Mornement Kate M, Coleman Grahame J, Toukhsati Samia, Bennett Pauleen C
Animal Welfare Science Centre, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2010;13(4):314-29. doi: 10.1080/10888705.2010.483856.
Shelter dogs typically undergo preadoption assessment for suitability as companions. Dogs who pass are available for adoption. Available resources determine whether dogs who fail are euthanized or rehabilitated. Accurate assessment of shelter-dog behavior is imperative to protect community welfare and dogs in the shelter system and to ensure potentially dangerous dogs are not rehomed and suitable companions not wrongly euthanized. This study reviewed a sample of Australian nonhuman animal shelters assessment protocols to determine adoption suitability. The study observed more than 50 assessments in 8 shelters, collected materials relating to the observed assessments, and interviewed 26 shelter workers who assess dogs. The results showed that Australian shelters use a variety of protocols to assess adoptability. Although shelters do their best to ensure meaningful results, assessments developed in-house predominate and lack standardization in content and methodology; none have been adequately evaluated in the peer-reviewed literature. This does not necessarily mean invalid or inappropriate assessments; rather, it indicates the need for behavioral scientists to assist in developing standardized and scientifically validated protocols for assessing shelter dogs' behavior and adoption suitability.
收容所的狗通常会接受领养前评估，以确定其是否适合作为伴侣动物。通过评估的狗可以被领养。现有资源决定了未通过评估的狗是被安乐死还是接受康复治疗。准确评估收容所狗的行为对于保护社区福利和收容所系统中的狗至关重要，同时要确保潜在危险的狗不会被重新安置，合适的伴侣动物不会被错误地安乐死。本研究回顾了澳大利亚非人类动物收容所的评估方案样本，以确定领养适宜性。该研究在8个收容所观察了50多次评估，收集了与观察到的评估相关的材料，并采访了26名评估狗的收容所工作人员。结果表明，澳大利亚的收容所使用多种方案来评估可领养性。尽管收容所尽力确保评估结果有意义，但内部制定的评估占主导地位，在内容和方法上缺乏标准化；在同行评审文献中，没有一项评估得到充分评估。这不一定意味着评估无效或不恰当；相反，这表明行为科学家需要协助制定标准化且经过科学验证的方案，以评估收容所狗的行为和领养适宜性。
