JCAPL Board Members Receive
Certification in "Training Wheels"

Ulli Mattern and Vickie Vonn, JCAPL board members, received certification in the "Training Wheels" and “Train to Adopt/Assess-A-Pet” programs. They attended the CASA combo course at Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption under instruction of Sue Sternberg, renowned for her shelter dog knowledge and innovative shelter programs, and Jane Copelman, national "Training Wheels" coordinator.

Over the course of 4 days, they learned skills in the areas of temperament testing, health assessment, defensive handling, training shelter dogs to become more adoptable, and the outreach program, “Training Wheels”.

Ulli and Vickie were two of four North Carolinians to participate in this first of its kind certification course for programs that are being promoted nationwide in shelters. They are awaiting confirmation on their certification after undergoing written, practical, and oral exams following the week of training.

Besides training and assessing real shelter dogs, Ulli and Vickie were among a group of 20 who made daily outreach excursions in rural areas as well as in Harlem, where their van full of gifts drew many dog owners with their dogs. Relationships were formed between the shelter and these pet owners, and the shelter established itself as a resource to each pet owner for a variety of needs that exist or may arise.

"Train-To-Adopt" certification requires knowledge in dog training, stress and stress-related kenneling problems, and quality of life standards for dogs in shelters. An ability to clearly, compassionately, and effectively deal with humans is also a requirement for passing. Vickie and Ulli have been evaluated and acknowledged as being able to recognize the behavioral, emotional, mental health and well-being of dogs in shelters, as having the training and behavior tools necessary to help these dogs, and as having the skills needed to work effectively with people in order to help the dogs. Their certification shows their commitment to ensuring, maintaining, improving, and sometimes in developing the quality of life for dogs in shelters. Certified "Train-To-Adopt" individuals have the option of accepting the role of "Train-To-Adopt" Inspector. An inspector is someone who agrees to make an official CASA visit to a shelter that requests an inspection to make observations, fill out a form, and make recommendations to CASA who can certify worthy shelters for a commitment to Quality of Life.

“We are excited about building our already existing outreach program, “Operation Doghouse”, into a “"Training Wheels"” program. Our experiences working with pet owners in the community have been so rewarding, and I deeply believe in the need for and the benefits of these programs. The animal sheltering field can be grateful for Sue Sternberg’s innovative ideas, and I look forward to truly making a difference for animals and people in our community”, says Ulli Mattern.

Vickie Vonn noted "The "Train to Adopt" class taught not only how to give shelter dogs a head start on being a well-behaved family member, but also how all adoptable dogs are not suited for all families. By taking a little more time with adoptions, shelter personnel can help make a life-long match, reducing returned animals.

With their "Training Wheels" program fully in place, Sue Sternberg and Jane Copelman demonstrated how the program is a helping hand, rather than a hand out. With members of their community calling on them daily for assistance, the techniques and tools of "Training Wheels" has done a great job of preventing what would have been owner-surrenders, adding to the shelter problem; turning them into rewarding dog/owner relationships. When our "Training Wheels" program is in full swing, we will have the same impact right here in Johnston County."

The Community Animal Shelter Association (CASA) promotes the well being of pets and people by:

• Improving the quality of life of all shelter dogs (CASA has outlined minimum quality of life requirements to maximize shelter dogs’ emotional, mental and behavioral health and increase their chances for adoption).
• Preventing pet relinquishment and overpopulation through innovative community outreach
  ("Training Wheels" is a mobile community outreach program which brings the information and supplies pet owners need directly into their neighborhoods so that pets won’t become shelter statistics.)
• Increasing the adoption of shelter dogs who would make safe family pets ("Assess-A-Pet" is a humane method by which a shelter dog’s temperament can be evaluated to help create a compatible and lasting match with a new family. Animal shelters can become the best place anyone can get a dog.)
• Training and certifying animal shelter staff and volunteers so they may better serve the animals and people in their care.

"Training Wheels" - makes the animal shelter the number one community resource for helping people keep their pets. Until now, shelters were often the last resort when people reluctantly relinquished their animals because they lacked financial resources or access to training and health care for their pets. "Training Wheels" assumes that people love their pets and want to care for them to the extent their resources and abilities allow. The program helps people keep and enjoy their pets by providing them with on-the-spot, free, humane training and behavior advice, sharing information on the care of their pet, and offering free food, collars, id tags, leashes, training treats, and more. Staff load a van with donated supplies and drive into communities where there may be pets and people in need. They stop at parks, dog walking areas, or whenever they see an animal with a person in the neighborhood. They offer a new collar or training treats, and then get to know the person and their pet. Depending on what the need may be, the shelter employee or volunteer dog trainer may provide food, training tips, id tags, free spay/neuter or a leash or trolley. Sometimes quite a crowd gathers as pet owners approach the van to seek assistance from the animal shelter on wheels.

"Training Wheels"…

• Brings the shelter directly into the community by providing basic health and humane training advice to increase the chances a pet will remain, or become further integrated into the household,
• Shares advice, information and supplies in a non-judgmental fashion,
• Unites shelter personnel, dog trainers, and pet owners in a common goal,
• Prevents pet overpopulation by making pet sterilization possible in neighborhoods in which spaying and neutering in not commonplace,
• Focuses on treating people as well as pets with respect and kindness,
• Builds relationships with pet owners before problems seem unsolvable to them.

Assess-A-Pet – is a method by which a shelter dog’s temperament can be evaluated. It identifies congenial, family pets in animal shelters so that animal shelters will become the best place anyone can get a new dog!

Assess-A-Pet:

• Matches families with safer pets, creating permanent, loving relationships. This means safer communities. A ripple effect is created, in that the shelter gains the reputation of being the best place anyone can find a new dog, and overall shelter dog populations will then decline. That’s good for dogs and for people.
• Shelters can be stressful places for dogs. With greater knowledge about a dog’s temperament gained through "Assess-A-Pet", shelter staff can accommodate a dog’s training or behavioral needs while the dog is in their care. This means more humane animal sheltering. The dogs’ chances for adoption increase since the dog is able to remain mentally and emotionally healthy while waiting for a new home.
• Euthanasia decisions are made often arbitrarily, based on shelter overcrowding or breed of dog. Assess-A-Pet can help alleviate some of this arbitrariness by providing the shelter with real, substantive information on which to base adoption and euthanasia decisions.

Train-To-Adopt – is designed to bring the commitment to quality of life for dogs in shelters into the forefront of shelter work and to improve the way we house animals in shelters by providing not only for their physical needs, but also for their emotional and mental well-being to prevent behavioral deterioration. Animal shelters are often very stressful places for animals, as there is constant sensory stimulation. Minimum "Train-to-Adopt" requirements for shelter dogs and the implementation of simple, low cost measures that can keep dogs adoptable have the benefits of:

• Providing truly humane care for shelter dogs, whether they are awaiting adoption or euthanasia.
• Ensuring that dogs remain behaviorally sound while in the shelter and with a new owner.
• Recognizing dogs whose quality of life is suffering.
• Teaching shelter dogs the ability to calm themselves.
• Making the shelter a friendly, inviting space to the public.

For more information on CASA, contact JCAPL.