In the aftermath of a puppy mill bust, the youngest dogs are usually ready for adoption as soon as they’re weaned and given a good scrubbing.
But the older dogs, who suffered years of abuse and isolation, need far more than a bath.
The American Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals found themselves inundated with dogs that had never seen sunlight and were literally afraid of their own shadows.
ASPCA reports that these terrified dogs have lived on their own in barren rooms or were tied up in fields, usually with nothing more than their littermates and their own filth. Their impoverished environments were so deplorable that every aspect of living in a home is entirely foreign to them and can instantly push them into catatonic fear – it is not just vacuum cleaners and brooms that frighten them. It is everything, like bookshelves, couches, chairs, and ceilings. Kristen Collins, vice president of ASPCA rehabilitation services, said:
“They simply (aren’t) placeable. They don’t go into homes and recover with just time and love.”
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In 2013, the ASPCA embarked on a pilot rehabilitation program in a small New Jersey shelter to help rehabilitate these dogs. Collins said:
“The idea was just to honestly ask the question — can we rehabilitate these animals? Can we save them?”
About 87 percent of the dogs who entered ASPCA rehabilitation programs since 2013 have graduated to forever homes, exceeding their wildest expectations. In 2018, Collins’ vision for a permanent refuge for fearful dogs came to fruition in a purpose-built, $9 million ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville.
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The facility is situated on 13 acres and can treat up to 65 dogs at a time in kennels designed to minimize stress. In addition to rehabilitating and studying fearful dogs, the ASPCA sees the BRC as the first of several knowledge-sharing hubs. After perfecting their protocols for years, the ASPCA plans to share what they’ve learned with rescues across the country.
The behavioral rehabilitation program is slow-paced and gentle. It guides dogs along a road to home paved with cheesy treats and incremental progress. Collins explained:
“We start very slowly with behavior modification so that we can ease them into life as pet dogs. On average, it’s a 13-week treatment time. Our fastest cases can zoom through in two to three weeks … outliers on the other end are with us much longer.”
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The first goal when dogs begin treatment at the BRC is to form a positive association with humans. Touch is out of the question. Since many of these animals haven’t ever played with a toy — and are, in fact, terrified of them when first introduced — the ASPCA finds cheese is an excellent ambassador.
Collins explained that drive-by treating is a low-stakes conditioning game that even the most fearful pups can tolerate, adding:
“When you walk through, just do all the things that are most benign when it comes to scared dogs — turn your body to the side, don’t make direct eye contact. It’s all about us continuing to move so that they only get exposure to us for a second.”
As the dogs get comfortable, behaviorists begin preparing them for life as a pet. Placed throughout the pods are “real life rooms” designed to expose the dogs to home environments. Here, volunteers lounge on futons while skeptical pups keep an eye on the bookshelf in the corner. The behaviorists will practice exposing the dog to new objects and new people. To a fearful dog, ceiling fans feel like “these spinning blades of doom,” and couches can seem like big hulking creatures. Collins said:
“It’s amazing which things are the most spooky for specific animals — like, a potted plant. Those really seemingly benign things are often (what) set them off.”
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Survivors of hoarding and puppy mills see something to fear at every turn. But there’s one thing they’re almost guaranteed to be accustomed to — being around lots and lots of other dogs. Dogs they can trust, called helper dogs, are what really helps move the survivors forward. Collins explained:
“A really crucial part of the rehab involves pairing dogs who are less fearful with dogs who are new. That makes a big, big difference because obviously they’ve never had social partners in a person.”
Often at BRC, interacting with people is considered “work” for the pups, and their real reward comes when they start playing with other dogs. Collins said:
“Her reward would be coming back to play with other dogs. There’s absolutely nothing like that feeling. To see them have joy for the first time.”
As the rescues progress further, they’re promoted to “office time” where they hang out in the administrative side of the building.
Paradoxically, the trainers know their work is almost done when a dog starts to act out because this shows confidence and curiosity. It is a massive breakthrough from a rehabilitation standpoint.
Collins acknowledged that the kind of individualized, long-term treatment fearful dogs need is resource-intensive and not feasible for every shelter in the country. But the ASPCA envisions the behavioral center as the first of many regional hubs where partner organizations can come to trade notes on best practices through the BRC’s Learning Lab initiative.
The BRC offers on-site, dorm-style accommodations for visiting rescue groups free of charge.
