ASU research on benefits of improving animal shelters

Steve Filmer from the Catalyst follows ASU Canine Scientist Lisa Gunter as she travels to Minnesota for fieldwork; her focus is… could we improve dog shelters in ways that would make dogs less stressed, dogs that are happier and more “adoptable” to humans?

Science is looking for ways to make dog shelters better. They are looking to create better-living conditions for the dogs and “better experiences” for the people that come to the shelters to adopt the dogs. At the animal Humane Society Headquarters in Minnesota, Arizona State University researchers to look for an answer.

Dogs that are usually happy and playful can become timid or aggressive inside of a “cranes shelter space”. Scientists are looking to improve the dog’s personalities and disposition in the shelter space to make them more ready to be adopted. They are asking the big questions like if there is a benefit and what benefits are there?