OPERATION CATNIP: Idealism in Action

Discharge

Staffing:	1	Supervisor
	1 - 2	Monitors
	1 - 2	Transporters

ALL STAFF MUST CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE.

GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

The Discharge Station is responsible for retrieving cats from the Recovery Station; monitoring the continued recovery of cats; verifying that the correct cats are returned to the correct caretakers and assuring that caretakers understand the Discharge and Recovery Instructions.

Supervisor Instructions

The Discharge Supervisor is responsible for verifying that the correct cats are returned to the correct caretakers and assuring that caretakers understand the Discharge and Recovery Instructions.

1) ALPHABETIZE the Caretaker Release forms by last name.

2) SORT and paperclip the rabies certificates to Discharge and Recovery Instructions.

3) SET UP a table outside the clinic.

4) DIRECT caretakers to line up at the discharge table. Caretakers are not allowed inside the clinic.

5) ASK the caretaker’s last name (the name under which the cats were registered) and locate the applicable Caretaker Release form.

6) ADVISE the Discharge Transporters which traps to retrieve.

7) VERIFY the OC number, the trap number, and the color of the cat to make certain the cat listed on the Caretaker Release form matches the cat in the trap. Use the Caretaker Registration List completed during admissions to clarify any discrepancies. The Caretaker Registration List is also used to link traps to caretakers.

8) ISSUE the rabies certificates with the Discharge and Recovery Instructions.

9) REVIEW the Discharge and Recovery Instructions with the caretakers. Stress the following:

Ø Keep the cats in the traps until morning.

Ø Give the cats no food or water until morning.

Ø Contact the on-call Operation Catnip vet in case of an emergency before release.

10) CALL the caretakers if they are extremely late.

11) CLEAN up the station and dispose of trash once the last cat is collected.

12) REPACK the kit, inventorying supplies (see Supply List in the kit).

13) RETURN the kit and any extra items to the Supply Coordinator.

Discharge

Monitor Instructions

The Discharge Monitors closely observe the cats as they wake from anesthesia and advise a veterinarian of any potential problems.

1) CHECK the position of the cats in the traps, tilting the traps to make certain the cats can breath freely.

2) MONITOR the cats throughout the Discharge Area. Watch for:

Ø BLEEDING. Cropped ears bleed a lot, especially when the cat is thrashing about, hitting the ear on the cage and preventing clot formation. This bleeding will eventually stop on its own. Notify a supervisor if there is active hemorrhage (i.e. uninterrupted blood flow) from the ear.

Ø BREATHING. Respiration may be slow if the cat is still under anesthetic influence.

Ø THRASHING. Thrashing around is considered normal so long as the cat’s limbs or body is not stiff or convulsing. Cover a thrashing cat’s cage with a towel to calm it. Be sure you can still observe its recovery.

Ø VOMITING or heaving. If you notice a cat retching or attempting to vomit, call a supervisor IMMEDIATELY.

Discharge

Transporter Instructions

The responsibility of the Discharge Transporters is to retrieve the traps as the Discharge Supervisor calls for them. The conscious cats are transported from the Recovery Area to the Discharge Area and arranged under the applicable numeric signs.

1) COVER the Discharge Area floor with plastic sheeting. Tape the corners.

2) POST numeric signs in order to group the cats by the last two digits of the trap number.

3) ISOLATE any URI or infectious cats away from the healthy cats.

4) LOCATE and deliver the requested trap numbers to the Discharge Supervisor (not the caretaker) for verification.