Volume 10, Issue 1, January–February 2015, Pages 5–11
Abstract
The
purpose of this study was to review dog behavior evaluation methods
currently used in animal shelter dogs in the European Union (EU). (1) A
literature review was carried out to examine findings, outline
strengths, and shortcomings of currently used behavioral evaluations and
identify supplementary areas of research; (2) the effect of existing
literature on EU Member States' (MS) legislation on shelters was
questioned; and the approach to the evaluation and adoption process in 1
specific MS, Belgium, was detailed at shelter level, in an attempt to
highlight the on-field situation. The methodology applied consisted of a
review of all ScienceDirect peer-reviewed articles examining behavioral
evaluations of shelter dogs as well as e-mail and phone surveys within
21 MS and 51 Belgian shelters. The results show that to date, according
to the quality test criteria (Martin and Bateson, 2007), only 1 validated behavioral evaluation (Valsecchi et al., 2011)
has been identified. Although the Treaty of Amsterdam (1999) recognizes
Animal Welfare, it does not offer a legal basis for legislation at EU
level regarding behavioral evaluations of shelter dogs. In addition,
poor legislation and lack of standardization were observed at MS level.
The results of the Belgian survey showed a discrepancy between the field
reality and the current scientific knowledge. In the field, financial
restrictions, lack of time, and a moderate confidence in behavioral
evaluations were observed. Despite this, there is a demand for a
validated behavioral evaluation and a risk assessment tool for shelter
dogs. This study identifies that at scientific, EU, and national levels,
concrete measures must be taken to support the situation regarding
behavioral evaluations of shelter dogs.
Keywords
- human–dog relationship;
- relinquishment;
- adoption;
- behavioral evaluation;
- risk analysis
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