Shelter operations resource
Stray intake photo & context checklist
Give an intake coordinator a way to hold a stray's open questions honestly instead of guessing to fill a public profile.
A photo and a location are often all a stray arrives with. This checklist keeps what is unknown from quietly becoming assumed.
01
What is known
- Record finder details and the location found.
- Record condition at intake, described plainly.
- Attach the intake photo and note when it was taken.
- Finder detail
- Condition at intake
02
What is unknown
- Mark history, age, and background as unknown — not guessed.
- Mark medical and behavior context as unknown until assessed.
- Flag any concern that needs a vet or behaviorist before publishing.
- Unknown field
- Flag for review
03
Before the profile is drafted
- Confirm the photo is representative, not misleading.
- Note what the photo does not show.
- Separate observed fact from assumption.
- Photo note
- Assumption to remove
04
Reviewer gate
- Hold the public profile until unknowns are resolved or explicitly marked unknown.
- Record the reviewer and hold reason.
- Set a re-review date as new context arrives.
- Hold reason
- Re-review date
If this worksheet surfaces a specific handoff problem, WhiskerMatch can start with that one workflow while the rest of your tools stay in place.
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