Welfare Under Transient Pressure: Rethinking Behavioral Assessments and Stress Mitigation for Shelter Dogs

Nationally, there is a growing population of shelter dogs that are experiencing longer lengths of stay as euthanasia rates decline. Well-documented shelter-specific stressors can induce physiological and behavioral changes correlated with immediate and future welfare concerns. Dogs vary in their responses to the shelter environment based on genetics, past experiences, and context, leaving some individuals unable to adapt. Those that struggle may display maladaptive coping behaviors perceived as less desirable by adopters, perpetuating the stress response cycle. To address welfare concerns, behavioral interventions, including enrichment and training programs, may mitigate stress; however, there remains a population that could benefit from pharmaceutical interventions by supporting individuals at a physiological level. Shelter resources vary significantly, and differences in training, experience, and clinical staff can create challenges to accessing anxiolytic medications. Most shelter behavior assessments focus on temperament testing to predict future behavior at home or identify individuals at risk for aggression, but few exist that can help identify generalized stress related to their current environment. There remains a need for a validated behavior assessment that measures coping ability in a clinically meaningful way to facilitate partnerships between shelters and veterinarians, addressing immediate shelter dog welfare concerns.