CHS CLASSIFICATION CODES
A - Adoptable to any home
B - No first time dog owners
C - No children (pre-schoolers)
D - No other dogs or pets
E - No elderly or disabled persons

Cherryland Humane Society works very hard to reduce the number of dogs and cats who are adopted and then returned to the shelter. We have found that many returns result from adoptions which were unsuitable from the beginning. Simply put, the pet and its new family just don't fit into each other's lifestyle and expectations. Neither is at fault, but the end result is a lose-lose situation. The animal loses its newfound home, and is returned to the stressful situation of awaiting yet another "new family" at the shelter. Many times the new owners are equally upset and emotionally distraught over having to return a pet with whom they have begun to bond, for reasons which they perceive to be unresolvable.

Cherryland Humane Society has addressed this issue head on, trying diligently to reduce the number of these unfortunate scenarios. In line with our mission and incorporated into our latest 10 year plan, we have added a Canine Temperament Evaluation as part of our standard operating procedure. This system has been in place since early 2003, and thus far it has been extremely successful. The positive results are directly reflected in our statistics of long-term canine adoptions -- we are seeing fewer and fewer dogs returned to our shelter. Word of our success has spread to other Northern Michigan shelters and Shelter Supervisor Frank Migliore, who instituted the new system at CHS, has been requested to speak to various animal shelters about the program.

We first learned about the Canine Temperament Evaluation program in a seminar at the 1999 Michigan Animal Control Officer's Convention in Lansing, MI. The seminar was held by Dr. Dennis Fetko (Dr. Dog), who developed the program during many years of work and research. Dr. Fetko holds a Ph.D. in Human Behavior / Behavioral Psychology as related to pet facilitated therapy. He is an instructor at many universities and he consults with many international, national, state and county animal control, academic and humane organizations. His Canine Temperament Evaluation, as it pertains to animal shelters that adopt dogs, asks the question, "Should You Give This Dog A Chance?"

Through use of Dr. Fetko's system, shelter employees can evaluate a new dog with great confidence, knowing what to look for and what the dog is saying with behavior and vocalization. Shelter employees classify each dog after testing several things:

• General – size, type/breed, gender, coat, balance, animation
• Physical - limbs, weight, nails, discharges, coat
• Behavior - socialized, fearful, defensive, relaxed, playful, attentive, bully, aloof, loud, approach, trusting
• History - pet shop, puppy mill, training, abuse, stray, several homes, neglect
• Responses - collar & lead, people, touch, noise, sight, posture, vocal, handshake
• Character - stubborn, curious, slow, alert, learns, attentive
• Dominance - jump, mouth, growl, challenge, fight
• Defense Reflexes - scruff lift, active/passive, vocal
• Sudden Stimuli - visual, sonic, novel
• Trust/Relaxation - approach, pant, play, affection

After a thorough evaluation, each dog receives one of the following classifications, which is then posted next to the pet's name and information for easy reference by visitors:

A - Adoptable to any home
B - No first time dog owners
C - No children (pre-schoolers)
D - No other dogs or pets
E - No elderly or disabled persons

Potential adoptors at CHS are introduced to this system when they come to the shelter. Our adoption application is designed to ask questions that help our staff fit each individual potential adopter with the "right" dog for them. Each potential adopter is given classification letters to avoid based on their current living situation and needs.

The program creates a win-win situation. The public wins by being easily matched to a pet who will flourish in their family environment; the staff wins by knowing decisively what each dog needs and why; and the dogs win by being placed in homes where they can be happy. We have already seen the desired end result of more permanent, life-long adoptions in our few months of system use.

At times, potential adopters find that the right combination does not currently exist for what CHS hopes will be a permanent, life-long adoption. These adopters may need to return to the shelter when a more suitable pet is in need of a home. Through this system, we in no way intend to judge people as good or bad adopters! Instead, after extensive training and experience, we believe we know a good match when we see it, and that sometimes denial of adoption is the best thing for the pet and the family in question. We also understand that every situation is unique and that no system is fool proof. So, while visiting our Shelter, please stop and speak with our staff, ask questions, seek answers, and most importantly, spend some time with our dogs and cats.

Dr. Fetko's Temperament Evaluation is limited to dog adoptions. CHS is currently looking into the possibility of implementing a similar process for the cats at Cherryland Humane Society.