ACC’s Efforts Reduce Kennel Stress and Behavioral Deterioration in Dogs

Addressing the Challenges of Kennel Stress in Shelters

Every year, Animal Care Center (ACC) opens its doors to over 17,000 dogs, many of whom arrive overwhelmed and disoriented by their new surroundings. While some adapt quickly, others silently suffer, highlighting a critical issue within shelters.

Despite appearing well-behaved outside their kennels, many dogs endure distress in confinement. Spending over 23 hours a day in their kennels, dogs face limited opportunities for outside interaction, leading to potential stress and behavioral issues. With more than 700 dogs under its care, ACC strives to mitigate these challenges through various programs like RunBuddy, day foster outings, and volunteer interactions. However, the prolonged confinement can still take a toll on some dogs, resulting in what is known as kennel stress or behavioral deterioration.

The signs of deterioration vary: some dogs become more vocal or frustrated, while others withdraw and become despondent. Early detection of these changes is crucial to prevent further decline, as dogs may become difficult to manage or place safely.

In response, ACC has bolstered its strategy with the Evaluation and Enrichment Team (EET), focusing on early identification and intervention. By ramping up enrichment activities and adjusting handling strategies, the team has effectively reduced the number of dogs needing urgent placement due to behavioral decline. Remarkably, no dog has been euthanized for behavioral deterioration in recent months.

Foster care plays a significant role in this approach, offering a stable environment that shelters cannot match. Since March 2025, ACC has issued urgent foster requests for over 200 dogs. The results are promising:

• 50% found foster homes within an average of three days
• Dogs with urgent deadlines achieved a 100% live outcome through foster or adoption
• The average foster stay for these dogs was just 21.4 days, significantly shorter than the overall average

These outcomes emphasize that many dogs show rapid improvement when given time outside the kennel. ACC is working to transition dogs into foster care sooner, aligning enrichment and foster initiatives for optimal outcomes.

For those unfamiliar with terms like “kennel stress” or “deterioration,” ACC has created a dedicated page to explain these concepts and their mitigation strategies. Click here to read about kennel deterioration.

As ACC continues its efforts, the progress is evident: timely intervention, enhanced support, and better outcomes for the dogs in its care.