16/09/2022
Shelters are stressful places for dogs and can be stressful places for potential adopters. In most shelters, dogs can’t see people or other dogs in neighboring kennels. Where there is glass, it’s opaque. Where there are fences or bars, they face a wall. When people visit, they are told not to touch the animals. These are mistakes that increase frustration for dogs.
When dogs are frustrated, they are stressed, bark excessively, and engage in antisocial behavior. Moreover, the louder the barking in the kennel, the less time people spend in the kennels looking for dogs to adopt. And the more dogs barks or act out, the less likely they are to be adopted. Add flawed temperament testing and poorly-trained staff who are not held to high standards, and dogs are labeled “unadoptable” and killed.
Shelters are also stressful places for cats. Shelters that do not have a “mental health” component (touch, talk, play through volunteers) in concert with a “physical health” component (vaccination on intake and other medical care, cleaning/disinfection) undermine the well-being of cats and put them at risk of getting sick and being killed.
My Substack article, “Leave no dog or cat behind,” explains why temperament testing doesn't work, why animals are set up to fail, why animals get sick, and what shelters should be doing instead: https://bit.ly/3BFmcIV.
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