The Alternative Housing program has been designed by ACS canine care behavior team in consultation with Constance Dwyer, IAABC, Certified Animal Behavioral Consultant. The Adoption Coordinator works closely to monitor progress and begins looking for the right pet owner to adopt each dog. Each dog would have a behavior assessment that would identify the area in which they required additional training prior to being placed with a resident intern for a 12 week session. A dog would remain in the program until they were adopted.

At the close of each session, all results will are reviewed and evaluated by the team and Animal Behavior Consultant in order to chart the progress of each animal and to make recommendations to refine the program. The ACS Advisory Committee also reviews the results and make recommendations quarterly. The Committee comprises Jan Scarlett, DVM, Professor of Epidemiology; Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program; Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine; Denise Drabeck, Ph.D, On-Line Instructor, Humane Society University, Washington, D.C., School of Continuing Education; and Constance Dwyer, IAABC, Certified Animal Behavioral Consultant.