Program helps pets find best adoptive homes
Bernard Baker
A new program at the Danville Area Humane Society that measures animal behavior and personality might classify Jeremy the cat as a personal assistant, which means he loves sharing the newspaper and computer keyboard. The shelter hopes to have all of the animals screened by Aug. 1 to help people interested in adopting a pet to know more about the animal.
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By Bernard Baker
Published: July 11, 2008
Goofball, Couch Potato and Love Bug are not the names of new arrivals at the Danville Area Humane Society.
Instead, these unusual names fit in with a new adoption program at the animal shelter, said Paulette Dean, executive director.
The program utilizes two new behavioral assessment tests — Meet Your Match and SAFER — to better match pet behaviors with prospective owners.
“Although shelter staff members have always been very good about interpreting dog and cat behavior, a formalized behavioral assessment program is being put into place to assess behavior and identify potential behavioral problems,” Dean said about the program developed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty.
Behavioral assessment testing has begun on adult dogs and puppies. The next phase will include testing for cats.
Both programs are expected to be fully implemented by Aug. 1.
Adult dogs will be placed in categories such as Goofball, Teacher’s Pet, Couch Potato and Bumble Bee, to name a few.
Cats will be tested and placed in categories such as Party Animal, Personal Assistant and Lovebug, among others. Puppies and kittens will also be evaluated.
“The tests include food issues, sociability and energy level of the animals, and will provide adopters with information about the needs of the dog or cat they adopt,” Dean said.
April Hogan, shelter manager, shelter manager for 14 years, believes better adoption matches can be completed because adopters can be given more complete information.
Christopher Trotter, adoption counselor, traveled to the Virginia Beach SPCA shelter to receive training on the programs.
The board of directors voted to implement the program, and Lynn Shelton, board president, said that the board realizes that the increased work for shelter employees will result in greater benefit to the animals.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( LALA ) on July 16, 2008 at 8:02 am
I WANT TO SAVE LIVES SO I HAVE ADOPTED 2 BOXERS FROM THEM AND THE ARE GREAT! EXPENSIVE BUT GREAT. WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND IS HOW THE ARE GOING TO LEARN THEIR PERSONALITIES WHEN THEY PUT STRAYS DOWN WITHIN A WEEK AND PUT COLLARD ONES DOWN WITHIN 2 WEEKS. I WISH WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE ON T.V.{ANIMAL COPS} AROUND HERE THAT IS MY PERFECT JOB. INSTEAD THE POLICE DEPT. HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS A 9 TO 5 JOB AND CAN’T HELP YOU DURING OR AFTER HOURS.
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Posted by ( juri ) on July 12, 2008 at 8:18 am
My experiences with the Danville Area Humane Shelter have been far less than pleasant.As a reponsible adult I certainly do not want to be told what animal fits my behavioral habits.Does Mrs Dean have a degree in this field?I think that the choice of what animal I choose should be left up to the individual not someone at the shelter.
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