On Our “Best” Behavior?
I am struggling with this issue, so please forgive my rambling and my potential to stick my foot directly into my mouth…. Several weeks ago, a friend and colleague I’ll call Kate had to euthanize her dog. Kate had adopted the shepherd mix named Thelma from a small local shelter, and was aware of some potential behavior issues around the dog’s level of arousal. But as a CVT and Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Kate had some tools to support her. Thelma was managed well, and with the help of a dedicated guardian and some psychotropic drugs (for the dog), she improved in many situations. However, when Kate was away, Thelma’s behavior escalated. The final straw was an attack to someone the dog was familiar with that left significant puncture wounds while Kate was away on business.
My heart broke for Kate. She had worked so hard for this dog, and not a day had gone by where she did not work to manage and improve the dog’s behavior. It made me reflect on these last few months with my dog Sea – Sea is sans behavior issues (other than occasionally barking at inappropriate times…), and I have been taking great pleasure in having a dog I can bring with me anywhere, do anything with, and simply just love and enjoy. While my friends and family can tell you that I certainly did not hold back love for the canines I have had in my life (most of whom had significant behavior issues), this feeling of calm – of not having to manage a behavior issue – is profound. It leaves so much more time and energy for simple joy.
In the early days of SAFER®, I conducted a workshop where I shared video footage from my private clients. All of these folks had adopted dogs from shelters, all of them desperately loved their dogs and would do anything to help them, and they all were deeply affected by living through the experience of trying
to help these dogs. In most cases I was the last resort – the dogs had issues ranging from overwhelming separation anxiety to severe aggression. As I showed the videos of these clients’ dogs to workshop attendees, they were shocked and fascinated by the behaviors we saw – many expressed anger at the shelters who adopted those dogs out, while others expressed anger at the pet parents for not knowing how to handle the behavior issue.
I want to save them all. My heart bleeds for the dogs and cats with significant behavior issues. In many cases, I know if that dog or cat was in a home with a devoted owner, we could manage the issue. I also know that most of my friends and family would be unable to support these dogs and cats in their homes – and they have huge hearts full of support and love.
As we continue to work toward reducing euthanasia, increasing adoptions, and changing the face of animal sheltering, this very touchy, very emotional, and very real issue will need to be addressed. What population of animals with behavior issues (i.e. litter box issues, separation anxiety, aggression) are we adopting out to people who wittingly or unwittingly take on a challenge that forever changes their perception of shelters and shelter animals? How many dogs and cats without significant behavior challenges are being overlooked? How many dogs and cats with behavior issues are being abused, abandoned or simply ignored in a backyard?
The b-mod protocols we have developed around behavior issues identified in the shelter that focus on modifying and proofing the new behaviors were developed to set the dogs and the adopters up for success. Innovative programs to address this complex issue are developing around the country – from the ASPCA Adoption Center’s work with cruelty cases and the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s amazing Center for Shelter Dogs to San Diego Humane Society’s Paws for Success behavior program and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley’s innovative work with feral kittens, it is my hope that data and innovation will help us make the most informed decisions – and save more lives.
Related links:
About SAFER
SAFER: Behavior Modification
Why Use an Aggression Assessment?
Enrichment for Shelter Dogs
Photo 1: Dan Heller
Photo 3: Mark A. Johnson
Tags: Animal Rescue League of Boston, behavior, canine aggression, Humane Society of Boulder Valley, R&D, SAFER, San Diego Humane Society, separation anxiety, shelter programs, shelter research, tools
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Lisa Pedersen Says:
Emily,
Thank you for expressing these important thoughts. This is a conversation we have often at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. As we make decisions about address behavior or medical issues key questions we ask ourselves include:
Is this reasonable to ask our average adopter to manage? What can the average pet guardian safely handle? What is the risk to that adopter and our community?
And most importantly, what will the impact be to the relationship between this pet and its family?
The answers to these questions can lead to difficult decisions. This is a conversation that will continue and will become more and more important as euthanasia is reduced in our communities. Having the data to understand what we behaviors we can have the most long term success with is vital, it will ensure we can leverage our resources to have the greatest impact and as you have said, to save more lives…
Lisa Pedersen
Rosemary Says:
Maybe one potential solution is to reach out more to people who are not “average adopters”. These are often individuals who are quite hostile to large animal welfare organisations precisely because they see us as being too willing to kill animals they would have saved.
They are often prepared to make more adjustments to their lifestyle than the average pet owner can or should be required to – for example coping with the high energy dog who needs several hours of intense activity daily if he’s not to end up bouncing off the walls.
Debbie Jacobs Says:
The fall out of placing dogs with behavior challenges can lead to the opposite of what many of us strive for –that potential pet owners will look to shelters and rescues first when adding a dog to their family.
Even experienced pet owners and trainers can become overwhelmed by a ‘special needs’ dog.
I speak to people routinely who are devoting time, energy and money to help a dog they adopted and expected would become a welcomed member of their household. “Next time we’ll get a puppy,” they say. And when the puppy they want isn’t at their local shelter they’ll find puppies for sale at the mall, on the internet, and in the classifieds of their local paper. Some of these pups will make great pets, others, may come with their own behavioral baggage. But the bottom line is that rescued/shelter dogs are seen as less than desirable.
I was prompted to write this blog post on the subject, called The Responsible of Rescue, for anyone interested.
http://fearfuldogs.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/the-responsibility-of-rescue/
Rosemary Says:
Doesn’t it very much depend on effective matching of adopter and animal?
I absolutely agree that there are some dogs who are so dangerous that it would be irresponsible to attempt to place them and that the average pet home can’t be expected to deal with more than very minor issues.
However I believe there’s a potential tipping point where large numbers of our potential allies wind up campaigning obsessively to prevent donations to large animal charities if we don’t at least give them the opportunity to fail. That’s a heck of a lot of effort that could be used to save animals being channelled into hurting them by reducing the resources available for vet care etc.
Bert Troughton Says:
This issue hits so close to home for me. I managed a dog whom I loved dearly for nine years. He was aggressive towards another dog in our home and to most strangers, especially men. I had help from friends and professionals and my family – but it was a full-time job and at no moment in his life, except perhaps when we were all snuggled into bed and sleeping, could I let down my guard. I don’t regret a minute of it because we were totally in love and we managed to see him safely to a natural and peaceful end at 14-years of age. But I’ll also never put myself or my family through it again. And even with all of my shelter experience, I have to consciously remind myself that not all dogs who come from shelters come with serious behavior problems. Living with one certainly made for some visceral learning to the contrary.
Sheila Says:
@ Rosemary: high energy is not a behavior issue, it is normal behavior for some dogs. I don’t believe Emily goes anywhere near suggesting not placing super high energy dogs. Reaching out to “non-typical” adopters is a great idea for animals with some behavior issues such as litter box problems and extreme separation anxiety. But with aggression, the question must always be asked: Is it ethical to place (or pass off to a rescue) an animal that may injure a person or another animal without rigorous management and training? What are the consequences for people, other animals, and the community’s trust in the shelter if intense management fails? I wonder why these “non-typical” folks aren’t adopting from your shelter now, but that is another issue.
Rosemary Says:
@Sheila: “I wonder why these “non-typical” folks aren’t adopting from your shelter now, ”
Largely because they believe we’re killing enormous numbers of dogs that they would have been able to save.
I was very interested to see that one of the commentators on the fearful dogs blog entry had adopted from Many Tears, who are one of our most vociferous critics.
Mostly they’re wrong, but I think there are some of the more borderline animals – as you say, particularly those with behaviour that’s difficult but not dangerous – which could be saved if we could only engage with these other groups.
Sheila Says:
Rosemary – how very sad. My favorite 12-step slogan is “When you point the finger at someone, there are four fingers pointing back at you.” If feels to me that conflict is growing and hardening in the animal welfare world. One-on-one conversations are probably the only way to make a dent, but I wonder if the ASPCA could play a role in getting some conversations started.
Rosemary Says:
On a slightly more cheerful note, take a look at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ebonys-Voice/166393973398193
This is a dog with issues that would have made her difficult to place in a normal pet home (if you take a look at the final adopter’s videos she’s more or less stripped her living room down to remove breakables). Nevertheless the dog was adopted and seems to be doing well after quite a bit of name-calling on the human sides of the equation.
There are people out there with the motivation to cope with quite difficult animals if we can only involve them constructively instead of destructively.
Sharon Wirant Says:
Lisa – our Behavior/Medical Team at MHS also asks those questions when we are dealing with behavior and medical issues. Is it really fair to ask an average or even an experienced person to manage or modify a challenging behavior? Heartbreak is sure to happen if management and modification fail. The emotional trauma and feeling of failure can be immense.
Like Kate, I am also a very experienced dog trainer and ACAAB. Like Kate, I too had a dog whose behavior was dangerous despite positive socialization and much training. After two long years, trying with all the tools that I had and resources around me, we let him go. Emotionally, I was devastated and my confidence as a trainer sank.
And, as Bert so succinctly said, I have difficulty placing other folks in the same situation. At MHS we try our best to save as many lives as possible by not jumping to conclusions, creating behavior modification plans and frequently checking progress. Behavioral support is offered at no cost up to 6 months of adoption for our challenging dogs. Saving lives isn’t just about saving a dogs life. It’s also about saving the lives and emotions for those at the other end of the leash.
Intellectually and in my heart I know I made the right decision for Skeet. As he passed into the world with never ending sheep, play and sunshine he sighed deeply and closed his eyes. In the end, I saved his life from all the scariness of this world.
I’m now sharing my life with Zesty, a Border Collie with a zest for life and love. She has no behavior issues except for her silliness and love for everyone. We go everywhere together without a worry. It’s refreshing, fun and why I want and want everyone else to have a dog.
Emily – what a great topic and one that I think many, many of us struggle with.
Miranda K Workman Says:
Emily,
Thank you…
As a certified behavior consultant and a shelter behavior specialist, this hits home. I today made the decision to euthanize an otherwise friendly dog because her separation anxiety (and the treatment – which means putting her in the garage or back yard) rendered her unadoptable to the average adopter who is entering our shelter. It was heartbreaking to make that decision. I struggle with this question routinely and always remind myself that I save the ones I can and send those I can’t into the ether with love and understanding. It hurts. And, it hurts when I see those who adopt (especially unwittingly) “project dogs”. I’ve seen them (including one of my own dogs) end in a euthanasia for behavior problems.
Thank you for pointing out that we need to continue to work on this from many angles so we can save even more.
Miranda