April 22, 2026
In 2018, OC Animal Care released a Strategic Plan that was developed between 2016 and 2018, and much of it was based on the old shelter campus. It outlines a comprehensive framework with goals aligned to the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) 2010 Guidelines. The plan serves as the agency’s guiding roadmap and has contributed to major programmatic and operational improvements in the years that have followed.
A cross-functional OC Animal Care team of subject matter experts, including professionals from the veterinary, programming, sheltering and dog behavior teams, reviewed and assessed the plan’s current status of 66 success measures to ensure alignment with its guiding principles. This thorough evaluation looked not only at each measure’s outcome, but also at its intent and the scope of work behind its current status. Success measures were evaluated using five category rankings, recognizing that animal welfare practices continue to evolve and must reflect current standards of care.
The ranking categories include:
Completed as prescribed
Completed consistent with the intent of the Strategic Plan but in a different way or timeframe
In progress
Delayed or pending
No longer applicable (N/A). The review found that over 84 percent of the measures were completed as intended or in alignment with the plan’s goals, 9 percent remain in progress and just over 6 percent are delayed, pending, or no longer applicable.
This Progress Report highlights the incredible accomplishments of the OC Animal Care staff, volunteers, fosters, and rescue partners. The 20-page, in-depth report considered both the outcomes of each measure and the scope of work behind its current status. Additionally, a one-page Strategic Plan Progress Report cover sheet has been developed with details related to background, evaluation methodology, evaluation of success measures, findings, and next steps, along with an easy-to-read FAQ section.
Given the age of the plan and rapidly evolving nature of the animal care industry, the results indicate that the 2018 Strategic Plan has largely fulfilled its purpose. OC Animal Care intends to update its Strategic Plan in FY 26/27, recognizing existing programming, ensuring alignment with the since updated 2022 ASV Guidelines, current best practices, allocation of resources, and shelter trends. This effort will include developing a mechanism for routine public reporting.
Learn more about the 2018 Strategic Plan Progress Report below.
View the Progress Report Cover Sheet & FAQs
View the Full Progress Report