Behavioral assessment in animal shelters determines adoption suitability but is plagued by validity problems, with better approaches improving welfare outcomes for dogs who would otherwise be euthanized.
The consequences of poor behavioral assessment in shelters are severe: dogs are euthanized for behaviors that reflect shelter stress rather than stable temperament, while others are placed in mismatched homes and returned. The welfare impact of inaccurate assessment extends to the dogs who experience the distress of being surrendered, the anxiety of shelter housing, and in the worst cases, unnecessary death. Evidence-based reforms — including eliminating aggressive play in evaluations, longer observation periods, foster-based assessment, and counselor-guided matching — save lives while improving welfare and adoption success rates simultaneously.