Temperament tests should be used as a way of determining the treatment and rehabilitation plan for a dog who is in the shelter. On rare occasions (less than one in every ten dogs on average, based on the results of proactive shelters), the test will deem the dog ‘untreatably aggressive’ – or as having a behaviour, or behaviours, so extreme that they are not able to be modified. These dogs are truly dangerous and cannot be put safely into a home.
A truly aggressive, untreatable dog is a rarity. All other dogs, even if they ‘fail’ the original temperament test, are treatable and should receive behaviour rehabilitation, either on-site, or in the care of an experienced foster carer. A dog who enters the shelter and whose behaviour worsens, indicates a failure of the shelter to protect the animals in their care. Dogs who are seen to be ‘not coping’ in a shelter environment either need to be moved out of the shelter, or a priority given to finding them a new home.
What would demonstrate a failure of a shelter to protect an animal they are caring for, would be for that animal to come into the shelter as ‘adoptable’, then while in the shelter, have their behaviour deteriorate to the point where they were no longer adoptable. What would demonstrate an extreme failure of a shelter to protect an animal they are caring for, would be for an animal to come into the shelter as ‘adoptable’, but then to be allowed to have their behaviour deteriorate to the point that they become ‘untreatably aggressive’. If a shelter was to be so detrimental to the dogs in their care that it literally destroys their minds, then it could hardly be considered a humane place for animals to be held.
Earlier this week I asked, ‘Did Cairns RSPCA kill this mamma dog?‘. Sadly the answer has been confirmed as yes. And the three Sharpei pups also.
Lila, Boofy, Blue and Bella
But it has also been confirmed that at the same time three other dogs were also killed.
Sasha (aged 2)
Hi my name is Sasha I’m a lovely little girl who is looking for a lovely place to call home.I like to play outside and love to get lots of cuddles. I’m still a little bit shy but I’m gaining confidence within myself everyday.
Bess (aged 1)
Hi there my name is Bess. I’m a lovely girl who enjoys lots of cuddles and loves to play… I have a very lovely nature and would bond very well with a new owner.So if you are looking for a companion who will give you alot of joy I’m your girl!!!!!
Zepha (aged 4)
I’m a big girl with a beautiful nature and I would make a great family dog for a family with older kids. I am well trained but do get a little excited from time to time usually because I am so happy when people come to play with me. I love toys so much and can play all day (if you like!).
All of these dogs were available for adoption. Now they are dead.
Today, there is four dogs available for adoption at the Cairns RSPCA shelter, suggesting that space isn’t at a premium. While the RSPCA Qld is issuing statements that the dogs have been killed for ‘behavioural’ reasons, how do dogs go from ‘happy’ and having a ‘lovely nature’ to untreatably, irremediably dangerous in a few short weeks in RSPCA Cairns care?
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A note from me: Yesterday some new pages popped up, using the text from my original post and cross posted to other websites. I did not authorise any of these. Unfortunately at least one of these pages was edited to include the incorrect contact details for the Cairns RSPCA shelter and other assertions about the management that were incorrect.
I am more than happy for people to use Saving Pets copy, but a courtesy email can help with the details. Or simply take a section and point back to Saving Pets – you know, like is manners. Claiming entire pieces of mine for other sites – especially if you’re going to fuck up the details – is bad form.
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Hi shel, your comments are so accurate about the so called “temperament test” RSPCA carry out on dogs. (Like I saw a manager call a dog over a fence ……… of course the dog jumped over, didn’t he?
He was then labelled a “fence jumper”!!!! Surely many of these dogs that show a bit of aggression (if they are ravenously hungry and are having their food bowl threatened), could spend some time with a sensible, savvy foster carer, and then move on to a single adult owner, who ia aware that the dog as to be supervised around kids etc., I am sure many of these dogs are euthanased needlessly. They (RSPCA) seem almost to use this as a method of “culling.” I was formaly a foster Mum/Volunteer in the Port Macquarie branch (untill Jack Boots from H/O came up & took us over. (Formerly totally volunteer-run) I walked away the day I was prevented from re-uniting a little Mamma cat with her v.tiny) babies – as a means of locating where these little kittens were. The answer from Yagoona H/O :- “since we do not know where the kittens are, forget about them”!!!!!! Just forget a bunch of tiny, dehydrated, kittens??
Miraculously we did locate them, and amazingly they were still alive! That whole case was a complete fiasco. Had Jenny & I been left alone to work together as we had done for years, all would have been better for those animals. RSPCA get so caught up in the “legalities” and beurocratic clap trap, good animal welfare goes out the window.
I am trying to help rehome a little ginger puss (dx male) – but I seem to be floundering on the computer. Do you think you could help me? I am 20 mins south of Port Macquarie @ Lake Cathie, but the little cat is up towards Kempsey I think. He is currently being locked in a shed on an acreage 24hrs a day/night, poor little guy. I just offered to try & rehome him, because I know the owner is just going to give hime “to anyone.” I feel annoyed with the owner, but as you know, you catch more flys with honey, so i have to keep my thoughts to myself. I would bring him home until I rehome him, but I already have 6 cats, (all adult) so that would be a fiasco; plus my other half would go nuts, & I cannot argue with that.
You seem to have some good methods of finding homes for these poor little “unwanteds.” I would be so grateful for any help you can offer. So many of the retail people no do not allow ads, or alternately simply allow a very sterile looking cards. having done the “Cat of the Week” story for our local papers for some time, I am pretty good at a heart-tugging story but i do not know how to create a Facebook page etc. Hope you might be able to help? Best wishes, Victoria P
Glad someone has put this out there! Another RSPCA horror story contradicting the very values they preach..
This is appalling!!!! What can be done???? What the hell with them! Im going to withdraw all my support immediately until they change this!!!!