Barely a week goes by that AAS is not contacted by someone who has bought a dog from an SPCA and is at the end of their rope. The dog is either totally unsuitable for them - an older person with a young rambunctious dog; a full-time office-worker with a dog with separation anxiety; or a dangerous dog that is biting people. The purchasers were always told that the dog had passed the SPCA's 'scientific' assessment test. The test is seldom used by the SPCA to determine what, if any, rehabilitation is needed for the dog that ends up in their 'care' - it is clearly designed to weed out dogs that may have behaviour problems that would cost money to fix. But the test is so unscientific or so poorly applied, that good dogs are killed and biters are sold.

We are begged for help because when the SPCA is asked, the answer is that they do not provide follow-up. Most SPCA's don't even take a moment to recommend any trainers. And some are still saying that if the dog is brought back it "may" be killed, a variation on "if you bring the dog back we will kill it" - what the SPCA used to baldly say.

This is not animal welfare - but it is the only way to keep that product moving!