Today I received the tenth response to my questionnaire. Please see below:
Q1: What is your occupation?
animal carer
Q2: How do you believe current dog shelter designs affect dog behaviour - Positively / Negatively / No affect? Please state your reason for your choice.
Negatively - too hostile an environment,noisy, draughty, cold, no home comforts.
Q3: Do you believe that if given the right environment to rehabilitate, more dogs would be less 'aggressive' in shelters, and have the chance of becoming more adoptable?
Definitely
Q4: How would you describe an 'ideal' environment for dog rehabilitation? What key elements would it have?
Two walks per day with toilet opportunities, at least one quarter of the dogs day with human company. A dry warm 'homelike' environment with access to water, a raised bed and toys and enrichment. Background music.
Q5: What do you believe are the best methods for dog rehabilitation?
Foster-care.
Q6: Alongside rehabilitation methods, to what extent do you believe architecture has a role in rehabilitation?
Extremely Important
Q7: There are numerous examples of calming architecture, designed to calm people dealing with emotional trauma. Elements of this include panoramic views with lots of natural light, sound absorption and the integration of nature / outdoors.Based on your experiences, could this concept of calming architecture have a similar outcome for troubled dogs?
Absolutely in most cases, some dogs have literally gone too far and cannot be turned around, but mostly it would be of benefit.
Q8: Are you aware of any Rehabilitation Centres that allow traumatised shelter dogs to recover?
No
Q9: If selected 'Yes' on previous question, please state the name of the Rehabilitation Centre and any additional information regarding their methods. Otherwise, please state 'N/A'.
n/a
Q10: Do you believe there needs to be more Rehabilitation Centres of this nature?
yes, but if this is impractical, then shelters/kennels need to be a little more flexible ons associated with environment and have more facilities for these dogs who need that little bit extra - i.e. foster care, regular timeouts in offices etc.
(SurveyMonkey, 1999-2014. SurveyMonkey [online]. Available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/ [Accessed on 9th November 2014]. Published questionnaire available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7PYBVBF [Created on 9th November 2014].)