Table 3.

Recommendations to reduce the risk to animal welfare, and rescue staff well-being, during a crisis

Key recommendations	Sub-recommendations	Relevent to
Promote cooperation and modifications within the sector	Resource sharing	Rescue organisations
	Working together on challenging cases
	Implement an emergency foster care system for people who are not eligible to adopt long term but still want to help
	Develop adoption protocol for risk-assessing owners remotely during a crisis
Increased education of the general public	Increase awareness of the work animal rescue organisations do	Rescue organisations Researchers Governments and policy-makers
	Educating owners on bad breeders and online scams
	Increase owner education of adopting a pet and behavioural issues – e.g. socialisation during lockdown and separation anxiety after lockdown
Clarifying the identity of animal rescue organisations within the Government	Acknowledge the life-saving work of shelters	Governments and policy-makers
	Clarify where shelters stand in relation to other animal services
	Ensure there are clear rules for shelters workers
	Ensure essential veterinary services are available to shelters during a crisis – i.e. spaying and neutering