One of the most important reminders we share with potential adopters is not to judge a book by its cover. This age-old mantra applies to shelter animals as well as humans! An animal shelter can be a stressful environment full of loud noises, unknown visitors, and anxious furry friends. Rescue dogs and cats can cope in many different ways while within the shelter walls. For today's back-to-school education week lesson, we are discussing common animal behaviors you may see in a shelter and breaking down what they mean.

1. Barrier reactivity: This behavior refers to when a dog appears aggressive while behind a barrier like a fence, window, or door. Such aggressive behavior can include barking, showing teeth, raising hackles, and lunging. However, it's important to remember that often times how an animal acts in their kennel is not indicative of how they will be in your home! Barrier aggression may simply be how their frustration in the kennel is manifested. If you visit the shelter and witness this behavior from a dog, ask a staff member to take them out of their kennel to a play yard. You will likely see a complete 180 switch in personality after removing the barrier! 
2. Fearful/timid: Some animals will retreat to the back of their kennel when scared. They may also hide under anything they can find to avoid being seen. These types of animals may have experienced trauma in the past, or may still be adjusting to life at the shelter. Nervous animals like this can benefit from a confidence boost, which can sometimes mean finding a friend to play with! Playgroups are a great way to create a bridge between a dog friend they feel safe with and people handling them.
3. Shy/sad: Both dogs and cats can appear shy, sad, depressed, or lethargic while inside their kennels or cubbies. This is often a temporary behavior that requires an adjustment period before the animal feels comfortable in their new environment. Give pets a little time and we promise they will come out of their shell to show their true personalities!
4. Jumpy/energetic: If you've visited a shelter, you've likely seen a dog who paces back and forth or attempts to catapult out of their kennel. This type of behavior can occur for a variety of reasons including stress, excitement, lack of exercise, or even breed disposition. Border Collies, Huskies, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Pitbulls, are just a few of the breeds predisposed to having highly active personalities. These pups are by no means bad dogs, they just need attention, a job to do, or an active owner who can keep up with them! 
5. Withdrawn: Animals, especially cats, can appear bored or unfulfilled in a shelter environment. This is nothing to be concerned about! Similar to how humans don't look happy all the time, neither do shelter animals. You can often break these animals out of their shell by offering a fun toy to play with or taking them on a short walk to help stimulate their brains. 
6. Barking: With so many visitors coming through the shelter, it is not uncommon to hear a chorus of barking dogs. However, this does not mean the dog barking at you is aggressive! A loud bark can be a pup's way of saying hello or that they are excited to see you. We recommend standing in front of their kennel quietly for a few minutes to help the dog settle down and before you say hello. 
7. Scratching: This is a behavior extremely common for cats. Many potential adopters see a kitty going to town on a scratching post and think it means the cat will destroy their entire house. That is simply untrue! Scratching is a very normal and necessary behavior for cats. It helps keep their nails short, relieves stress, and allows them to stretch out. We recommend giving felines a scratching post in their new home. This will help keep your furniture will be safe and your new furry friend happy! 

With more insight into shelter animal behavior, we hope everyone will learn to not judge pets by how they act in their kennels! If you are interested in adopting a shelter pet, please visit the HSVC (402 Bryant St. in Ojai) any time during visiting hours Monday through Saturday between 10 am and 4:30 pm.