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Apr 3, 2015
As to Mr. Ludwig's note of the incident at Fur and Feather Animal Assistance, I am familiar with them,
there were other issues involved and that really has no place here unless he is simply trying to prove, in
some awkward manner, that dogs can be dangerous to people. I think we know that.
As some of his statements and opinions are based on Ms. Hidalgo and the SAFER test, I'll continue in
that area.
SAFER is one of the better standardized tests, but it has clear limitations. From the ASPCA, it is an
aggression assessment and not a pass/fail test, looking only at probabilities. The ASPCA also notes
some handler errors which will invalidate the test results, some of which seemed to occur often under
Ms. Hidalgo, and they've only recently improved on that. As Ms. Hidalgo seems to point at SAFER as
their standard, I'd like to explore that just a bit.
Perhaps the primary advantage of SAFER is that it is a rapid and highly structured test that can be
taught to relatively inexperienced people. For a brief perspective on SAFER, a short video of the
official SAFER test for dog-dog aggression can be found here:
SAFER Dog Aggression Test
Next, I'll reference a program at AWD endorsed by Director Bruin. Several years ago Aimee Sadler's
national Playing for Life approach was brought to AWD, which involved bringing many dogs into an
off-leash play group to interact with other dogs while managed by trained people. They provide the
dogs both exercise and the opportunity to develop social skills, together with a dynamic assessment of
their behavior with a variety of other dogs. Many potential adopters already have one dog, and when
they ask how a dog does with others this provides an answer, not only for aggression, but if the two
dogs seem to have compatible dispositions.
Dog Play Groups
Instead of a long discussion on science and varied opinions, please just compare the two videos and
form your own opinion on which is more predictive of dog-dog aggression. I'll note here that a dog
who passes SAFER but is found aggressive in a play group is clearly an aggression failure, and that this
can easily happen due to the single, specific dog they choose to test with on SAFER. Conversely, dogs
are not failed in play groups from presenting what is termed conspecific agonistic behaviors, which are
used by dog to actually prevent fighting.
From personal knowledge, for several years dogs who have been marked as aggressive by Ms. Hidalgo
and others were subsequently brought into these play groups for assessment. Where Ms. Hidalgo might
fail a dog for a curled lip or snap while walking by another dog, we produce video showing them
playing nicely with a half-dozen random dogs they had just met. However, Ms. Hidalgo has tried to
stop the play groups. And the videos are needed as Ms. Hidago would not come to watch an
assessment.
Yet the dog play groups and similar efforts are barely holding on, as some of the staff such as Ms.
Hidalgo have neither the training nor the inclination to embrace them. In attempting to resolve
difficulties with Ms. Hidalgo, I contacted people at her previous employer, Animal Humane NM.
However, those responses were very discouraging.
At all dog shelters, and especially at a large municipal, there will always be limits on resources and
mistakes made. On that, Mr. Ludwig did likely bring up some important areas for improvement, such as
the overview of privately held dangerous dogs that has been lacking. But in other areas, fanatics on
either side of an issue can do just as much damage. Very few shelters are able to afford and attract
competent behavior professionals, and municipals must often rely only on existing staff that can only
be changed slowly. In most cases, shelters do augment their resources by reaching out to the
community. There have been some recent cooperative efforts with Arie's Dogtown in Albuquerque, a
highly regarded local dog trainer, and a volunteer dog trainer who is assisting AWD. But the dozens of
volunteers assisting in the play groups and other areas have seen many people leaving due to lack of
cooperation. It appears that much of the shelter's interest seems to be in either dog walking, or
following Ms. Hidalgo's instructions.
My impression is that the contention between these factions at AWD may have increased the number of
mistakes made at AWD, and I have found only one side that seems open to discussion, learning and
change.
Most people realize we cannot (and should not) save all the dogs. But overkilling many times over to
support public safety is not an ethical solution. I would suggest here that they do continue with SAFER,
but have it done properly (ASPCA), bringing in a few competent people to direct this. Work to actively
attract and coordinate with volunteer resources, inviting and using expertise available in the
community, while communicating and coordinating with them, as valuable resources.
From a practical perspective, even with those changes AWD will still lack the resources to help some of
the problem dogs who could potentially be adoptable, but more of the very easy cases would live. And
between reduced contention and additional resources for questionable cases, less dangerous dogs will
slip through.
Gerry Glauser
Rio Rancho, NM 98124