The purpose of this policy is to establish consistent behavioral assessment requirements for dogs being considered for intake by SBFDR from animal shelters, municipal facilities, humane societies, and other approved partner organizations.
The goal is to obtain objective, useful information about a dog's behavior before intake so that SBFDR can make informed decisions regarding placement, foster requirements, training needs, safety considerations, and overall suitability for the rescue's program.
These assessments are intended to provide behavioral information, not a definitive prediction of future behavior. Shelter behavior can be significantly affected by stress, fear, pain, illness, confinement, and unfamiliar surroundings.
This policy applies to all dogs submitted to SBFDR for consideration for intake unless the Intake Team specifically waives or modifies the requirements because of an emergency, medical condition, age, or other extenuating circumstance.
The shelter or referring organization is responsible for providing the requested information and video evidence before the dog is approved for routine intake.
At minimum, the referring shelter must provide video evidence demonstrating the dog's interaction with:
The videos should demonstrate the dog's behavior during an appropriate introduction and should include enough of the interaction to evaluate the dog's initial response, engagement, ability to disengage, and overall body language.
A short clip showing only the most favorable portion of an interaction is not sufficient.
In addition to dog-to-dog introductions, the following assessments should be documented whenever reasonably possible.
A. Reaction to a Person Outside the Kennel
Video should show:
Document observable behaviors such as:
B. Kennel Door Opening
When safe to do so, the video should show the transition from a closed kennel to an open kennel.
Document whether the dog:
C. Leashing and Removal From Kennel
Video should document the process of placing a leash on the dog and removing the dog from the kennel.
The assessment should include the dog's response to routine handling of its collar, harness, or leash.
Any significant resistance, freezing, defensive behavior, or attempts to bite should be reported.
D. General Human Handling
When safe and appropriate, the shelter should document the dog's response to routine, non-invasive handling.
Examples may include:
The purpose is to evaluate tolerance of normal handling, not to intentionally provoke the dog.
Shelters should never intentionally provoke a dog or place staff at unnecessary risk in order to complete an assessment.
E. Leash Behavior and Environmental Exposure
Whenever possible, video should show the dog outside of the kennel.
Examples include:
The video should provide information about the dog's ability to navigate normal environments and its ability to remain manageable outside the kennel.
F. Reaction to Environmental Stimuli
If naturally occurring during routine shelter activities, video should document the dog's response to ordinary environmental stimuli, including:
The primary consideration is not whether the dog startles. A startle response can be normal.
Of greater importance is the dog's recovery and ability to return to an appropriate behavioral state following the stimulus.
When the shelter has an established and safe resource-guarding assessment protocol, relevant information should be provided to SBFDR.
This may include observations involving:
Shelters should report any known:
Shelters should not intentionally take food, chews, or other high-value items from a dog or otherwise provoke resource guarding solely for the purpose of creating a video.
Existing behavioral observations and professionally conducted assessments are preferred.
The referring organization should provide any known behavioral history involving people.
Whenever available, include information regarding:
If the dog has lived with children, the shelter should provide the known age range of the children and any relevant information regarding the nature of those interactions.
Direct testing with children is not required to be conducted solely for the purpose of satisfying this policy but may help with placement.
The required male and female dog introductions should, when safe and practical, provide enough information to evaluate:
The shelter should identify the sex and, when relevant, approximate size and temperament of the dog used for each assessment.
A single successful interaction should not be represented as proof that the dog is universally compatible with all dogs.
Videos should:
The rescue may request additional or longer video if the submitted footage does not provide sufficient information to make an informed intake decision.
Human and animal safety takes priority over completion of any assessment.
Shelter personnel should not conduct an assessment if they believe it creates an unreasonable risk of injury to a person or animal.
Assessments should stop immediately if the dog demonstrates serious escalation, attempts to bite, or other behavior that makes continuation unsafe.
The rescue does not expect shelter personnel to intentionally expose a dog to situations that could result in injury simply to complete a required video.
Behavioral observations will generally be considered within one of three categories.
Green — Appropriate / Low Concern
Examples may include:
Yellow — Additional Information Recommended
Examples may include:
A Yellow classification does not automatically prevent intake. Additional information, video, evaluation, foster placement considerations, or professional behavioral assessment may be requested.
Red — Not Eligible For Intake
Examples may include:
Behavior must always be considered within the dog's overall medical and environmental context.
The shelter should disclose any known:
Behavior observed while a dog is experiencing pain, illness, extreme stress, or other temporary circumstances may not accurately represent the dog's behavior in a foster or home environment.
Completion of the required assessments does not guarantee acceptance into SBFDR.
The Intake Team may consider:
The rescue reserves the right to request additional information or decline intake when sufficient information cannot be obtained to make a responsible placement decision.
The Intake Team may waive or modify assessment requirements when appropriate, including but not limited to:
The purpose of this policy is not to require shelters to prove that a dog is perfect.
The purpose is to provide SBFDR with consistent, honest, and objective information so that the rescue can determine whether it has the appropriate resources, foster environment, training support, and placement options to responsibly accept the dog.
Shelters are encouraged to report concerning behavior accurately. Disclosure of a behavioral concern will not automatically result in rejection. Accurate information allows the rescue to make better decisions and, when appropriate, develop an appropriate plan for the dog's success.
Incomplete or selectively presented information may prevent the rescue from making a responsible intake decision.
Effective Date: August 13th, 2026
