Center For Shelter Dogs
OVERVIEW
With a generous grant from The Stanton Foundation, The Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston has created
the Center for Shelter Dogs (CSD). The CSD provides a model for improving the welfare and eventual placement of homeless dogs cared for by humane organizations, animal control facilities, and rescue groups in Massachusetts and throughout the nation. The Center accomplishes this goal by developing valid methods to screen for, evaluate, and resolve behavior problems in shelter dogs. The Center also works towards discovering ways to screen for, interpret, and reduce the role of environmental and emotional stress on the behavior of dogs while in the shelter and after adoption. We also work towards developing improved strategies for matching animals with prospective adopters including long-term follow-up programs to help validate assessments made in the shelter environment. Finally, we examine the role of alternatives (e.g., home-based rehabilitation programs) to the traditional approach for caring for homeless dogs. The Center for Shelter Dogs also serves as a behavioral resource for adopted dogs and other animal shelters, by offering behavior consultations and outreach opportunities.
