About the Film
“Second Chance Dogs” explores the innovative work at the ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center, launched at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J. The Center is the first-ever facility dedicated solely to providing behavioral rehabilitation for homeless dogs suffering from severe fear and under-socialization.
Since 2013, fearful dogs rescued by the ASPCA and other animal welfare groups have been brought to the center, where they undergo an intensive rehabilitation regimen to reduce their fear and anxiety and help them cope with unfamiliar objects, sounds, living areas, and other stress-inducing conditions. The ultimate goal is to improve their quality of life and help them become suitable for adoption through ASPCA’s network of partner shelters.
The Center has an 87% success rate, and all 185 of its graduates have since been adopted or placed with partners for adoption. The team is also collecting data for a study that will be shared with other animal welfare organizations, and inviting visitors from around the country to come to the Center to learn more.
Due to the success of the pilot program at St. Hubert’s, the ASPCA announced in 2015 plans to build a permanent ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville, N.C. The 35,000-square-foot facility will be custom-fitted with individual kennels, outdoor pens and indoor treatment areas, and is scheduled to open in 2017. The expanded program will focus on innovation, education, and mentorship that will support the development and expansion of behavioral rehabilitation in shelters and rescue groups across the country.
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More about the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center
Common dog behavior issues