Summer 2011 • V ol. 45 No. 2 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

Photo: Jen Petit
Honoring
Every Animal’s
Unique Story
Paloma’s face was larger than the width of her body
and her muscles were enormous (she sort of looked
like the hulk in fur). A strong, heavy-set Pit Bull, she
came to the San Diego Humane Society after being hit by a
car. It was a long journey to recovery for this resilient girl,
involving lots of tender care from our Veterinary team, staff
and volunteers. When Paloma became available for adoption,
one couldn’t help but notice her gentle nature, despite her
muscular build. She wagged her tail with a force that moved
her entire body like she was the happiest soul alive. She
took treats with her tongue from the palm of your hand. As
a result of the accident, one front leg was slightly shorter
Snowflake
Pit Bull Terrier
4-years-old
Female
This sweet girl can be a
little shy at first but warms
up as she gets to know
you. Snowflake is becoming
increasingly comfortable with
the world around her, truly
coming out of her shell. She
will do best with a breedexperienced
family and as
the only pet in the home.
Adoption Fee is $105.
Photo: Elkie Wills
than the rest so she walked with this adorable strut, this
irresistible wiggle, as the rest of her body swayed back and
forth behind her.
Every animal that comes into our care has their own story
… their own likes and dislikes, quirks and personalities.
Many animals come to us as strays. While they can’t tell
us in words what has happened to them, their presentday
behaviors are often a good indication of their past
experiences. That’s why our expert Behavior and Training
team uses every interaction with our animals as if it is an
“interview”, an opportunity to learn the most we possibly can
about them and their unique needs.
Sometimes our Behavior and Training team finds that
an animal’s current behavior conveys some of their past or
life story. An animal that had a negative experience with a
person in a white shirt, for example, may tuck its tail every
time he comes across a white shirt. An animal that has been
encouraged to jump and get excited will show lots of energy
when you walk into the room. An animal that has been
abused or neglected might be fearful of new faces and places.
In most cases, these behaviors can be improved with constant
positive reinforcement and a specialized training plan,
which our trainers establish and implement for each animal
struggling with specific issues like stress, fear, reactivity and
more.
What a dog learns in the first four months of life (sights,
sounds, situations) determines much of what he or she
considers normal or “not scary”. Yet, it is inaccurate to
say that an animal’s behavior is determined just by its
Tiger
Pit Bull Terrier
5-years-old
Male
This handsome guy is very
affectionate and absolutely
loves human companionship.
He loves long walks in the
great outdoors, squeaky
toys, cuddle-time, car rides
and playing with other dogs!
Tiger is more comfortable
around women than men,
but will do well in a variety
of homes. Adoption Fee is
$105.
8 www.sdhumane.org AnimalFare • Summer 2011
AnimalFare • Summer 2011 www.sdhumane.org 9
Photo: Jen Petit
past experience. It is also incorrect to say that an animal’s
behavior is determined only by its breed. In reality, it is
actually a culmination of factors which contribute to an
animal’s behavior, which may include:
• Breed specific characteristics that were selected over
countless generations
• Individual variation that occurs in each litter and
breed
• Hormonal influences (pre- and postnatal)
• Early socialization and habituation (approximately
age 2-weeks to 16-weeks-old)
• And each and every interaction or encounter will
allow him or her to learn more about the world,
setting expectations for all encounters that follow.
Honoring the unique personality and
needs of every animal in our care, rather
than generalizing or making stereotypical
assumptions, is vital to the San Diego
Humane Society’s success.
Dr. Petra Mertens is a Certified Applied Animal
Behaviorist and a Diplomat of the Veterinary Behavior
Specialty Colleges in the U.S. and Europe, making her one of
only three in the world to hold both distinctions. Dr. Mertens
leads our Behavior and Training Department and carefully
Lola
Pit Bull Terrier
2-years-old
Female
This gentle, gorgeous gal
can’t wait to find a family
she’ll surely love with all her
heart. She’ll do great in a
variety of homes, including a
home with children and other
animals. Lola loves to get
her exercise, hang out with
her favorite people friends
and play games with her toys.
Adoption Fee is $105.
customizes individual plans for our animals to overcome
issues such as fearfulness and fear of people, high arousal
or litter box issues. In her experience, it is inaccurate to say
“Pit Bulls are this way and Poodles are that way”. Every
dog is unique and different, a result of varying factors.
While Dr. Mertens recognizes that there are certain breed
characteristics which may influence an animal’s behavior,
this is only one piece of the puzzle that contributes to their
overall personality.
Honoring the unique personality and needs of every
animal in our care, rather than generalizing or making
stereotypical assumptions, is vital to the San Diego
Humane Society’s success. The more we understand an
animal’s individual behavior, the better we can determine
the environment and kind of home that will best suit them
in the future. For example, if the animal is fearful or very
energetic, we might recommend an adults-only home. Some
dogs do better with another dog in the family, and others
would prefer to be the only pet. Our trainers provide this
information in consultations to help families understand
and successfully support the new family member they are
welcoming home. As a result, we have one of the lowest
adoption return rates in the country.
In the end, it is our goal to give Paloma the best home for
Paloma, Fluffy the best home for Fluffy and Jack the best
home for Jack. We accomplish this by getting to know our
animals individually and helping them to find families that
will lovingly do the same.
Photo: Jen Petit
Abby
Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrier
4-years-old
Female
This love-bug has shined on
the local news, participated
in dog play groups and wins
over the hearts of everyone
she meets. She’s looking
for an adults-only home and
would do great with other
large dogs. Adoption Fee is
$105.