Dogs in the ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center continue to successfully graduate their treatment programs with the hopes of finding their forever homes
** The following article was previously published in Quo Vadis on July 5, 2015 **
As the summer months approach and the thought of graduation appears in students’ minds, the ASPCA is also thinking about graduation. The only difference is that the ASPCA is not thinking about students graduating, they are thinking about dogs graduating.
The ASPCA has multiple treatment programs and, according to Emily Schneider, Director of Media & Communications for the ASPCA, “We have a group of dog ‘graduates’ who have successfully completed their treatment programs at the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center, based in Madison, NJ.” Schneider goes on to describe their Rehabilitation Center by saying that the center “is the first-ever facility dedicated strictly to providing behavioral rehabilitation to canine victims of cruelty who suffer from severe fear and anxiety.”
Dealing with dogs that come from cruelty cases can be a hard task. Some of the dogs that are rescued sometimes suffer from such severe fear and anxiety due to their backgrounds that intervention from animal behavior experts become critical in addressing their issues and helping them become suitable for adoption.
**All photos in the above slideshow courtesy Sammy’s Hope and the ASPCA**
Schneider said, “At the center, a dedicated team of animal behavior experts work daily with these dogs until they could be made for adoption.” She goes on to say, “Scientifically sound techniques are used to reduce the dogs’ fear of people, as well as to gradually acclimate them to unfamiliar objects, sounds, living areas, and real-life situations that can induce trauma and severe stress.”
It takes time for the dogs to go through the treatment programs but Schneider says, “Once dogs graduate the program, they are placed with various animal shelters across the county to be adopted into loving homes.” Two of those shelters are Sammy’s Hope Animal Welfare & Adoption Center in Sayreville, and St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ.
According to David Gaier, Volunteer and Board Member for Sammy’s Hope, “While awaiting their adoptive families at Sammy’s Hope Animal Welfare & Adoption Center, ‘graduates’ continue to practice the skills they acquired at the Rehab Center, and receive several hours a day of individualized attention, doggie play groups, and life skills practice.”
Gaier goes on to say, “Sammy’s Hope Animal Welfare & Adoption Center has taken in 13 wonderful dogs from the ASPCA Behavioral Rehab Center since Jan. 11, 2015.” Through discussions between Emily Schneider and David Gaier, approximately 18 dogs were mentioned, and as of June 11, 2015, seven doggie graduates are looking for forever homes.
Only two named Janet and Little E remain available for adoption at Sammy’s Hope. However, there are other dogs at St. Hubert’s who are still looking for homes. “We were thrilled to see these dogs succeed in our program, and we’re so grateful to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center and Sammy’s Hope Animal Welfare & Adoption Center for making their next steps on the road to recovery possible,” says Kristen Collins, ASPCA Senior Director of Anti-Cruelty Behavior Rehabilitation. Collins goes on to say, “Happy endings like these are a great example of the powerful work animal welfare organizations can do when we join forces to save lives.”
If you want more information on the ASPCA and their mission, please visit their website at aspca.org.
For more information on St. Hubert’s, visit sthuberts.org, or for Sammy’s Hope, visit sammyshope.org.
