As any pet owner knows, dealing with pet behavior problems may sometimes become very frustrating, ranging from house soiling to aggression to excessive dog barking.
In some cases, that could lead an owner to surrender a pet to the Routt County Humane Society.
To try to tackle that challenge, the Routt County Human Society will start a new, free “behavior helpline” service beginning Feb. 12. The service comes thanks to new grant funding from the Animal Assistance Foundation in Lakewood.
Dog and cat owners will be able to fill out a short questionnaire on the humane society website at routthumane.org to request pet behavior help. The helpline service will be manned by staff from Dogma Canine Training in Steamboat Springs, with calls returned to owners on Wednesdays.
The goal of the new behavior helpline for pet owners, as well as a currently enhanced behavior enrichment program at the shelter, is to prevent shelter admissions or surrenders, said Elaine Hicks, humane society executive director.
Hicks said surrender of pets to the shelter increased during 2023 compared to 2022, mainly due to finances, moving and landlords not allowing pets. Annual owner surrenders of pets have ranged from 64 to 130 during the past five years, including 86 in 2023.
“Since the majority of surrenders have some type of behavior problems, the trainer will work more with them to decrease the length of stay and help them find new homes,” Hicks said.
The behavior helpline will be a tool for dog and cat owners to access advice for common behavior challenges and is not intended to replace dog training or to become an ongoing service for pet owners. The helpline will run at least through August, when the response will be re-evaluated for possible future funding.
With the grant-funded training support, people who adopt pets from RCHS will have the opportunity to speak with the trainer to help with the transition into the home or if behavioral challenges arise.
The behavior training has helped several dogs become adopted, Hicks said. In addition, a dog named Cash is currently in training at the shelter after he was found tied to a tree in the Routt National Forest in August, Hicks said.
“The overall training and enrichment program helps animals to show better and to keep them healthy, both mentally and physically,” Hicks said. “With a combination of services, to include fosters and concrete plans to help support the adopter, several long-term dogs have found new homes.”
In 2023, the humane society handled the intake of 259 dogs, 233 cats, three guinea pigs and three rabbits. By offering behavior advice to common training challenges, the shelter hopes to help pet owners with the human-animal bond.
“This grant will enable us to take significant strides in improving the overall well-being of the animals under our care, ensuring they are better prepared behaviorally for loving forever homes,” Hicks said.
For more information, contact the humane society at 970-879-7247.
