.

For more information and to register, visit [https://humanesocietyyukon.ca}(https://humanesocietyyukon.ca)

Registration will close Thursday. About 85 people had signed up by Tuesday.

In March, it became publicly known that the shelter was in desperate need of donor resources and remodelling after another operational cycle of critical failure.

According to a document from the society, the facility has been operating under an unstable financial model heavily reliant on donations from the community and unpaid/underpaid labor.

After nearly having to close shop at the end of March, the shelter sought intervention from the Yukon government, which providing stop-gap funding.

The government had already given a bailout of $135,000 to the shelter to cover the current shortfall.

It has been made clear by the shelter that the cycle it has operated under is unsustainable.

Every year, the shelter has had to increase the amount of fundraising to stay open.

As of this year, it was looking at a 29 per cent decrease in donations, for an anticipated amount of $182,974.

Only 20 per cent of budgeted income is stable and reliable. The 20 per cent nearly equates to the $110,000 Environment Yukon provides through operational funding.

The society operates with an annual budget of about $550,370.