5. Conclusions
This cross-sectional study has characterized the region's animal shelters and suggests topics for worker training. Room for improvement exists in those factors considered important to decrease disease in animal shelters. This study has identified and suggested areas of focus. Specifically we suggest that focus should be placed on institutionalized and on-going worker training and on development of infection-control protocols within shelters to improve shelters’ abilities to prevent and respond to infectious diseases.
Conflict of interest
The authors do not have a personal or financial relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias this paper.
The survey questionnaire is available from the senior author upon request.
Acknowledgements
We thank the animal shelters who participated in this study for their time and interest.