TEMPERAMENT TESTING AT THE AC&C
Every shelter must have some reasonable means to try to ascertain an animal’s
temperament. It’s a difficult task … even under the best of circumstances. But it’s
impossible when untrained and uncertified staff members are able to impose their best
guess about an animal’s behavior, and to do so in the stressful environment of an AC&C
shelter.
For Dogs, the SAFER test:
The AC&C employs a canine temperament test called “SAFER” (Safety Assessment for
Evaluating Rehoming). It was designed by ASPCA Employee/Consultant Emily Weiss and
is heavily promoted by the ASPCA. The Mayor’s Alliance sponsors its use at the AC&C.
The SAFER test calls for a number-grading scale (1 being the best behavior and 5 the
worst). The AC&C translates those numbers into name grades: NO CONCERN, MILD,
MODERATE, QUESTIONABLE, and SEVERE. These labels lack precision, with
“Questionable” being a prime example: it’s assigned to animals whose behavior remains a
mystery to the evaluators (i.e., when an animal is too frightened to respond to the evaluator
or stimuli), but is nevertheless viewed as a bad grade.
Some (although not all) AC&C volunteers and rescuers criticize the SAFER itself or how it is
applied at the shelters. For years, there was never a qualified, certified SAFERist on staff.
Even now, there are periods of time when only one -- or none -- is on the payroll.
Equally distressing, an AC&C dog can be euthanized based solely on a SAFER test.
Putting aside the issue of whether the test is appropriately administered, the test alone
should never be the basis for killing an animal. SAFER’s creator emphasized that “[r]esults
from a SAFER should Never be used as the sole determination for euthanasia.” Rather, a
shelter should secure as much information as possible from as many sources as possible to
come to a decision.(emphasis in original).
In any event, not all dogs are SAFERed. Despite volunteers’ complaints, there still dogs
who are euthanized for “TEMPER” based solely on a vet technician’s or kennel worker’s
assessment (not a SAFER).
One bright note: In February 2009, the ASPCA and the Mayor’s Alliance advised that they
would create a website accessible by AC&C rescuers to view videotaped SAFERs. When
and if that website is up and running, rescuers will be able to see for themselves how the
test is conducted and decide what reliable information can be derived from it. In the
meantime, rescuers and the public must insist that the DOH provide sufficient funds for the
AC&C to hire professional, certified evaluators to assess the dogs and for the AC&C to
create test rooms that match the exacting requirements of the SAFER protocol.
For cats, whatever a staff member says … goes:
The ASPCA describes a temperament test they have devised for their shelter cats. The
AC&C does not have a formal test. It is up to kennel workers or vet techniciana (neither
group hired for expertise in cat behavior) to label a cat’s behavior (i.e, as with dogs, the
AC&C grades are SEVERE, QUESTIONABLE, MODERATE, MILD, and NO CONCERN).
Their assessment alone can mean life or death to a cat. Volunteers try to offer notes on
their personal interaction with certain cats, but the staff labels control. There is some hope
that employees within the struggling Cat Enrichment Program can give some cats a second
chance by re-evaluating them.
If a cat is deemed of poor temperament (e.g., anything other than Mild or No Concern), that
alone can be its death sentence. Until mid-2008, cats were often never reassessed after
their initial vet check. Responding to complaints by volunteers and rescuers alike, AC&C
management directed that cats be reassessed after three days. (Of course, this does not
apply to owner-surrendered animals. Owner surrendered animals can be euthanized the
next day: there is no “hold” period for them.)
Cats are particularly vulnerable to stress at a shelter. Unlike AC&C dogs (which are
supposed to be walked at least twice a day), cats never have a chance to get out of their
cramped cages. A cat will be condemned to euthanasia even if-- after days of perfect “no
concern” behavior rating - it has one “bad” day (e.g., “crouching in back of cage and
hissing”). In response to volunteers’ urging, in mid-2008 the AC&C initiated a “cat
enrichment” program which is still struggling to gain a foothold. Unfortunately, given current
conditions, there can never be enough staff, volunteers, or even time to care for the
thousands of cats that enter the AC&C every year.
Articles on Canine Behavior Tests in Shelters:
Putting Your Behavior Evaluation Program to the Test
SAFER TEST CAUTIONARY NOTES BY ITS CREATOR, EMILY WEISS
Downloaded from: http://www.emilyweiss.com/certification.html (INTERESTING NOTE: this
site, with a discussion by SAFER’s creator, Emily Weiss, is no longer available; but it was in
2007 when it was downloaded from Weiss’ website.)
A Dirty Little Secret Published in “Best Friends Magazine, Jan/Feb 2004)
From an article in the Minnesota's City Pages we quote:
"Animals that make it past the medical component are then subjected to a temperament
review to make sure they are suitable for adoption. Dogs go through a controversial 30-
minute behavior screening using a modified test developed by Sue Sternberg with the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The test determines whether a
dog has a potential for aggression, says Dixon. In one instance a rubber hand tries to take
food away from the dog to see how it reacts—to learn if it will growl or nip.
With cats, the equation is much simpler, says an AHS technician. If a cat tries to bite,
scratch, or attack you, it's gone."
From an article in Bark magazine:
The Safer test controversy is discussed.
| Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) ShelterReform.org: Everything you ever wanted to know about the AC&C, but were afraid to ask. |