Case Study: Transforming Sumner County Animal Shelter With E-Disinfection Solutions

Sumner County Animal Shelter, a bustling 11,000-square-foot facility, is home to 42 dogs and up to 20 cats. With a small but dedicated team of six full-time employees and 6-10 trustees managing daily operations, the shelter faced significant challenges. Odor management and respiratory infections created a daily uphill battle, threatening the well-being of both animals and staff.

In response, the shelter turned to an innovative solution: E-Disinfection technology. Here's how this transformative intervention reshaped their operations.

Challenges Before E-Disinfection

1. Respiratory Infections

Frequent upper respiratory infections among cats and mycoplasmosis in dogs led to dire consequences.

The facility being unable to take on any new animals until the virus transmissions was under control.

Cats faced rapid virus spread within 24-48 hours of an infected animal being newly introduced, while infected dogs sometimes required euthanasia, weighing heavily on staff.

2. Odor Management

The shelter grappled with intense feces and urine odors, particularly in the mornings.

Despite using cleaning agents like Fabuloso, Mr. Clean, and Odor Hound, along with candles, these methods only masked the smell temporarily. Persistent odors negatively impacted visitor impressions, volunteer retention, and overall staff morale.

3. Use of Antibiotics

Antibiotics became a cornerstone of infection management, with daily use of Clindamycin, Cephalexin, and Amoxicillin.

This dependency signaled a critical need for preventive measures rather than reactive care.

3. Increased Costs

Increase use in veterinary care staff to triage the the control of respiratory issues and ongoing care to nurse animals back to health.

No animals were taken into care for 6 weeks after mycoplasmosis was detected resulting in animals being transported to other counties for care.

Intervention: Targeted E-Disinfection Solution

To address these challenges, the shelter implemented a solution designed by the Garstang Group that delivered an infection prevention solution using E-Disinfection Technology.

‍A risk assessment was conducted to determine where to deploy resources for maximum protection of animals and staff. A solution was developed which was a combination of portable devices used in office areas and Induct Devices that deploys the required molecules through through the facilities duct work.

Immediate Impact

From the first day of operation, staff reported a noticeable reduction in odor levels.

Morning arrivals were no longer met with overpowering smells, signaling the solution’s initial effectiveness of reducing volatile organic compounds.

Progressive Improvement

Odors diminished further over time. After routine cleaning, smells became virtually undetectable, significantly improving the shelter’s atmosphere.

Improved Respiratory Health

Since implementing the solution in August 2023, the shelter reported only a handful of infections usually animals coming to the shelter already infected—an astonishing improvement compared to large historical outbreak numbers.

Drastically Reduced Antibiotic Use

The sharp decline in infections meant antibiotics were rarely needed. This not only conserved medical spend but also supported a healthier, more sustainable care model.

Impact on Animal and Staff Well-Being

Odor Control:

High-traffic areas like the dog intake and cat rooms underwent a dramatic transformation.

Staff described the once "alarming" odor levels as entirely manageable, fostering a more pleasant environment for both employees and visitors.

Improved Health and Safety:

Lower infection rates meant fewer illnesses and euthanasia cases, preserving animal lives and reducing the emotional strain on staff.

Enhanced Morale:

With a cleaner, safer facility, staff satisfaction soared. Employees rated the E-Disinfection solution a perfect 10 out of 10, highlighting its impact on daily operations and workplace morale.

Improved Reputation:

With a signif_icant reduction of serious illness due to respiratory illness animal casualties and improved morale, the reputation of the animal shelter in Sumner County has significantly improved.

The risk of serious illness resulting in euthanasia of the animals has been reduced to a very low level.

Recommendations and Broader Implications

Sumner County Animal Shelter's experience underscores the transformative potential of E-Disinfection technology. Their success serves as a testament to the importance of proactive sanitization by an affordable engineering control in maintaining animal health, improving facility conditions, and supporting staff well-being.

For Other Animal Shelters, Veterinary Hospitals, Animal Boarding, Animal Groomers:

Facilities facing similar exposures are encouraged to consider adopting a risk-assessed E-Disinfection solution.

Whether dealing with odor control or infection prevention, this technology offers a robust, long-term solution to common operational pain points.

By prioritizing innovative disinfection practices, shelters can ensure healthier animals, happier staff, and more inviting spaces for visitors and volunteers.

Use Case to Reduce Exposure

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Animal Shelters:

Long-term care of animals, deals with a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated animals, reduction of ammonia, and improved staff morale.

Animal Boarding:

Pet owners make boarding decisions based on reputation. Customers want amore secure facility to leave their pets both for safety and health. An E-Disinfection solution reduces the potential for respiratory transmission and improves your facility's reputation.

Veterinary Hospital:

You can isolate an infected animal, but you cannot effectively isolate the air they breathe. E-Disinfection reduces the potential for animals with ailments to transmit pathogens that may impact other healthy animals. Veterinary hospitals address the same issues with disinfection and sanitization as regular hospitals. E-Disinfection will improve your infection control protocols.

Animal Grooming:

Animals in grooming facilities have a high exposure of contracting a respiratory illness; older animals with a suppressed immune system are particularly at risk.

Sumner County Animal Shelter’s journey is a shining example of how targeted interventions can overcome significant challenges and ultimately improve the lives of animals and humans alike.