Today I received the twenty second response to my questionnaire. Please see below:
Q1: What is your occupation?
Teacher, home maker, mom, have licensed therapy dog
Q2: How do you believe current dog shelter designs affect dog behaviour - Positively / Negatively / No affect? Please state your reason for your choice.
Negative...concrete and close quarters create stress
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?
Yes
Q4: How would you describe an 'ideal' environment for dog rehabilitation? What key elements would it have?
Organic...dogs feel comfortable with dirt, grass, trees, Also, space away from other dogs if they have a negative effect on one another...honestly, the best place for most dogs is not a shelter, it's a home with a fenced in back yard...so an environment like that.
Q5: What do you believe are the best methods for dog rehabilitation?
Dog knowledgeable people, time, patience and LOTS of funding which may not be feasible in many situations.
Q6: Alongside rehabilitation methods, to what extent do you believe architecture has a role in rehabilitation?
Somewhat 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?
Yes
Q8: Are you aware of any Rehabilitation Centres that allow traumatised shelter dogs to recover?
Yes
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'.
Dog Town
Q10: Do you believe there needs to be more Rehabilitation Centres of this nature?
Well, of course it's a great idea but he problem of too many traumatized dogs will always exist with the lack of spay/neuter happening. This is a complex problem but one I am interested in, having worked successfully with several traumatized dogs in my own home. It is so rewarding!
(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].)