Matching Items (2)
Description
The purpose of this thesis is to develop an aptitude test to administer to shelter dogs in order to determine which dogs could be adopted and trained for Search and Rescue (SAR) work. SAR is an essential field made up primarily of volunteers that search for people who have gotten lost. Many SAR teams work with the police force to locate missing persons. There are various types of SAR work, such as urban SAR, ground SAR, mountain rescue, and cadaver SAR, among others. The tasks of hiking, climbing, crawling, and various other methods of maneuvering are required from the SAR dogs and their handlers, so physical fitness is necessary in all SAR dogs. A stable, confident demeanor is also crucial for the overall effectiveness of the canine. The availability of a standardized aptitude test could prove beneficial for SAR dog handlers seeking dogs to train for work in the SAR field. This also presents the opportunity for increased adoption of shelter dogs, provided SAR dog handlers decide to work with homeless adult dogs. The aptitude test encompasses the critical qualities necessary for SAR dogs to possess. Physical suitability, temperament, aptitude, object focus, and emotional suitability have been implemented and defined in the test, based on the desired traits described by various SAR organizations and evaluations for puppies and working dogs. Though there are multiple variations of aptitude and temperament tests, these evaluations do not incorporate the administration to shelter dogs in order to determine their potential for working in a special field particularly the field of Search and Rescue. The qualities for SAR dogs described in this thesis were utilized to create ideal typologies of SAR dogs. This provides a theoretical idea of realistic dogs suitable for SAR work. These ideal typologies were scored against the aptitude test based on their characteristics described in order to determine consistent implementation of the test by multiple users. The aptitude test was also implemented on two real dogs to discern the effectiveness of the test. Although neither dog displayed the proper characteristics to become SAR dogs, the results from the trials demonstrated an overall efficacy of the test.
ContributorsNiemira, Lauren Marie (Author) / Caron, Martha (Thesis director) / Steele, Kelly (Committee member) / Oberle, Eric (Committee member) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Animal shelters are a place of refuge for homeless dogs or those rescued from neglectful or abusive situations. There are countless animal shelters of various forms across the nation. However, when it comes to the welfare of dogs at these facilities, federal standards fall short. Reputable third-party organizations have created guidelines for shelters to assist them in providing adequate care for their animals. Yet, even these guidelines fail to incorporate several research findings that can potentially improve canine welfare and adoption chances. This three-part creative project focuses on investigating the welfare standards for shelter dogs. The first part of the project is a report that reviewed relevant literature to reveal several aspects of canine welfare that federal standards need to address, and made suggestions to improve federal standards based on these findings. It was found that, in terms of housing, federal guidelines should recommend larger primary enclosures and encourage compatible group housing. Regulations for sound levels in the shelter environment need to be put in place to reduce the stress and potential hearing damage caused by high noise levels. For diet purposes, standards should be raised to require the provision of high quality food. Enrichment, human interaction, and training should be integrated into shelter programs as required daily activities. The literature also indicates a need for further research into visitors of animal shelters to identify how shelters can improve visitors' experiences and increase adoptions. Finally, a discussion needs to be started discussing the ethics of keeping dogs confined in a shelter environment long-term, considering its impact on their overall welfare. The second part of the project involved compiling the findings from the report into a presentation for the staff of Lost Our Home Pet Rescue, a local animal shelter. Since Lost Our Home is in the process of planning a renovation of their facility, the presentation also included literature-based recommendations for the shelter's new facility to improve the overall welfare of the dogs in their care. The final part of this project is the author's personal reflection on the volunteer work she did at Lost Our Home over the course of this project.
ContributorsPathak, Amodini Chandrashekhar (Author) / Fedock, Rachel (Thesis director) / Wynne, Clive (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05